Findings Paragraph #1

The never-ending battle for our fine arts to remain in education is being lost before our eyes. This has caused many a question and one at the forefront is who will support these fine arts once government funding is gone? One of the strongest outcries from the people to be publicized was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The funding for the 2007-2008 school year did not have the money to pay the art teacher, so the position was cut. This teacher was also the music teacher. The community turned to local businesses, fundraisers, and creating public programs such as CREATE to keep children from losing the enriching experience of the arts (Kimery Vance). Not far away, in California, the Special Children's Art Foundation is privately funding the Los Angeles County Schools by selling their children's artworks and murals in galas and auctions. These funds are used to give special needs students access to art where they spend the majority of their core educational time (Geffen Playhouse). Pilots are being used to give educators cross curriculum training and to help fund productions of plays for children in schools. Supplies are given to schools and classes are being held for children and adults with communication disabilities or mental disabilities to help them learn core life skills while enjoying freedom of expression and creation of their own works (Ponder, Carol, and Kissinger). This research steadily confirms that upon the failure of government funding, the community will step up and commit all possible efforts towards supporting the fine arts within our communities and areas. The people will continue to desire to expose our children and our futures to fine arts and keep the expansive knowledge at the forefront of allowing a child freedom of expression. This will only open the people up to more questions left unanswered as the government continues to decrease funds for education, but the community is unwilling to let the fight go until justice is served.