These 14 Philly schools just got funding for their ‘innovative’ arts ed projects

It’s Picasso Project’s 15th anniversary, and to celebrate, the grantmaker is doing what it does best.

This afternoon, the arts advocacy offshoot of Public Citizens for Children and Youth that supports “innovative” arts education projects at Philadelphia schools, will kick off its latest round of funding with performances from grantees at City Hall.

According to a release, Picasso Project’s funding has touched over 40,000 public school students in 163 schools with its “small but strategic and highly-leveraged mini-grants.”

All grants made this year are for $4,000 to $5,000. The 2018 Picasso Project honorees, and their winning projects, are:

• John Barry Elementary School — I Voted Today
• Clara Barton Elementary School — All Are Welcome Here
• John Bartram High School — The Marimba: Modern Roots
• Stephen Girard School — The Girard Community Mural
• Eliza Kirkbride Elementary — Philadelphia Dreams
• Alexander McClure School — Growing United
• Parkway Northwest High School for Peace & Social Justice — Theatre & Acting Come Alive!
• Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson — Crafting Community
• James Rhoads Elementary — Heartbeat at Rhoads
• Science Leadership Academy Middle School — The Voice of Bravery is Yours!
• South Philadelphia High School — SPHS’ “Little Shop of Horrors”
• John Taggart Elementary School — Jasper at Taggart
• The U School — Survival Guide for the Future
• The Workshop School — 9th Grade Play Project

The state of arts funding within the School District of Philadelphia is rosier now than in previous years, with 90 percent of schools having some form of arts education.

📣Announcing the 2018 #PicassoProject Grant Award Recipients! Projects kick off Wed 4pm at City Hall w/ @PhillyMayor, @SDPHite, @PHLCouncil members, grantee schools, & partners. @PCCYteam @PHLschools @PSNotebook @PHLSchoolNews @philaculture @CreativePHL @PHL_MOE @fundPHLschools pic.twitter.com/2yT3A9WdUt

— Picasso Project (@picasso_philly) January 8, 2018