Description
Not long ago, the arts were a part of every child's school day, whether creating with clay, exploring instruments in music, painting a self portrait, or taking part in a class
play.
Research shows that the arts - particularly music, dance, and visual art - develop body/brain connections that further learning in math, reading, writing, and language development. Yet budget cuts and pressures to meet mandated test standards threaten to push the arts even further away from the core curriculum.
Far from being extracurricular to our educational structure, the arts are essential to it. The arts teach self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem, and help us see the world in new
ways. They foster creativity and critical thinking - skills that are highly valued in today's workplace. Students learn to make decisions in situations where there are no
standard answers. The arts not only make education more interesting, they literally make learning more tangible, accessible and powerful.
That's why, over the past 40 years, POSSCA has contributed over $1 million to supporting the arts by awarding scholarships to worthy young artists, assisting local arts organizations, purchasing public art like the Kissing Couple sculpture on Percival Landing, and funding lasting community treasures like the Sylvester Park Performance Gazebo and the Kenneth J. Minneart Performing Arts Center at South Puget Sound
Community College.
And did you know that each year, in partnership with Rotary, POSSCA's CAPS program provides students-in-need with free new and refurbished musical instruments so they can join their school bands? This remarkable program makes a difference in every life it touches. School requests for instruments more than doubled last year - and we want to continue to fill them all. No child should miss out on joining band or orchestra due to lack of ability to pay for an instrument.
