meet saige—american girl's 2013 girl of the year
Saige is a spirited and imaginative young girl who loves painting and horseback riding at her grandma’s ranch in Albuquerque, New Mexico—the hot-air balloon capital of the world. When budget cuts take away art class at school and a horse she loves might be sold, Saige draws on her talents, mobilizes others, and takes action to improve the world around her.
To learn more about Saige and American Girl’s support of arts education, visit www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear.
Whether you’re a parent, caretaker, or concerned citizen, there are many things you can do to take action, just like Saige did. Below are a few ideas and resources to get you started in making sure that all kids are getting their fair share of the arts, both in school and in the community.
Ten Simple Ways
What if your child's school doesn't provide classes in art, music, dance, and theater? Check out our 10 simple ways to get more arts into your child’s life!
Download this list as a PDF for easy sharing.
Questions to Ask
Here are questions to ask your education leaders to determine the quality of your school or district's arts program. Use our benchmarks to gauge how serious your school's commitment is to arts education.
Download the question list to easily share with officials.
Family Activities
We all know that learning begins at home. So much of what kids learn comes from watching their parents and taking part in family activities. We've put together some simple ideas to help your child enjoy the arts.
Download the list of activities as an abbreviated one-page handout.
Learning Guide
American Girl and Americans for the Arts have created a free collection of arts activities (in PDF format) for teachers to use with students, grades 3–6. These activities encourage imagination and creativity.
Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest
Starting January 1, 2013, elementary art teachers can enter to win one of thirteen grants totaling $45,000 for their schools' art programs by submitting a digital image of a hot-air-balloon-themed art project and a written essay on why the arts matter. Entries must be received by May 31, 2013.