OUR MISSION
Arts Ed Newark is 100+ arts education stakeholders strong.
We are from public, charter and private schools. We are artists, arts & culture organizations, parents & teachers, youth & community development groups, businesses, funders, and government agencies. We come together because we believe in the power of arts education to transform young people and help them thrive.
Arts Ed Newark is an alliance of and for arts education champions. As a group, we advocate for high-quality arts ed equity for the whole city. We combine our voices from different sectors to demonstrate the connection between the arts and a positive collective vision for Newark. Our alliance also provides capacity-building and resources for all of its partners. By leveraging combined experience, expertise and resources, we develop our skills to be good advocates within our own groups and as individuals.
Here’s how you can be an advocate - an Arts Ed Champion:
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Spread the word! Arts advocacy starts with each individual. Speak up about how important arts education is to you and tell your friends.
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Post on social media. Share your story and tell others how the arts shaped you!
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Become a Partner! Join a community with a shared vision.
DID YOU KNOW?
State law requires every school district to provide sequential learning of dance, theater, music, visual, and media arts for K-12.
The arts and arts education play a critical role in Newark's future.
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Experiencing and creating art is essential to our humanity.
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The arts stimulate expression, help us better understand our emotions, and help us empathize with others.
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Arts education teaches focus, critical thinking and problem-solving in collaboration.
Image Credits: www.artsednj.org
2020 Statistics for Newark Youth
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25% of Newark’s population are under the age of 18
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78% of Newark residents graduated from high school. 30% have earned a GED.
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College graduation rate of 13%
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15% with a graduate or professional degree
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27% drop out rate from high school
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Chronic absenteeism rates for black male students were more than 47%.
The Starting Point
According to a 2020 report, “Newark Kids Count 2020,” the child population under 18 years old was 69,941 children in 2018. Given that data, combined with the Arts Ed New Jersey 2018 Arts Census, it is estimated that the majority of these children do not have access to a high quality arts education.
Our Platform
We call for access to high-quality arts education for every Newark youth. We seek to:
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Identify the number of youth who have access to arts education programs in and out of school citywide
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Ensure quality of programs based on statewide standards as they emerge
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Advocate for increased access and increased resources to deliver arts education in schools and in communities.
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Build capacity among our members to be the best advocates we can be
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Building collaboration among arts programs. Learning community in and of itself. Cross-learning.