Integrating the arts into the regular education classroom will continue to get a boost in Harney County from the Oregon Community Foundation.

Recently, through a grant renewal process, Harney Education Service District (Harney ESD) gained approval for yet another $35,000. Harney ESD, partnering with Harney County schools, Kids Club of Harney County, and the Arts in Education Foundation, will help to implement the program. This is the third renewal of the grant that has now brought in more than $245,000 to Harney County schools.

The overall purpose of the Studio to School program is to explore and support the creation of sustainable and replicable models for delivering arts education opportunities for Oregon’s school children, and to increase the expertise of in-school and community-based arts organizations to work together as effective arts educators. Harney County was chosen from a pool of 53 applicants.

Last year, the program funded several children’s camps including Harney County Art Camp, Missoula Children’s Theater, art integration in the regular education classroom, and a visit with Harney Schools from Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!).

The Fred W. Fields Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation has graciously given $69,000 to this project and the Ward Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation has donated $1,000.