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Arts Education

The arts are essential for whole child development and should be a central part of every student's learning experience. In today's public school classrooms, learning in and through the arts is sorely lacking, particularly in underserved communities and struggling schools. With a lens on both equity and the need for a well-rounded education in an era driven by standardized tests, Douglas Gould and Company's dedicated professionals are passionate about advancing the cause of arts education for all. To that end, we work with foundations, non-profit arts and education organizations to develop effective messages, train inspiring spokespersons, and implement strategic public and Web campaigns promoting engagement, advocacy and lasting policy change.

Originally created in 2005 to support the work of the Ford Foundation's Integrating the Arts and Education Reform Initiative and showcase its grantees, KeepArtsinSchools.org is the nation's leading online resource for local grassroots advocacy for learning in and through the arts. With nearly 25,000 unique visitors annually, the site provides local advocacy tools for supporters nationwide. The site convenes an online community for advocates by continuously providing inspiration from leaders in the field, news and research, and easy-to-use advocacy tools. A monthly
e-newsletter, regular Webinars led by field experts, and audio/video profiles keep arts learning champions informed and engaged.

Beginning with the development of a three-year strategic communication and advocacy plan, our work with the California Alliance for Arts Education has continued as we oversee implementation. In 2006, we placed news stories and editorials in strategic media outlets; contributing to a statewide campaign that secured historic state funding for arts education including $500 million in one-time funding and $105 million in ongoing funding to reach every school district in California.

Our close work with staff leadership and the Board of Directors led to the identification of key objectives, compelling messages, and training for a few dozen effective messengers. Our other services for the Alliance included a new graphic identity, re-design and information architecture for their Web site, and materials for online and communications advocacy.

The Integrating the Arts and Education Reform Initiative exists to improve the quality of students' education by providing integrated arts education opportunities across urban school systems, and build the view that the arts are an essential part of a high quality education. As partner and communications advocacy capacity-builder, the firm has worked closely with grantees in Alameda County, CA; Baltimore, MD; Berkeley, CA; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Jackson, MS; St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis, MN; and Washington D.C. The beginning of our multi-year work focused on designing public opinion work to root arts education advocacy in education reform and familiarized grantees and the broader field with effective issue framing and audience identification. Then, tailored services included site specific strategic communications plans, media and advocacy training for staff and board members, graphic identity and brand development, as well as the creation of collateral materials, messages and advocacy tactics for each site.

Field-building tools and products include messaging and advocacy suggestions for engaging parents, teachers, policymakers and business leaders, toolkits for Art is Education Month and the Arts and No Child Left Behind; the national opinion research report, Mobilizing Support for Integrated Arts Education, and a media analysis, Media Paints Arts in Fading Light.

Based in the second largest county in California, Orange County public schools serve 515,000 students every year. While some districts and many schools offer quality arts learning experiences, far too many do not. The firm created a strategy for communications and advocacy that harnessed existing assets and mobilized greater support for learning in and through the arts. Our process included in-depth interviews, brainstorming sessions, the development of frames and messages as well as a media and advocacy training. Together with arts education experts and leaders, we created a strategy for county-wide outreach to develop a permanent constituency to advocate for arts education for all Orange County students.

After a decade of working to restore arts education to children in the New York City public schools, the Center for Arts in Education turned to Douglas Gould and Company to help guide the organization as it initiated a new focus on public engagement and advocacy. Our concentrated work with staff, board members, and consultants resulted in a three-year detailed strategic communications and advocacy plan with tools to build internal capacity in preparation for advocacy. We provided extensive support on message development, identification of target audiences and guidance for the development of CAE's Web site and the creation of new Web tools. Retreats and trainings with staff prepared them to become effective advocates and strengthened their communications skills with stakeholders as well as with media.