Art in Schools

    Once upon a time (in 2014) one of the Bakersfield elementary schools got to thinking about how little their students had chances to create art in their classrooms.  Then one day they came up with the idea to contact the Bakersfield Art Association (BAA) to see if any of their art instructors would be willing to come to their school to teach art for an hour in each of their 15 classroom.  The school was a Title I school with a population of 50% students eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch program.  The demographics were 80% white, 15% Hispanic and 5% other. 

    The proposed budget was $1,000; which was covered a $500 grant obtained by the BAA from the Arts Council of Kern and $500 in matching funds from the school PTA.  The breakdown was $750 stipends for the art instructors (15 hours of instruction at $50 per hour) and $250 for art supplies.  Members of the BAA also donated $300 worth of art supplies and there were an additional 16 volunteer hours of classroom assistance by other BAA artists at $25 per hour for a $400 value.

    This program was so successful that the members of the BAA look forward to working with another school as the need arises and sufficient funding on hand with your help.  We also will work with other organizations who wish to provide art to their young people.