The time is NOW! Ask our local leaders to support the arts!The time is NOW! Ask our local leaders to support the arts!

We're probably preaching to the choir. Our subscribers know about the importance of the arts. YOU are artists, art lovers, and arts educators. You know firsthand how the arts improve the quality of life for everyone.

Now it's time to spread the word to the whole community, including our local officials: the time for better support for the arts in our schools and in our greater community is now. In fact, it's way past time. Loudoun County lags significantly behind neighboring jurisdictions in its support for arts programs -- but maybe that is about to change.

On Thursday March 10th at 7pm, Loudoun Arts is offering a special online presentation by local teacher and arts advocate Tony Cimino-Johnson highlighting recently-collected data regarding the status of arts programs in Loudoun County's public schools. His work, coupled with that of some of his colleagues, helped add a proposal for $2.4 million in funding for the performing arts to the FY23 LCPS budget. That would double the total budget for schools' performing arts programs -- a budget that has been stagnant for nearly 20 years.

Read the analysis about equity in school funding here.

The work is not done yet. With your help and the data we've collected, we are hoping to protect this budget line item during reconciliation. Loudoun Arts is hoping to help expand this research in the coming year to include all fine and performing arts, in order to continue the work towards arts equity for the children of Loudoun County. How can you be part of it? Join us online at 7 pm on March 10 for this FREE remote presentation about next steps for expanding support for the arts in Loudoun. Just click on the link below today.

Register By March 9th for "Watering Your Lawn - Performing Arts Equity in LCPS"