Who are GRPS Arts Advocates?
Since February 2000, a grassroots group of parents, teachers, principals and arts professionals has been working to promote and strengthen the arts in Grand Rapids Public Schools. We call ourselves GRPS Arts Advocates, and we are affiliated with the Student Advancement Foundation.

The Student Advancement Foundation is a nonprofit agency working to support literacy, the arts, environmental education and after school programs in Grand Rapids Public Schools. The GRPS Art Advocates believe the arts are essential to an excellent education, and we are working to enrich students' experiences in music, art, drama, dance and creative writing.

Our goal is to be an advocate for stronger arts education in Grand Rapids Public Schools, support the excellent teachers and programs already in place, and enhance district offerings through collaboration with community artists and organizations. We have lobbied the Board of Education for more funding, more instruction time and better teaching spaces and supplies.

We also helped promote and organize an auction of student-made fish sculptures, which raised some $9,000 for GRPS art programs. In early 2002 we staged the first "Arts Jam", a musical benefit at Wealthy Theatre, which raised $7,000 for GRPS music teachers. The event was such a success that the GRPS Art Advocates has continued to sponsor this fundraiser yearly, as well as other awareness-raising events. The money raised from "Arts Jam" has been a great help for the art and music staff of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Follow this link to read some teacher/staff testimonials.

Our monthly meetings have attracted a cross-section of teachers and parents from throughout the district. We've been joined by representatives of community organizations including the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Symphony, Community Circle Theatre and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Our priorities now are to establish a broad-based governing board of school and community members, push for more funding and stronger curriculum requirements and raise the profile of the arts in our schools with special promotions and events.

If you believe, as we do, that the arts can unlock students' gifts and improve their academic performance, please join our effort. Contact one of the Arts Advocates officers, and we'll tell you more about the exciting things we're doing!

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Arts Advocates Mission Statement
Arts Advocates is a grassroots group of parents, teachers, principals and arts professionals working to promote and strengthen the arts in Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Our goal is to be an advocate for stronger arts education in Grand Rapids Public Schools, support the excellent teachers and programs already in place, and enhance district offerings through collaboration with community artists and organizations.
Click here for more information about Arts Advocates.