Visual Art Students, Teachers and Parents,
I want to congratulate everyone in our Visual Arts community for the tremendous artistic work created this school year by our students, under the creative instruction and guidance of our teachers. Â
Arts education in San Diego Unified School District is going through a renaissance. The arts enjoy wonderful support from the school board and superintendent, from their presence at events to increased financial support, which shows how they are prioritizing artistic opportunities for students. The VAPA Foundation, a separate non-profit organization that supports arts education in SDUSD, has been steadily increasing its development of resources that enable us to showcase honors student work in professional spaces, which is unprecedented. And the passage of Prop. 28 by California's voters will release historic new resources for arts education across the state.
Students, your commitment to the arts shines through as I navigate the pages here. We are all proud of how you have developed your artistic voices, and you have shown that you have something to say. I want to encourage you to continue your studies in visual art, regardless if that means taking art in college or in the grade or school you will attend next year, as your development as an artist make you a better, more creative person and citizen in our world.
Parents, I appreciate your support of arts education, which provides so many pathways and access to possibilities for students and their futures.
Enjoy the exhibition!
Russ Sperling, Director of Visual and Performing Arts