We Are In This Together: A survey of community arts partners in LA County Public Schools

Arts and Culture surveyed teaching artists and arts organizations to find out who provided arts education services to LA County's 2,198 public schools in 2012. This survey found 139 arts organizations and 46 teaching artists providing arts education during the school day in 98 percent of all school districts and 53 percent of all schools in the County. While this is certainly an under-count of the total number of such arts organizations and teaching artists serving local public schools, it is a first step toward establishing a comprehensive list, and is the best data we have to date about this group of providers. Among the high level findings:

  • 57 percent of all arts education provided by community arts partners was in visual art (32%) and music/opera (25%)
  • More than 77% of arts education provided by community arts partners occured in elementary (K-8) grades. Arts education from community arts partners peaked in grades 3 - 5, and peak years varied by arts discipline
  • The four community arts partners providing the greatest amount of arts education in LA County were the Autry Museum, Broad Stage, the Music Center, and the Skirball Cultural Center
  • Nearly half of all community arts partners charge schools for their services at least some of the time

Read the Full Report