We did it!
This summer, you opened your hearts to the arts. Thanks to this generous community and your extended networks, we met our goal: Our award-winning art program will continue to thrive! A thousand thanks to all who supported this effort, through donations, spreading the work, and helping out.
We received more than 200 separate donations, a foundation grant, and enrichment funding from the Peralta Parent Teacher Group. This funding will be added to the public and private grants that artists-in-residence Ellen Oppenheimer and Trena Noval have secured. We feel extremely fortunate that we can maintain such a vibrant program during difficult times.
What will Art in Our Heart fund? Here’s a sampling of the projects planned for this year:
- A Peralta altar to be featured in the Oakland Museum’s Dias de los Muertos exhibit (more info)
- A continuation of the Peralta Stewardship Project, emphasizing community and environmental stewardship with projects like a zero waste contest with another school, recycled paper making, plastic bottle architecture, and scrap quilts
- Native bee study and animation project
- Bug Land project with students studying insects
- Neighborhood history and ecology exploration through culinary arts, geocaching and digital mapping
- African-American quilting
- North Oakland senior center partnership
- Museum studies through our partnership with the de Young
- Weekly art instruction for all students
- Special guests and assemblies
Read more about Peralta’s art integration program here.