Be An Arts Advocate – Speak Up for Diversity in the Arts

As we head back for another school year, take note that the arts are an essential part of a complete education, whether it happens in the home, school, or community. Children and youth benefit from innovative thinking, creative expression and improved focus. PTA supports programs that promote the public awareness of the arts and arts education through the integration of the arts in the school curriculum. The arts can positively affect an entire school culture, including student attitudes and motivation, which encourages them to stay and succeed in school.

PTA maintains that “diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) enhances and deepens this impact of the arts in our communities” and offers ways your PTA can begin to promote diversity in the arts in your school and community:

• Incorporate diversity in your school community arts events and welcome families using our Diversity Arts Celebration Guide.
• Take the National PTA Diversity Arts Pledge to focus attention on your PTA’s commitment to diversity in your arts programming.
• Use diversity outreach best practices to bring diverse perspectives into your arts programming representative of everyone in your PTA.
• Develop an arts education action plan with PTA’s ArtsEd Leader’s Guide.
• Continue gathering information around DEI with National PTA’s DEI Resources to find out how you can build a more inclusive PTA to enhance your arts programming, including:
  • A Family Guide to Selecting Diverse Books
  • The NEW National PTA Multicultural Reference Guide (en español)
  • The NEW DEI Resource Guide(en español)
• Invite diverse perspectives to your arts program planning. Check out the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Programming video.
• Consider promoting diversity in the arts by participating in the Illinois PTA Reflections Program allowing students in grades Pre K – 12 to express a theme through dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts.