Advocacy
Arts Education is a Student Right
All too often, schools are reducing or even eliminating courses related to the arts. When these subjects are neglected, so are the students who would benefit from them. Seeing as how students perform better when exposed to the arts, arts education is their right.
Students in schools serving affluent communities have greater access to all arts disciplines. Schools serving higher concentrations of students from low-income families and majority-students-of-color populations face more barriers (e.g., funding, teacher professional development, supplies, and facilities) to increasing arts instruction.
Elementary students receive less than one hour of instruction per week in music or visual arts, if that discipline is offered at all. Schools often lack dedicated classroom space and quality supplies and equipment. inadequate funding remains the most significant barrier to increasing access to arts education.
Amp Up Arts Messaging Toolkit 2026:
It’s here! The Amp Up Arts 2026 Messaging Toolkit has arrived. This toolkit is a practical guide for sharing stories, celebrating partnerships, and advocating for arts education across Alabama. It’s for teachers, nonprofit partners, families, artists, and anyone who believes arts education belongs to every Alabama school.
Get your copy here.
Let Others Know
- Share these findings with your school and community leaders.
- Advocate for financial resources and curricular time for arts education directly to school principals, board members, and superintendents.
- Join a local parent or community group and share information on the role of arts education in increasing student achievement, engagement, mental health, and preparation for jobs of the future.
- Speak out on the value of well-trained, certified arts educators and prepared substitutes working in student art programs.
- Contact your representatives in the state legislature and ask them to increase funding for state programs that support the arts as part of a well-rounded education.
- Contact your Congress members and ask them to increase funding for federal programs.
Amp Up Arts Advocacy Tools
Explore the tools, materials, and templates below to help build your advocacy skills!
Print and distribute our advocacy flyer to school boards, administrators, parents, and policy makers
We provide monthly social media kits with post images and copy for you to share on all social media platforms. Just select the folder with the current month!
Templates to contact legislators for increased arts education funding
Templates to show appreciation for our arts teachers
Not sure which policy maker to contact for your area? Use this map!
Amplifying the Arts is a transformative monthly webinar series dedicated to amplifying educator voices, fostering arts education advocacy, and building powerful connections through the arts. Each session features inspiring speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and actionable strategies to harness the power of arts education for social impact and community growth. Check out the webinar recordings!
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