Adopt The Arts Launching School Adoption In Venice, CA Thursday Feb 4th


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Adopt The Arts, the Los Angeles based non profit that preserves and creates arts programs in US public schools, will launch a school adoption for Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 12:45 pm on the Westminster Elementary Playground (1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291).

ADOPT THE ARTS was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. Actors Jane Lynch and Johnathon Schaech are on the ADOPT THE ARTS Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps.

Last month, ADOPT THE ARTS gathered their industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction. The event–which honored music legends BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ Top) and BUTCH TRUCKS (Allman Brothers Band)–was a smashing success, raising over $106,000 in one night for ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS recently garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from the Carter Lay Charitable Fund. ADOPT THE ARTS would also like to thank the following instrument sponsors for their support of Westminster Elementary: Fender Foundation, Casio Keyboards, Yamaha, Gretsch drums, Rode Microphones, Ultimate Support, JBL Audio, Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Planet Waves and Gibraltar Hardware.

According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 50% of elementary school children in the district are not receiving arts education of any kind. As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally. The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.