7/28/2019 Blog Post: Denver Quality Arts Task Force
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DenverQualityArtsTaskForce
A+Denverrecentlycreatedataskforcetodiscussthecurrentstateofartseducation
inDenverandcomeupwiththoughtfulsuggestionsinordertoimprovethe
integrationofartsinameaningfulwaybothgeographicallyandacrossthek-12
spectruminDPSschools.
Arts(broadlydefined)relatedjobsarethefifthlargestsectorofemploymentin
Denveraloneandtherearenumerousstudies,books,andanecdotesfromCEOsand
leadersnotingtheneedforrightbrained,creative,andinnovativethinkersinourworkforcerightnow.WealsoknowthatColoradostrugglestoovercomethe
ColoradoParadoxandcontinuestoimporthumancapital.AtsomepointwewontbeabletorelyuponourmountainstoluretalenttoColoradoandweneedto
improveoureducationtobetterengageandpreparestudents.
Inthemonthsleadinguptotheendoftheschoolyearweundertookadata
gatheringeffort,mostlyqualitative,throughinterviewsandsurveysofdistrictschools.Whatweendedupwithareadraftreportandsomehypothesesthatwe
havetakentoourTaskForce.Thetaskforcecomprisedofvisionariesandleadersin
artsinclude:PrincipalofDenverSchooloftheArtsBillKohut,Think360Arts
ManagingDirectorJaneHansberry,formerLt.GovernorBarbaraOBrien,CEOofthe
DenverMuseumofNatureandScienceGeorgeSparksandothers
ReportHypotheses:
1.
Thereisasupplyanddemandissueforartopportunities(wearentmeetingthedemandforarteducation).
2.
Thereisanopportunitygapandkidsdonthavetheequalaccesstheyneedtoentertheartspipeline.
3.
DPSisexperiencingsomeconsistencyissuestherearegoodprogramsinthedistrict,buttheycanvaryandarefarandfewbetween.
4.
Lackofpipelinewedontnecessarilyhavemethodsorresourcestomovekidsastheychangeschoolsandgoontohighergradelevels.Thosewhohaveinterestinamusicalinstrumentinelementaryschoolmaynothaveany
programsoroptionsavailabletotheminanearbymiddleorhighschool.
5.
ThereisnoclearvisionforartseducationinDPSanditisnotadequatelyaddressedintheDenverPlanorothercommunityplans.
6.
TherearegreatopportunitiesforresourcepoolingandcollaborationbutthereisntacooperativeframeworkororganizationleadingthechargethisshouldbeanorganizationoutsideofDPS.
A+Denverrecognizesthatwearenottheexpertsonartseducationandhave
convenedthisQualityArtsTaskForcetoprovidefeedbackonthesehypothesesand
tocomeupwithcreativesolutionsaswemoveforwardtocontinuetoimproveeducationinDenver.Itiswiththisrecognitionthatweaskforotherhypotheses
thatwemaybemissing.
