The Whidbey Arts in Education Community Consortium was recently awarded a grant in the sum of $4,000 by the Washington State Arts Commission.

The grant comes after months of tireless effort by Whidbey Island Arts Council members Frank Rose and Sue Symons.

Award of this First Step Grant opens the door to annual WSAC funding at higher levels to encourage quality and sustainable arts teaching and learning for local schools in dance, music, performing arts and visual arts.

An additional $4,000 of matching community funds will be applied in curriculum development, K-12.

A plan to bring Consortium members together in early September (2009) to develop and approve consortium organizational policies, procedures, vision, mission, and a three-year strategic plan is underway.

Rose and Symons formed the arts in education committee of the Whidbey Island Arts Council to make the Whidbey Arts in Education Consortium project a reality. The grant encourages communities to implement arts education in local public schools, pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

The grant supports the utilization of local resources through the formation of partnerships between educators, artists, arts organizations, parents, businesses and community members.

"A consortium is one way to create those strong supports in the arts community," Rose said.

It's a forward-thinking move to get public school teachers and local artists certified to teach art, and is directly in line with the Whidbey Island Arts Council vow to partner with school-based arts programs, Rose added.