Detroit's Lack of Arts Access to Children Puts Them at a Disadvantage
The city that gave the world Motown, techno, and numerous other artistic movements still struggles with providing arts education to its children. Despite being a hub for cultural innovation, too many kids in Detroit grow up without access to art or music classes. This is a staggering issue, especially when considering the importance of arts education in shaping young minds.
To address this problem, a new citywide initiative called the Detroit Partnership for Arts Education (DPAE) has been launched. The partnership brings together health care leaders, educators, philanthropists, and artists to ensure that every Detroit child has access to arts programs regardless of their ZIP code or family's income. DPAE is coordinated by Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), which is backed by the Detroit Mayor’s Office and Detroit Public Schools Community District.
This effort marks a significant shift towards acknowledging arts education as an essential part of a well-rounded education, alongside academics and athletics. Unfortunately, many students in Detroit are denied this opportunity due to inadequate school funding compared to wealthier suburbs. Nafeesah Symonette, executive director of DEYA, believes that "the barrier that exists should not exist because of where someone lives." She emphasizes the importance of creating full human beings through investments in what they want to do and how they want to contribute to society.
The Detroit Arts Education Data Project highlights the uneven access to arts education in the city. While 93% of schools in the DPSCD offer at least one arts course, access is limited in depth. For example, only 66% of these schools provide music programs, and fewer than half offer dance instruction or theater classes. Out-of-school access is also inequitable, with more than half of youth enrolled in Detroit arts programs living outside the city.
To address these gaps, DPAE has unveiled three key tools: the Detroit Youth Arts Navigator, an online map of community arts programs and schools offering classes; "A Vision for Arts Education in Detroit," a citywide framework supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Kresge Foundation; and the Detroit Arts Education Data Project, which will guide future policy decisions.
The initiative is backed by influential figures such as Dr. Herman Gray, a pediatrician who believes that arts education builds confidence, resilience, and empathy in children. Health care leaders like Gray and Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, recognize the importance of arts education in shaping young minds and contributing to community development.
The Children’s Foundation is also involved, funding art therapy programs at hospitals and schools. They aim to create a permanent endowment for youth arts to ensure that programs continue beyond grants.
However, despite progress made by the DPSCD, there is still more work to be done. Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of the DPSCD, emphasizes the importance of continued partnerships like DPAE to provide every young person in Detroit with access to quality arts education.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is not just to produce the next generation of artists but also to create innovators, problem-solvers, and community leaders. Nafeesah Symonette believes that arts access should be universal and emphasizes the need for funding to support this effort.
By working together, Detroit can build on its rich cultural legacy and unlock the full creative potential of every young person in the city.
The city that gave the world Motown, techno, and numerous other artistic movements still struggles with providing arts education to its children. Despite being a hub for cultural innovation, too many kids in Detroit grow up without access to art or music classes. This is a staggering issue, especially when considering the importance of arts education in shaping young minds.
To address this problem, a new citywide initiative called the Detroit Partnership for Arts Education (DPAE) has been launched. The partnership brings together health care leaders, educators, philanthropists, and artists to ensure that every Detroit child has access to arts programs regardless of their ZIP code or family's income. DPAE is coordinated by Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), which is backed by the Detroit Mayor’s Office and Detroit Public Schools Community District.
This effort marks a significant shift towards acknowledging arts education as an essential part of a well-rounded education, alongside academics and athletics. Unfortunately, many students in Detroit are denied this opportunity due to inadequate school funding compared to wealthier suburbs. Nafeesah Symonette, executive director of DEYA, believes that "the barrier that exists should not exist because of where someone lives." She emphasizes the importance of creating full human beings through investments in what they want to do and how they want to contribute to society.
The Detroit Arts Education Data Project highlights the uneven access to arts education in the city. While 93% of schools in the DPSCD offer at least one arts course, access is limited in depth. For example, only 66% of these schools provide music programs, and fewer than half offer dance instruction or theater classes. Out-of-school access is also inequitable, with more than half of youth enrolled in Detroit arts programs living outside the city.
To address these gaps, DPAE has unveiled three key tools: the Detroit Youth Arts Navigator, an online map of community arts programs and schools offering classes; "A Vision for Arts Education in Detroit," a citywide framework supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Kresge Foundation; and the Detroit Arts Education Data Project, which will guide future policy decisions.
The initiative is backed by influential figures such as Dr. Herman Gray, a pediatrician who believes that arts education builds confidence, resilience, and empathy in children. Health care leaders like Gray and Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, recognize the importance of arts education in shaping young minds and contributing to community development.
The Children’s Foundation is also involved, funding art therapy programs at hospitals and schools. They aim to create a permanent endowment for youth arts to ensure that programs continue beyond grants.
However, despite progress made by the DPSCD, there is still more work to be done. Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of the DPSCD, emphasizes the importance of continued partnerships like DPAE to provide every young person in Detroit with access to quality arts education.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is not just to produce the next generation of artists but also to create innovators, problem-solvers, and community leaders. Nafeesah Symonette believes that arts access should be universal and emphasizes the need for funding to support this effort.
By working together, Detroit can build on its rich cultural legacy and unlock the full creative potential of every young person in the city.
in the middle - that's how I feel about kids in Detroit not having access to arts education. It's like they're missing out on a super important part of their education, you know? 
that fits into place.
for schools with more resources)
)
but i gotta give props 2 d ppl who r workin on dis initiative its amazing 2 see so many orgs comin together 4 a common goal and its awesome 2 hear from ppl like nafeesah & dr gray who believe in the power of arts ed 2 shape young minds 
let's get behind dis effort and support every kid in detroit w/ access 2 arts programs!!! 
but hey, the new initiative sounds promising 
i hope it can make a real difference in the lives of these young people 
and btw, why cant we have universal access to arts programs no matter what zip code or income level you're from 
and I'm still dreaming about those crystal clear waters... anyway, it's kinda sad to think that even in a city like Detroit with so much history and culture, some kids are missing out on arts education 
. We need more people like Nafeesah Symonette who's all about making arts education accessible to everyone 
. We gotta make sure every kid has access to arts programs, regardless of their zip code or family income 
. I'm hyped that influencers like Dr. Herman Gray and Bob Riney are on board, but we can't rest yet 
. More needs to be done to ensure every Detroit child gets the arts education they deserve 
it's like they r sayin "art is 4 rich ppl only" 
and yeah its crazy that rich suburbs get way more funding for schools...why shouldnt every kid have equal access to arts ed? 
we need more initiatives like this, not just for detroit but for cities everywhere...arts education is key! 
like what's wrong with a free account? anyway back to detroit... it's crazy that arts education is still not a priority in some schools 
Detroit's lack of arts access is like me not having internet - it's a total disadvantage! 
what's crazy is that dpae is tryin to change this, like for real 
gotta keep pushin for arts education 4 all 
and yeah i love that nafeesah symonette is on point 
gotta keep supporting DPAE and getting more people involved 
honestly, detroit's struggle with arts education is kinda heartbreaking... i mean, you got one of the most iconic cities for music and art history, but now they're fighting to give kids access to those same things? it's like, what's the point if they don't get to experience it all? 
.
.
about makin arts access universal 4 every child 
let's get behind this effort & help detroit unlock its full creative potential