This is the first article in our series of short pieces written by current students in the Arts Administration Program.
Jessica Isgro wrote this Op-Ed as a student in Principles and Practices of Arts Administration, for an assignment on a critical issue of personal interest within the arts. It appears here in abbreviated form.
Jessica Isgro graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Bucknell University in 2015 where she majored in Music Education and minored in Creative Writing. Jessica has worked in the marketing, publicity, and editorial fields, holding internships with the West Branch Literary Magazine, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 21C Media Group, and The Princeton Festival. Most recently, she worked as a voice teacher and a freelance publicity writer.
One of the most critical issues in the arts today is the need to find funding for music education programs in public schools. Budget cuts, financial crises, and perception of value have rendered some music education programs extinct, while others struggle to endure. Potential solutions to these issues lie in the realm of advocacy and assessment. Advocacy can allow a school’s community to vocalize the necessity of funding for music education programs while assessment can provide a statistical framework to bolster advocates’ claims, improving both funding for, and perceptions of, the arts. Continue reading “Op-Ed Piece by Jessica Isgro”
Arts Administration 