Burbank Arts Education Foundation

Programs: Twice every year, the foundation accepts grant request proposals from public schools in burbank unified for arts education programs that are implemented during the school day. We also entered into an mou with busd to support busd's school year long "music is instrumental" campaign, benefiting instruments and instrumental repair for the middle and high schools. The foundation provided a $10,000 grant and accepted donations for a fundraising effort called 1,000 for $100, co-chaired by michael cusumano, linda walmsley and michael hastings. In 2017, the foundation two grant cycles provided funding for 28 grant requests affecting more than 12,328 public school students. Some examples of the investments we made at elementary schools were school wide teaching artist series in dance, instrumental music, and the visual arts; vocal music instruction for kindergarten, 1st grade and early special education; an extension of dance residency for special education students; theater artists-in-residency including seeing a live performance; a pilot program introducing african movement and drums and an innovative "fine arts wheel" for arts classes in tk-5th grades. In the middle schools, we invested in sound equipment for auditorium enhancements, musical instruments, a "7th period" career technical education play production class and a wireless microphones for vocal music, band, drama and musical theater. In the high schools, we invested in lighting equipment for auditorium; equipment to build a sound booth for film and tv production; storage lockers for drumline equipment that will increase usable rehearsal space for other performing arts programs; a s. T. E. A. M. Project with the design and creation of remotely operated vehicles; a revival of musical theater production; and a kiln for the fine arts program at busd's alternative learning campus, monterey high.

in 2017, we produced two creative circles forums to bring together our community in support of the arts, arts education and creative innovation in burbank. Through a one-hour panel with professional experts and educators, we discuss relevant topics that explore our creative economy and share insights and potential career pathways with students, parents and the community. In february, we brought experts and educators together for a forum focused on "preparing kids for innovation," with a panel of representatives from jpl, maker partners and a writer from the star trek series and, in november, we hosted a dialogue regarding creating "documentary films" with a panel of representatives from rugged entertainment, new filmmakers los angeles and new york film academy.

each year, the foundations hosts or attends various meetings to support arts education in burbank unified. We track education policy and align with school site pta units and booster clubs. We hosted five community exchange gatherings and relaunched our community outreach group with new leadership from our arts advocacy leaders. These gatherings are free and open to the public and focus on the areas of education policy, support for parents, and volunteer engagement. In january, we visited monterey high school to learn about their design-based learning and "genius hour" projects. In april, bret hart elementary hosted us in their auditorium, showcasing their dance program, dramamaniacs theatre residency, and the variety of arts integration projects happening in their classrooms. May took us to imx auto group's art gallery space, where guests shared the successes and challenges that they faced in arts education in the 2016-17 school year. Then, in september, the colony theatre hosted us for a panel discussion on what's happening in arts education in busd to kick off the 2017-18 school year, and finally, in october, d'argenzio's wine enoteca hosted an informal gathering for parents and school site leaders to share the successes and challenges they're facing so far this school year. Each year, the community exchange gatherings hosts 300 arts advocates, parents and artists.

the foundation has a long-standing commitment to burbank unified. We attended busd local control accountability plan advisory committee meetings. Not only were we able to understand the broader needs of the school district, but we were there to support the district in sustaining its commitment to arts education by maintaining general music elementary school teachers, a musical instrument repair budget and funds to support visual arts classes supplies and materials for the middle and high schools. In 2017, we also participated in busd's community arts team strategic planning sessions to prioritize the current arts for all plan and we presented at monthly burbank council pta meetings to continue serving in alignment with this important parent group. Because of our mou with busd, the executive director and a board appointed task force met with superintendent matt hill, assistant superintendent sharon cuseo, visual and performing arts tosa, daniel swartz, and arts and career technical education coordinator, peggy flynn, to discuss the busd arts for all plan and its focus over the next year. Superintendent hill also invited the foundation to join a committee of fundraising organizations to discuss district needs. To ensure our local connection to our regional partners, the foundation also worked with arts for la and presented new tools and research in advocacy for arts education. We participated in la county arts education collective's innovation labs, celebrating 15 years of the county-wide "arts for all" initiative. For our governance practices, in 2017, the foundation was invited to participate in the walt disney company's taproot volunteer service day, where the executive director and members of the executive committee of the board of directors were invited to learn from experts who work for disney. The project for the day was to create a three-year financial projection and budget. The foundation also diversified our endowment and created a new investment account managed by california capital management. California capital management is offering pro-bono services to manage our endowed funds with oversight given to a board appointed investment committee.