A quality education should include courses that teach students self-expression through the visual and performing arts.  Students gain confidence in these subjects and this confidence is invaluable to them for their success in other subject areas as well.

Many teachers receive an allotted budget that is too small for purchasing the necessary materials for teaching class and must use money out of their own pockets to supplement what they need.  And then there are some art teachers who do not even get a budget.  We feel this is due to a lack of understanding as to the significance of the Arts in the educational process.

One example is the graduation rate difference in high schools that offer a variety of art, drama, music, and competitive speech with those schools that do not.  The average high school graduation rate in Arkansas ranges from 55% to 72%.  However, Little Rock Parkview High School have graduation rates over 97%.   Parkview offers comprehensive subjects in the Arts in addition to math, science, history, etc.

Not only are graduation rates higher, but discipline issues are drastically lower!

So to this end, the THEA Foundation’s Thea’s Art Closet program is designed to help provide adequate art supplies for public school art teachers.  We want to create public awareness that will move this issue into higher priorities in the education system of Arkansas.  Only then will Arkansas schools improve.

Until the Arkansas Legislature provides a specific budget providing generous amounts of arts supplies to all Arkansas schools, Thea’s Art Closet will continue to help through the “Closet”.

Make a tax deductible donation now to purchase Art Supplies for your school.  CLICK