MAR
17

Save Your Budget

The thought of next fall and the new school year is still far away.  However, when it comes to your budget, it's never too early to earmark those precious dollars for your theatre program!

As administrators sharpen their budget axes in anticipation of next year, NOW is the time to convince your principal, superintendent and school board how important it is to maintain performing arts in the curriculum and keep theatre away from the chopping block.

Pioneer Drama Service has pulled together a great collection of research, facts and figures that you can use to present your “case for the arts” and hopefully save your budget!

Educate!

Did you know that young people who participate weekly in the arts are:

• 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
• 3 times more likely to be elected to a class office within their schools
• 4 times more likely to participate in a math or science fair
• 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
• 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem

Armed with statistics like these, taken from Americans For The Arts, you can educate and persuade your administration and school board to maintain your funding.

Research abounds to establish that performing arts education has a tremendous academic impact on students across socio-economic boundaries and deters delinquent behavior and truancy problems in at-risk youth.  To strengthen your “case for the arts,” check out these links:

• The Kennedy Center ArtsEdge website overflows with information and links to other websites.  Most of the reports are in PDF format, making them easy to print and share.
• The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has a wealth of information to print and share.  This report gives an outstanding comprehensive look at the profound impact the arts can have on a child's education.
• Do you know your Arts Education Policy?  The Arts Education Partnership has a very helpful database for all 50 states.
  

Empower!

We hope you don't feel like you alone have to fight for your program.  No doubt there are plenty of people — students, parents, alumni and colleagues, just to name a few — who share your passion for performing arts education. 

Empower them to help you protect your budget!

Now is the time to start a letter-writing campaign to the budget decision makers.  Don't know what to say?  No worries!  Here are many sample letters that will help anyone get started.  We suggest you email this link to everyone you can think of who supports your program.  Like a drop of water in a pond, your one email can create a ripple effect.

Don't be shy!  Ask for help from your supporters and empower them with the statistics and information to advocate on your behalf.  Maybe you can even have a “Rally for the Arts” and put together a packet of letters to send to your school board!  The sky is the limit!