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Project/Program <br />Summary <br />The PTA funds all cultural arts performances at Estes Hills Elementary <br />School and assists the school in selecting, advertising, and organizing the <br />performances, as well as overseeing logistics during the events. Our <br />school principal and the PTA were committed to offering a full and rich <br />cultural arts program this school year after 2 years without this <br />programming due to COVID restrictions, and we were able to provide 8 <br />performances by 4 artists. Thanks to the assistance of the Orange County <br />Arts Commission, we supported local artists of multiple cultures and <br />ethnicities, further enhancing the educational experience for our students. <br />This year we hosted a Black storyteller, an African musician, a small <br />theater company, and a Latina dancer; our students and faculty loved the <br />performances. If we are awarded a grant this year, we will use it to fund a <br />portion of the artists’ fees for 8 performances during the 2023-24 school <br />year, including: The Beast: A History of African-American Music from <br />Spirituals to Hip Hop ($1,500), Curious Theatre Collective: Sally’s Ride <br />($1,875), StArt of Cool: The Brevan Hampden Group ($1,600), and Vault <br />Theatre: The Girl W ho Swallowed a Cactus ($1,000). Each performer will <br />provide 2 shows in one day, for K-2 and 3-5 grades; costs given are the <br />total amount for 2 shows for each performer, for a total of $5,975. <br />Project Start Date <br />(no earlier than July <br />1, 2023) <br />August 1, 2023 <br />Project End Date (no <br />later than June 30, <br />2024) <br />June 30, 2024 <br />Project Goals Our goal as the PTA is to provide necessary resources to support the <br />highest quality educational environment possible, including exposure to the <br />performing arts, particularly for our economically disadvantaged students <br />who may not have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular arts <br />events. At Estes Hills, 32% of our students participate in the Free and <br />Reduced Lunch Program and may not have time and transportation outside <br />of school. The Cultural Enrichment Program would not exist at Estes Hills <br />without the PTA’s funding and support. <br />Over the past few years, income to our PTA and thus the Cultural <br />Enrichment Program budget has decreased. This has been due in part to a <br />decrease in the sustaining funds historically provided by the PTA Thrift <br />Shops, and a decline in state funding for education, which has resulted in <br />greater demands on the PTA’s budget. Artists’ costs have also risen; 8 <br />performances costed us $3,500 in 2016-17, whereas this year we spent <br />$5,000. As a result, we have increased our performing arts budget which <br />takes PTA funds from other programs. W e made the decision that <br />performing arts is a priority; however, we are reliant on the grant funds to <br />achieve the full budget, and to provide our students with cultural <br />opportunities that they otherwise might not experience. <br />DocuSign Envelope ID: 0C261A48-D79C-4528-A50D-5F8F988DC33B