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BEVERLEY TAYLOR SORENSON ARTS LEARNING PROGRAM
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Utah Arts Education Partnership (UAEP)
Comprised of the Utah Arts Council, art works for kids!, the Utah State Office of Education, and the Utah Parent Teacher Association, the UAEP is the operating alliance for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. The alliance utilizes the inherent strengths of each member organization to advance arts education initiatives in Utah.
Click on the links below to visit the websites for each partner:
Beverley Taylor Sorenson
 Since founding art works for kids! in 1995, Beverley Taylor Sorenson has donated more than $20 million to fund the teaching of the arts in Utah elementary schools and to develop high quality arts education programs in Utah's colleges and universities.
Sorenson’s vision for arts education is grounded in her belief in the importance of 0educating the “whole child,” and that a rigorous, sequential arts education is vital to childhood development. Deeply influenced by her own childhood experiences, which were rich in music, dance, theatre, and art, as well as her experience as a New York City elementary school teacher, Sorenson has observed that children with a strong arts education develop a real understanding of excellence, improve habits of mind, gain self
confidence, and increase empathy. Furthermore, she believes that these children are more apt to grow up knowing who they are, expand their cultural talents and skills, and participate more fully in Utah’s creative economy.
Program History
2005/2006 – Utah Arts Council (UAC) listening tours identify the loss of arts education in schools as the highest ranking concern of constituents statewide.
2006/2007 – UAC and art works for kids! (awfk) collaborate to develop a potential solution based on the awfk classroom model. Groups research the needs, resources, necessary partners, and viability of the program. Project supporters conduct outreach with state legislators to raise awareness of the issue and potential solutions.
2007 – Utah State Office of Education (USOE) and Utah Parent Teacher Association (UPTA) join UAC and awfk in developing a detailed proposal for the Utah State Legislature. Representative Greg Hughes (R-Draper) agrees to sponsor a bill funding the program in the 2008 legislative session.
2008 – UAC, awfk, USOE and Utah PTA form the Utah Arts Education Partnership (UAEP), with a mission of increasing awareness of the benefits of quality arts education in Utah schools, among business, community and government leaders.
March 2008 – Utah State Legislature funds the $15.82 million Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program. This four-year initiative integrates quality arts education into the curriculum of Utah K-6 children by: funding the salaries of school-dedicated arts specialists to work side-by-side with classroom teachers as well as district arts coordinators to provide curriculum support and administrative coordination; promoting partnerships with universities to offer pre-service and professional development training, and; providing one time money to purchased equipment and art materials. Funds also provide for the evaluation and assessment of program results following the completion of each school year.
April 2008 – Grant applications posted online.
May 2008 – Grant applications due.
June 2008 – Grant awards announced.
June – August 2008 – Hiring and pre-service training for fall 2008 school year begins.
September 2008 – Mandatory workshops for all grantees. University professional development mentors begin work with arts specialists.
October – November 2008 – On-site school visits.
Program Model
What are the goals of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program?
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Hire 50 arts specialists statewide to serve approximately 17,000 students, or about 10 percent of Utah's elementary school enrollment
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Hire 10 district arts coordinators to implement and evaluate the new arts-education program
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Buy arts supplies and equipment
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Allocate $15.82 million over four years
Contact Us
Question or comments?
Please contact:
Janet Wolf, Director of Arts Education Initiatives
801.236.7558 / jwolf@utah.gov
PRESS CENTER
Press Releases
Media Coverage
Publications and Materials
Press Kit
coming soon
Media Inquiries
To request an interview, school tour, stock photography, or other resources, please contact:
Lydia Durand, Communications Manager
801.236.7548 / Ldurand@utah.gov
RESOURCES
For more information on arts education, please visit:
ARCHIVE
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