Arts for LA surveyed the two candidates running for the 2nd Supervisorial District Seat for Los Angeles County about their awareness and support of arts and culture.
The candidates’ answers to our six questions are reproduced below. Arts for LA acknowledges the commitment each candidate made to providing thoughtful responses to our survey. We are pleased to share their responses with you.
Arts for LA is committed to informing our communities about the issues that concern you. Please share this survey with your friends, colleagues and neighbors. We also invite you to share your thoughts with us about the survey on our website, ArtsForLA.org. Engaging in a critical dialogue about the role the arts play in our society strengthens our understanding of the issues that affect our work, our life and our region.
Together, we can increase support of arts and culture in our region.
The views expressed in this survey are those of the candidates and have been presented in their entirety. The purpose of this survey is to inform and educate voters on arts, arts education and cultural infrastructure issues. It is not an endorsement of any one candidate.
To learn more about a candidate, click on his name to be redirected to his website.
To read online, scroll down and use your cursor to view each question. If you would prefer to download a PDF version of the survey, please click here.
After reading the candidates reponses, visit our online forum and share your thoughts with us.
2008 ARTS POLICY SURVEY
| Councilman Bernard Parks |
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas |
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The most effective way to bring quality arts education to students in our public schools is through the participation of school districts in the Arts for All program. Now in its sixth year, the Program has enjoyed remarkable success bringing arts education opportunities to nearly a quarter of a million students in its 28 participating school districts. Only three of the school districts in the 2nd Supervisorial District do not participate --- Hawthorne , Lennox and Lynwood --- and I would work to bring them into the fold.
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Throughout my service in public life, I have utilized the arts as a medium to foster cultural understanding and civic pride. It is my belief that we must increase the number of students in public schools receiving arts education by encouraging the implementation of arts based curriculum which as research indicates also serves to improve student achievement in areas from math and science to literature and language arts.
As a public servant, I have long partnered with school districts to facilitate arts education from exposure to museums and non-profit community arts organizations to this year where my office and I worked with schools/districts throughout the state, as we spearheaded and facilitated a statewide touring exhibition which celebrated the Centennial of the historic town of Allensworth. Curated by Susan Anderson, the exhibition featured photographs and artifacts and was attended by more than 10,000 students, families and stakeholders in four California cities.
While serving on the LA City Council, I supported and identified funding for arts and culture programs for students from Opera Noir’s Future Artists Program to City Ballet of Los Angeles Summer Youth Program and I was proud to sponsor The Open Museum "Remembering the Riots" through art and storytelling exhibition which integrated the art and reflections of students.
In short, I am committed to do as I have done in the past to provide financial and institutional support to schools and educational institutions to ensure that the 1.7 million students in LA County receive a quality arts & cultural affairs education. |
