The Wallace Foundation

“There are too many folks who thought their dream of earning a degree and becoming a teacher was out of reach due to various life circumstances that have occurred along the way. They are now getting their shot." https://bit.ly/3X98BVc

RAND Corporation surveyed more than 200 school districts on their 2023 summer learning programs and found that urban and high-poverty districts are most likely to expect funding decreases in summer 2024–but those whose students likely have the greatest need for academically infused summer programming. Learn about this insight and others in the new study: https://bit.ly/3WOYpkI

Through several focus groups with young people, the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) found that young people were not attending performances because they thought ballet was elitist and boring. This market research gave PNB the chance to revamp its external communications and make it a strategic priority to produce online videos that showed different sides of the company and its artists. Read more examples of arts organizations who put audience building practices into use: https://bit.ly/4auylhR

A recent report in FHI 360’s summer snapshot series explores ways rural districts leverage community partnerships to strengthen summer learning programs. Discover how these partnerships help districts design, implement, and fund summer learning programs—and how these partnerships can be adapted to other communities. https://bit.ly/3ArVeXv

In recent years, there’s been a seismic shift across the American dance ecosystem. A greater push for inclusivity, a demand for more accessibility, and the financial upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic means dance companies nationwide must challenge tradition to survive. Kellee Edusei, executive director of Dance/USA, gives her input on the present triumphs and turmoil leaders of the industry face and dance’s resilient future ahead. https://bit.ly/3YrsExc

The Arab American National Museum taps into local stories to forge deeper community connections and explore unseen opportunities. Museums across the U.S. are embracing the idea of “creative placemaking,” a framework for organizations to use the arts and their programming to help make communities more inclusive and welcoming. Delve into these museums’ unique takes on placemaking and community engagement. https://bit.ly/3ZdswTF

University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Erica Halverson’s recent paper surfaces current trends and challenges in youth arts programs, particularly those serving young people from marginalized communities. Wallace’s VP of research Bronwyn Bevan sat down with her to learn more about how she approaches the arts and why youth arts can foster student learning. https://bit.ly/3yxiimC

New episode of “A Hot Time for Summer Learning” is here! Hear how two districts from the District Summer Learning Network led by FHI 360 have transformed their #summerlearning programs to combat student learning loss: https://bit.ly/4aGfeS7

Not all arts organizations are the same, nor do they face the same challenges or serve the same communities. In two companion reports, researchers from SMU DataArts surveyed two sets of arts organizations to gauge what made them so successful. As their results indicate, prioritizing strong leadership, high artistic standards, and community orientation allow organizations’ staff—and the communities they serve—to thrive. https://bit.ly/3C8Utmz

Interested in building #artsaudiences? Here's a refresher on 9 practices that have helped organizations increase arts participation over the past decade, along with examples of how the organizations put them into use. #thearts #performingarts https://bit.ly/4auylhR