NEW YORK, NY (06/30/2023) — After agreement with the mayor, the New York City Council is set to approve the City’s Fiscal 2024 Budget, which sustains and increases funding for “Support for Arts Instruction” and arts partnerships in City public schools. The initiative – which began last year –  will support standard arts instruction programs with a focus on increasing access to the arts and supporting pathways for sequential arts learning.  In response,  Kimberly Olsen, Executive Director of the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, issued the following statement:

“Arts education is transformative for students. It not only helps them explore their creativity, it leads to better academic outcomes, mental health, and graduation rates. That’s why the Mayor and City Council’s commitment to providing funding for K-12 arts education is so important: it will provide students with a rich, diverse arts education experience. The arts reach all students, especially those with learning disabilities and multilingual learners, in ways that other subjects can not. It is a core subject. It’s not extra or optional –  it’s a lifeline for students. We’re looking forward to working with our partners in the City Council, Adams Administration, and NYC Public Schools to build on this foundation and push for arts education for all – because it starts with the arts.”

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