Kamlager-Dove Reintroduces Bill to Boost Arts Education at Minority-Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) reintroduced the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act, legislation that expands access to arts education by providing dedicated funding to Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). Representatives Velázquez (NY-07), Fields (LA-06), Bonamici (OR-01), Norton (DC-AL), and Thanedar (MI-13) joined Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove as original co-sponsors of the bill.

"When we invest in arts education, we invest in opportunity, culture, and the future," said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. "Despite strong public support for arts education, this funding is often among the first to be cut-unequally burdening Black and brown students. The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act aims to reverse this trend by providing targeted resources to Minority Serving Institutions, ensuring that all students have the chance to explore their creativity and experience the transformative power of the arts."

"The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act underlines the importance of arts education for those who lack access. When we invest in underserved communities, we let the learners there know we see them. Every learner deserves access to well-prepared arts educators, age-appropriate resources, and teachers who are supported through meaningful professional development. Without this type of funding, we turn our backs on the students today and the future we'll share with those who weren't provided the resources they needed to succeed," said Cecil Adderley, President of the National Association for Music Education.

Specifically, the Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act would:

• Direct the Department of Education to administer a competitive grant program that can be used by Minority Serving Institutions to:
  • Provide financial and other assistance to students in the arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
  • Establish outreach programs and development offices for arts, arts education, and cultural departments;
  • Provide comprehensive wraparound services for arts, arts education, and cultural students, including faculty and peer mentorship, work-based learning opportunities, guidance counseling, and career advising;
  • Exhibit, maintain, monitor, and protect Minority art collections in exhibition and in storage; and
  • Provide well-paid apprenticeship, internship, and fellowship opportunities to students in arts, arts education, and cultural programs through partnerships with nonprofit arts, arts education, and cultural institutes.
• Increase federal funding to MSIs to improve arts education and access for minority students; and
• Provide an expansive definition of the arts to ensure all forms of art can benefit, including performance, literary, visual, graphic, plastic, and decorative arts.

The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act has been endorsed by Americans for the Arts, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Association of Art Museum Directors, CMA Foundation, Conn Selmer, Create CA, Educational Theatre Association, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Jazz at Lincoln Center, JazzSLAM, Lang Lang International Music Foundation, League of American Orchestras, Music Teacher Guild, Music Travel Consultants, Music Will, National Art Education Association, National Association for Media Arts Education, National Association for Music Education, National Association of Music Merchants, National Concerts, National Dance Education Organization, National Guild for Community Arts Education, National Network for Folk Arts and Education, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, Rock and Soul Forever Foundation, Sankofa Songs, Springfield Symphony, Theatre Communications Group, Young Audiences Arts for Learning, Arts Ed NJ, Chorus America, Cold Narly Generation, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Education Through Music, Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association, Hip-Hop Education Center, Kindermusik International, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Music Education Consultants, OPERA America, and Teaching Guitar Workshops.

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