The ArtsBridge program at the University of California at Santa Cruz works in tandem with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education to identify and place undergraduate and graduate students into K-12 (Kindergarten – High School) public schools to teach an Arts discipline.
This Chance to Excel grant increased the number of UCSC student participants in the programs to allow for an increase in the number of K-12 schools supported as well as additional supplies, scholarships and support for the ArtsBridge program.
2023 – 2024 Year in Review
ArtsBridge is UC Santa Cruz’s strategy to extend Arts awareness and appreciation, and to foster Arts skills in young persons beyond the confines of the UCSC campus.
ArtsBridge mission has two primary goals:
(1) Offer scholarship support to University undergraduate and graduate Arts students.
(2) Provide opportunity for hands-on instruction in teaching arts in K-12 schools.
Developed at UC Irvine, ArtsBridge was created to send UC students to conduct workshops in studio art, dance, drama, music, digital, film and video art into K-12 Schools throughout nearby counties. Selected ArtsBridge scholars, or student-teachers, support Santa Cruz County teachers by supplementing either an existing or non-existing Arts program with special projects geared towards their skills and talent within a specific area of the Arts. In exchange, student-teachers receive mentorship and hands-on teaching experience. Those interested in education as a possible career pathway are especially encouraged to apply.
Undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing (3.0 GPA or higher) are encouraged to apply online. As a community outreach program, the majority of school placements are with underserved communities and institutions lacking a robust Arts program.
Program Outreach Actions:
In the 2023-2024 partnership with Chance to Excel, ArtsBridge placed 12 division-wide UCSC Arts scholars: 10 Undergraduates and 2 Graduate student-teachers, into K-12 Santa Cruz County schools.
ArtsBridge Student-Teachers taught the following discipline-based projects:
- Painting and Drawing
- Mixed media and Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Animation
- Ceramics
- Photography processes – cyanotype
- FashionTeens Program
- Music Theory and Improv
School Placements of ArtsBridge Scholars/Student-Teachers:
- Watsonville High School
- 2 student-teachers served approximately 92 students
- Soquel High School
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 30 students
- Soquel Elementary School
- 2 student-teachers served approx. 50 students
- Santa Cruz Garden Elementary School
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 15 students
- Branciforte Middle School
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 50 students
- Caesar Chavez Middle School
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 25 students
- Mission Hill Middle School
- 2 student-teachers served approx. 50 students
- Cypress High School (Alternative School)
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 10 students
- Valencia Elementary School
- 1 student-teacher served approx. 20 students
During the 2023-2024 partnership, Chance to Excel funded $30,000 in support of the ArtsBridge goal of alleviating the financial burden for ArtsBridge Scholars and empowering them to see Arts education as a potential professional pathway. After completing the ten-week Fellowship, the 10 Undergraduates and 2 Graduate student-teachers received $2,500 for their time in the classroom, also inclusive of supply reimbursement and travel stipend.