​Our programming focuses on providing economic opportunities for artists of color, artists of all ethnicities, of all abilities, genders, and sexual orientations. Through programming, we provide a public space for the messages of equality within the larger community and most importantly share this message with our young people, to promote a more inclusive, tolerant and equitable world.
 
Plan
We are committed to continuing to uphold our tradition of cultural learning work, community building and equitable access.  We are committed to promoting equality in our work for all people: people of color, indigenous people, people of all abilities and sexual orientations. We know we have more work to do.  We are committed to finding ways to continue to expand equity within our programs, for the people we serve, and in the community, at large.  We will further develop this commitment in our 2021 strategic plan and focus on localized strategies and action steps, to strive to build our rural community as a place of equity and inclusion.  

Here are some ideas to teach your children about Black History:

1) Create a Black History Month collage with important historical figures such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama.

2) Join Tuesday, Feb. 23 Artists at Home: School Outreach Adapted from the museum’s summer program, “Artists at Home” is a digital interactive program designed to engage students with hands-on artmaking and conversations about African American artists and different visual art genres. Each hour-long session, led by an NMAAHC educator, encourages participants to make art using household materials and discuss the featured artist work. February’s sessions will focus on the works of Wadsworth Jarrell and word portraits. This program is for students from grades six–12. Admission is free; however, registration is required at https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/upcoming.

3) Re-enact a a black history month story book such as Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

For more details and ideas visit: https://kidactivities.net/black-history-month-activities-for-kids/

​“Now more than ever we are revamping the way we support schools, students and families and how we deliver education services. We have had to think through how we overcome barriers to school supplies and other logistics – as we keep in the fore-front our mission to serve every child. Only with key funders like the California Arts Council can we continue to develop solutions and ensure that all students have access to an arts education,” says Eve.

Arts For The Schools has responded to the shelter in place order and school closures by
teaching free online art and music classes and offering free art supplies for anyone in need.
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“Right now parents and community members need our support. We have continued to teach online live classes for schools and offered free public art classes via You Tube and our website for parents and the public. We are also offering free professional art supplies to anyone in need to help mitigate the impact of home-schooling on families, but also we want to provide for our seniors and families right now that can greatly benefit from art therapy and at-home classes,” says Eve McEneaney, CEO.

​So far Arts For The Schools has given away over 500 bags of professional art supplies to community
members. For more information on the free lessons of free supplies visit artsfortheschools.org or call (530) 582-8278.

Arts For The Schools wants to thank Lake Tahoe Dance Collective for offering their studio space for free for Mixed Emotions Theatrix and local teens to rehearse for the So now You Know Production that premiered March 6, 2020.

Great partners like Lake Tahoe Dance collective are what make the world go round!  We could not have pulled off 10 rehearsals in 10 days without their help. Thank you so much!  To learn more about their work please visit https://www.laketahoedancecollective.org.​

​The experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the local teens and allowed them to learn the stressful process of putting together a professional production, in very little time. The teens had to develop their own personal stories, memorize their lines, learn a full dance routine and theatrical story-telling in only ten days! 
 
The production performed a total of five performances: for three local schools, a field trip performance with dozens of classes from multiple schools attending, and a public show.  The So Now You Know production was crafted to share the personal stories of the teens and artists and was so moving, that students of all ages were deeply engaged at every performance.  One principal reported to us it was the best assembly they had in years.