Sonoma Mayor Arts Proclamation & Student Art Exhibit in City Council Chambers March 13 - April 13, 2023
Mayor’s Proclamation in support of the importance of K-12 visual and performing arts education
City Council Meeting March 15, 2023 - Anne Ching (SVUSD Board), Connie Schlelein (Creative Bridges), Sandra Lowe (City of Sonoma Mayor), Walt Williams (Creekside High), Robyn Muscardini (Visual Thinking Strategies), Cheryl Shimek (Sonoma Plein Air), Vanessa Rognlien (Sonoma Community Center).
Creative Bridge Builders and Arts Education Advocates:
Thank you to those who came out to the city council meeting last night and also to those who wanted to, but couldn’t make it. Your support for the importance of arts education is vital. City of Sonoma Mayor Sandra Lowe initiated the idea of a student art showcased in the City Council Chambers to celebrate national Youth Arts Month; it is unprecedented for our valley. She issued a proclamation and spoke personally of the value of her own arts education.
When our city’s mayor, city council and the president of the school board support arts education at a city council meeting, it’s a very big deal. This student art show wouldn’t have been possible without the help of City Clerk Rebekah Barr, the city crew, and visual arts teachers Cheryl Coldiron, Renate Kuprian, Andy Mitchel and Walt Williams.
I.T. photographer Robbi Pengelly photographed the art show for an upcoming article, while sharing the importance of arts education in her background. Thanks to Sonoma Plein Air for the funding for the student art frames.
After the event, an art teacher confided that the priority now being given arts education is having a positive affect on the kids, arts teachers and schools. The opportunities his students have experienced with new community nonprofit connections has been powerful and exciting for them. Creative Bridges’ goal is to help build understanding of the visual and performing arts programs, that are critical intellectually and emotionally for a complete K-12 education for every child.
Thank You Mayor and City Council. We are now doing this important work together.
~ Connie Schlelein and Cheryl Coldiron, Co-Chairs, Creative Bridges
Read the Proclamation in full:
PROCLAIMING MARCH 2023 AS YOUTH ARTS MONTH IN THE CITY OF SONOMA
WHEREAS, the study of the visual and performing arts leads to a fuller, more meaningful, creative life; and
WHEREAS, arts education provides substantial educational benefits for every elementary, middle and secondary student; and
WHEREAS, arts education develops students’ creative potential, improves problem-solving and critical thinking skills by reinforcing and bringing to life what students learn in other subjects; and
WHEREAS, arts education gives students a deeper understanding of multi-cultural values and beliefs; has the power to unify our community, and teaches perceptual skills to appreciate beauty, order and other expressive qualities, and also
WHEREAS, arts education advances student mastery of art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics; and
WHEREAS, our national and state educational leaders have acknowledged the necessity of including arts experiences equitably in all students’ education; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sonoma is supporting the youth of our community in their intellectual development through artistic endeavors, and offering support to our committed arts teachers; and
WHEREAS, Youth Arts Month (YAM) March 2023 will go down as one of the most exciting and truly positive in California educational history thanks to a voter mandated passage of the ground-breaking Proposition 28; and
WHEREAS, this California ballot initiative provides significant supplemental funding for visual and performing arts education in public schools beginning this autumn, and continuing into perpetuity; and
WHEREAS, in Sonoma Valley, a number of YAM student arts shows and performances will jumpstart our community’s commitment to our children’s creative expression; and
WHEREAS, this is the first and unprecedented visual art show in the City of Sonoma Council Chambers starting March 13 - April 13; and
WHEREAS, Student art pieces from Adele Harrison Middle School, Altamira Middle School, Sonoma Valley High School and Creekside High School will hang in a place of honor.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sandra Lowe, Mayor of the City of Sonoma, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as YOUTH ARTS MONTH. All residents are urged to give their full support to quality school arts programs for our youth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the City of Sonoma to be affixed this 15th day of March 2023.
