The Picasso Project, a Public Citizens for Children and Youth mini grant program that brings arts education to schools that have very limited arts instruction, awarded more than $60,000 in grants to 14 Philadelphia schools, including Allen Stearne Elementary and Swenson Arts & Technology High School in Northeast Philadelphia.
“Sadly, because of a lack of funding, students don’t get nearly the exposure to arts projects they need to tap their potential,” said Gretchen Elise Walker, Director of Arts Education for the Picasso Project. “Our grant helps, but we need better state education funding to solve this dilemma for the long term.”
A 2013 online survey from Picasso Project grant winners found overall school climate in 98 percent of schools improved.
Likewise, 77 percent said their Picasso Project grant had a positive or extremely positive impact on their school’s ability to gain additional arts resources.
The Picasso Project, founded by PCCY in 2002, supports innovative arts projects through mini-grants at Philadelphia public schools and advocates for long-term increases in arts education for students.
Since its inception, the Picasso Project has provided a total of $462,000 to fund 121 arts projects benefitting over 30,000 students in Philadelphia schools. ••
