More evidence continues to emerge on the benefits of the arts in the classroom. Most would attest, the arts are necessary. The inclusion of arts in the ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, shows that policymakers, not only arts advocacy groups and educators, view the arts as an essential component to a well-rounded education. 

In this decade, school districts across the nation are recommitting. Private sectors in turn seeing the benefit of the arts, and investing capital in its future. When students do not have access to arts education, to disciplines such as dance, music, the­atre, and the visual arts, there are negative implications; students lack critical thinking, problem solving skills, and the ability to create with intention and empathy, to name a few. Empirical evidence presented in the Journal for Civil Society shows that: arts participation is strongly related to behaviors that contribute to the health of civil society, such as increased civic engagement, greater social tolerance, and reductions in other-regarding behavior. 

Watching the first Democratic debate impresses this strong role of the arts on education. Without continued evidence-based arts programs, future leaders will lack characteristics driven by the arts; teachers will lack the tools to effectively meet the whole student. We do not have to imagine this. Years without the arts in the classroom has taught us many valuable lessons. One lesson revealing our civic duty to arts education. As research shows, the arts increase teacher and student community involvement and their tolerance of opposing views. 

Pulse Arts sees the necessity of the arts, keenly. This year as Pulse Arts proudly celebrates its first year in operation, we note our civic duty to give arts education its grandstand.  Our accomplishments in Sonoma County this year have been varied and impactful, some of which include: the facilitation of all Visual and Performing Arts in the Windsor Unified School District to coordinate a two-week arts integration summer program for grades TK-5; 

Vertical Articulation and Scope and Sequence project with all arts disciplines based on the 2019 California VAPA standards; 

Successful implementation of several grant-funded collaborations with Sonoma County Dancers United bringing 10 weeks of dance education to over 500 elementary students county-wide; 

Establishment of new partnerships with Luther Burbank Center for the Arts and Sonoma State University dance department to support the teaching of the artists training program. 

Collaboration with Creative Sonoma and CAAE to develop a strategic plan for arts education in Sonoma county; 

And, Big Idea Arts and Education Consulting for coordination and implementation of a three day arts integration summit and development of a $20,000 arts integration scholarship program for teachers.

If it sounds like Pulse Arts cares about its civic duty, the arts, and our work to educate and merge teachers, artists, and agency to create different arts enterprises for our future, you are right. 

Find out more about Pulse Arts and how you can be apart of creating change through the arts

Pulse Arts is creating a curricular framework for Bay Area arts organizations and secondary arts educators to serve as a guidebook for intergenerational and multicultural student leadership through the development and realization of public visual and performing arts projects within their communities.  This will influence the future faces and leadership styles of the arts by helping build a workforce that understands the value of social conscience, cultural influence, and creative impact. 

The curriculum will focus on leadership, social justice and activism through the arts.  Students will develop projects around significant issues in their communities and organize public events showcasing their efforts through an exhibition or performance.  Through the organization of these events, students will be mentored by industry professionals and taught about careers and leadership in the following 4 focus areas:
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Art Making
Students learn about professional art making through collaborating, creating and showing original works in a public setting. Mentors are professional creatives including artists, directors, choreographers, musicians, designers, painters, dancers, etc.  
Arts Entrepreneurship
Students learn about management and marketing through publicizing and coordinating a public exhibition and/or performance.  Mentors are professional creatives, business owners, staff, officers and board members of arts organizations, etc. 
Arts Education 
Students learn about planning, teaching, and mentoring through working with younger youth and engaging them in the process of collaborative creation.  Mentors are teachers, teaching artists, coaches, etc. 
Arts Production and Installation
Students learn about technical and/or managerial operations involved when producing and managing live events. Mentors are electricians, set builders, lighting designers, sound engineers, professional promoters, curators, etc.

Arts organizations can use the curriculum to build and/or enhance educational programs which include after school programs, school artist-in residence programs, mentorship/internship programs, and workshops.  
Visual and Performing Arts teachers, and Career Technical Education teachers in the Arts Media and Entertainment industry sector can use the curriculum to enhance and build programs around viable careers in the arts.  The guide will also support work around student leadership in arts fields, which is one of the 11 elements of a high quality career technical education program. 

Proposed Curricular Components:
Organization and design 
Planning and Evaluation   
Community Service 
Finance and Fundraising  
Leadership structure and project management
Public Relations and Advocacy 
Marketing and Publicity
Employability and Career Skills
City government and permits
Mentorships and Internships 

Pulse Arts has received a letter of determination establishing the organization as a 501c3.  All donations are 100% tax deductible.  You can visit our donation site and support our efforts by purchasing one of the many donated items, a shirt, tickets to our fundraising event, or making a direct donation.  Thank you for all of your support

We are excited to announce our partnership with Boomerang Plus.  They will be serving as a fiscal sponsor for Pulse as we await our 501C3 status.  Boomerang Plus creates amazing opportunities for youth through their internship and work ready programs.  They are dedicated to teaching students about entrepreneurship and connecting students to real world experiences and training.  It is a perfect partnership and we look forward to working together! 

​We formally invite you to join us on September 22, 2018 at 5:00pm for an evening of food, drinks and performance at Juncture Tap Room. We are excited to announce the expansion of Sonoma County Dancers United and the launch of Pulse Arts, a new organization dedicated to building programs and sustainable relationships between schools, arts organizations, and creative industry. Sonoma County Dancers United and Pulse Arts will be collaborating to build artist residency programs in select Sonoma County schools in the 2018-2019 school year. All proceeds will go directly to SCDU and Pulse Arts.