The VAPA Foundation, whose mission is to increase access to and enhance the quality of arts education in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), recently announced thirty-eight teachers will receive awards to support for visual and performing arts programs not covered by school budget. The VAPA Enhancement Program, or VEP, enables any San Diego Unified teacher to apply for funds to enhance the quality of and access to arts education in the classroom or school.

This year, the VAPA Foundation granted a total of $63,000 and nearly $190,000 in VEP awards since its inception in 2017. This funding was made possible in part by a sponsorship from UC San Diego and the California Art Council. As the organization has grown, VAPA Foundation was able to increase the amount of money awarded to teachers this year.

“Our organization literally exists to provide this exact support to arts teachers who struggle for supplies to conduct their creative school programs,” stated Jon Bailey, president of the VAPA Foundation board of directors. “After a couple of tough years for schoolkids dealing with pandemic interruptions, we’re very happy to have increased our donation budget to allow an expanded number of grants in 2022. These teachers have a tremendous positive impact on our students, and we are honored to support their successful arts programs.”