Increasing arts education in New York

Musical theater has always been important to Babs Rubenstein. Growing up, her father regularly rented musicals from Blockbuster. She began dance classes at four, enrolled in acting programs in New York City and repeatedly watched Grease throughout her childhood. 

Rubenstein says she was fortunate to have parents who encouraged her to pursue the arts.

“They were always running me to and from rehearsals. My mother told me I was such a ham (referring to an exaggerated performer) on the stage that she knew I was built to perform,” Rubenstein said. 

In 1999, Rubenstein was among the first children to join the Syracuse Children’s Theater. 25 years later, she is back as the theater’s education director, working to provide children with the same opportunities she had.

According to data from Quadrant Research’s Arts Education Data Project, 83.8% of K-12 students in New York are enrolled in an arts program at their school, the highest percentage of students enrolled in the arts nationwide.

However, 3.3% of students attend schools across New York that do not provide students with any form of arts education, including not having music lessons or an art class. 

Rubenstein and Syracuse Children’s Theater are among many groups working to make extracurricular arts opportunities, like musical theater, available to as many children and families as possible, especially those who may not otherwise have access.

“Our program aims to provide classes at a rate that is affordable for families in Central New York. We offer half and full scholarships to offset tuition for our classes. We also offer full scholarships to students in the foster system,” Rubenstein said. 

It’s not just Syracuse Children’s Theater that is taking action to provide accessible arts programs; school administrators are also taking action.

David Bills, a former music teacher and current West Genesee Central School District superintendent, has spent many years playing the trumpet and believes his passion for music has shaped him into who he is today. 

As of 2023, the West Genesee Central School District had an arts enrollment of 83.9%. Bills continues to push for an increase in this number by protecting existing arts programs and supporting the development of new ones. 

Bills is working to expand elective choices in high schools, allowing for a wider selection of music and art classes, as well as encouraging teachers to create extracurricular arts programs to reach more students.

“Part of the experience in the arts, aside from the skill of performing, creating, or moving, are the connections it provides,” Bills said. “The arts are strongly connected to the development of personal identity, confidence, teamwork, and so much more.”

Nonprofit organizations have also taken steps to ensure every child in the state can experience the arts. The New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) works with art teachers to help them speak up for greater support and funding from their schools. 

Kathryn Alonso-Bergevin, the board of trustees’ representative from Central New York, has worked with the group to increase student participation in the arts.

“Our main goal is to secure wider recognition of the importance of art education for all. I personally feel that all students should have required exposure to the arts,” Alonso-Bergevin said. “I am an elementary art teacher and proud to have each student in my building have exposure to the arts in my classroom.”

Alonso-Bergevin was not the only one pleasantly surprised by the many students enrolled in an arts program. Carol Dumka, Past President and Ex Officio CNY Arts Board of Directors member said she expected the percentage to be lower.

“A certain amount of art and music are mandated at the middle school level. At the high school level, students can elect to take music and art classes. This is where participation in the arts falls off,” Dumka said. 

Currently, elementary school students in New York State receive time for art and music instruction to give their teachers a break. However, this is not required in every school.

“I would like to see the mandate expanded to the elementary school with a required amount of time at each grade level, just like PE has,” Dumka said.