Our Arts Council, along with the Hollister School District, is proud to announce the expansion of our 2022-2023 Arts in Education Program, which provides over 5,000 local students with weekly classes in the visual and performing arts. Our Arts in Education Program is built on the belief that every child deserves access to an arts education, and we’ve been working closely with District over the last 12 years to expand art programs, opportunities and services to local students.
Last year’s program, in 2021-2022, served HSD students in grades 3rd-7th. With the support of the HSD Board of Trustees, Superintendent Erika Sanchez and HSD staff, we’ve been contracted to expand the program to provide art services to all students in grades TK-8th at the 9 elementary sites for 2022-2023.
“When students have artistic opportunities, they can come to see the world through a different lens. But perhaps, more importantly, they can come to see themselves through a different lens,” says Dr. Colleen Myers, HSD Director of Educational Services. “It is this sort of heightened sense of self that, we as educators, should offer to students every day. This is one of the many reasons why Hollister School District is thrilled to collaborate with the Arts Council to launch our Arts Education Program.”
Every week, 12 professional teaching artists in all media are deployed to over 185 art classes, instructing students in drawing, painting, ceramics, multi-media, ukulele, singing and more. Students receive 45 minutes of arts instruction based on the state-adopted arts education curriculum, the Art of Education University, which is aligned to the California Department of Education’s Visual and Performing Arts Standards.
Sample lessons include empowering identity in art using mixed media, storytelling through heroes, and exploring architecture and community through building clay houses. While students build their technical skills and creativity, they are also exploring a variety of broader themes and concepts that address identity, conflict and adversity, and transformation.
This year’s program also incorporates a targeted focus on art and healing and student well-being, especially as students continue to recover from the emotional trauma and learning loss as a result of the COVID pandemic.
“Our diverse teaching artist team is a powerhouse of knowledge and skill with a commitment to building relationships with students to improve their well-being. Teaching artists took part in UCLA’s Art and Healing intensive training over the summer, and are currently embedding those practices into their lessons,” says Arts Council’s Director of Arts Education, Amanda Chiado.
The District also contracted with us to expand our 3rd Grade Ukulele Program, providing a 12-week artist-in-residency with ukulele instructor, Bruce Gilsenan, to all HSD 3rd graders, and has also included a musical Voice Program for all 2nd graders, taught by San Benito Stage Company veteran, Olivia Loupe.
“This year’s Art in Education program is the most comprehensive yet, and we are eager to continue to work together on adopting the HSD Strategic Arts Plan which will create the infrastructure to sustain equitable arts programming for all students as part of their core curriculum, as well as per ed code Cal. Ed. Code § 51210,” says Chiado. “Our partnership with HSD is vital to growing and implementing child-centered curriculum.”
Our Arts in Education Program is made possible through partnerships with the San Benito County Office of Education, Hollister, Aromas-San Juan and Tres Pinos school districts, as well as with funding support from the United Way for San Benito County, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and California Arts Council.
For questions or more information please contact the us at info@sanbenitoarts.org or call at 636-2787.
Learn more about our Arts in Education Programs.