“KCET Artbound: Arts Education” features stories from young poets. (photo courtesy of KCET)

The Los Angeles County Arts Education Collective, coordinated by the Department of Arts and Culture, and KCET have joined forces to create a new documentary that explores the value of arts education for the youth, communities and creative economy of L.A. County. “KCET Artbound: Arts Education” features stories from the young poets of L.A.-based organization Get Lit, students, policymakers, educators and artists, including Catherine Opie, Vijay Gupta, Hector Tobar, Debbie Allen and Chloe Arnold.

KCET and Department of Arts and Culture will partner with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for a virtual premiere on Tuesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. In addition to a screening, the event will feature a panel discussion with youth from the episode and other young arts education advocates. Registration is required at lacma.org/event/film-screening-artbound-arts-education.

“Putting arts and arts education at the center of a child’s education is vital, not only to the development of the child, but to the economic growth and health of our state,” PBS SoCal and KCET Chief Creative Officer Juan Devis said. “We need to bring attention to the critical value of arts education, spearhead the resurgence and expansion of arts instruction as well as celebrate the practices and the people that make it happen.”

“Listening to – and investing in – the creative voice of our youth is one of the most important things we can do for our collective future,” said Kristin Sakoda, director of the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture. “This documentary is a calling card for the teaching artists, educators, advocates, parents, funders, schools and arts organizations that make up the Arts Ed Collective and our ongoing work to increase awareness of the value of arts education for young people throughout L.A. County. It also amplifies the goals of the new Arts for All Children, Youth, and Families: Los Angeles County’s New Regional Blueprint for Arts Education adopted by the Board of Supervisors in fall 2020. As we look to build a sustainable recovery for the region and the next decade of arts education, the Department of Arts and Culture is hyper-focused on expanding cultural and racial equity in arts learning both in and outside of school, in communities and in juvenile justice, foster youth and workforce development systems.”

“The local stories that the Department of Arts and Culture and KCET shine a light on only reiterate what research has long told us – that the arts provide young people with a pathway to discovery, self-expression, achievement and connection to community. The arts also pave the way for success in our young people’s continued education and careers,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, 1st District. “We see in this documentary that arts education nurtures future generations of artists and cultural workers, as we would expect. What is remarkable is that arts education is also recognized by our scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders as a crucial part of their development.”

For information, visit arts.lacounty.gov.