Strategic Focus : Cultural Literacy : artSPARK

artSPARK leverages Silicon Valley’s cultural venues and the quality, richness and diversity of its ecosystem to provide a defined menu and calendar of arts and culture programming for every 3rd - 6th grader through annual field trips.

artSPARK Goals:

• Serve every child in grades 3-6 in Santa Clara County with two quality arts experiences each year sequentially
• Engage the teachers, schools and districts in a coordinated commitment to help every child participate
• Supplement classroom lessons with curriculum delivered to the teacher by arts organizations before and after arts experiences
• Capture children’s enthusiasm and funnel it towards personal exploration and expression
• Develop future artists, arts participants and audiences
• Strengthen local arts organizations and artists by supporting their arts education efforts
• Remove the transportation barrier to participation

Progress to Date: 1stACT Silicon Valley has co-developed a plan for creating a menu of cultural experiences that ensures Silicon Valley kids grow up with the arts. A transportation partner and the program model of combining two arts experiences in one field trip has been tested on a smaller scale with Symphony Silicon Valley. Planning with City of San Jose Arts Express Program to transition their work into artSPARK is complete and the program will launch in the Fall with a group of early adopter school districts.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please direct your inquiry to Joshua Russell, Director of Communications and Emerging Initiatives at jrussell@1stact.org