Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act
The Equitable Arts Education Enhancement Act would require the Secretary of Education to run a grant program that provides competitive grants to minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to bolster arts education on their campuses. The program is designed to increase minority access to arts education and strengthen MSI arts programs through activities such as student financial and programmatic support, outreach and development for arts departments, wraparound student services, exhibitions and preservation of minority art, and opportunities like apprenticeships, internships, and mentoring for future arts educators. The bill emphasizes prioritizing uses of funds that directly benefit minority students and authorizes federal appropriations “as may be necessary,” meaning there is no fixed funding limit in the bill itself. Definitions clarify what counts as arts, who is considered a minority, and which institutions qualify as MSIs.
Key Points
- 1Creates a new grant program under which the Secretary of Education awards competitive grants to minority-serving institutions to support arts education.
- 2Eligible institutions must submit applications to receive a grant, with the Secretary setting application requirements.
- 3Eligible uses of funds include: student financial and program support; outreach and development offices for arts programs; wraparound services (mentoring, counseling, career advising); presenting and preserving minority art and exhibitions; paid apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships; stipends for pre-professional programs; mentoring programs for future arts educators; training and stipends for mentor teachers; and professional learning opportunities for educators via nonprofit arts organizations.
- 4The Secretary must give special consideration to uses of funds that directly benefit minority students.
- 5Authorization of appropriations states that funds will be provided as necessary to carry out the section; no explicit dollar cap is set in the bill.