Adopt The Arts Adds High School For Music Program


Adopt The Arts_Logo

Los Angeles based non profit Adopt The Arts will be adopting another school for their program to preserve and creating arts programs in US public schools. Santana Alternative High School in La Puente, CA will be launching a school adoption on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 12:30 pm.

ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum and ATA board member actor Johnathon Schaech at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum and ATA board member actor Johnathon Schaech at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

Adopt The Arts will bring electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drums, microphones and amplifiers to the adoption ceremony.

“As a public school, Santana High School’s arts program doesn’t receive enough funds and they needed instruments,” explains Adopt The Arts co-founder Matt Sorum. “I took on Santana because I care about these kids’ future. When I was their age, my life in music began as soon as I graduated and I was off on my journey to Hollywood. I want to give these kids options and inspire them to go after their dreams be it music or anything else. The social skills learned through being in a group of musicians will carry them as they navigate the road ahead.”

The new music room at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

The new music room at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

Adopt the Arts was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. Actors Jane Lynch and Johnathon Schaech are on the Adopt The Arts Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, Adopt the Arts honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps.

On February 5, Adopt the Arts garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from The Carter Lay Charitable Fund. The donation included the funding and salary for a new music teacher at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA as well as the addition of a new music room stocked with keyboards, acoustic guitars, a drum kit, microphones and amplifiers.


Adopt The Arts Launching School Adoption In Venice, CA Thursday Feb 4th


Adopt The Arts_Logo

Adopt The Arts, the Los Angeles based non profit that preserves and creates arts programs in US public schools, will launch a school adoption for Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 12:45 pm on the Westminster Elementary Playground (1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291).

ADOPT THE ARTS was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. Actors Jane Lynch and Johnathon Schaech are on the ADOPT THE ARTS Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps.

Last month, ADOPT THE ARTS gathered their industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction. The event–which honored music legends BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ Top) and BUTCH TRUCKS (Allman Brothers Band)–was a smashing success, raising over $106,000 in one night for ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS recently garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from the Carter Lay Charitable Fund. ADOPT THE ARTS would also like to thank the following instrument sponsors for their support of Westminster Elementary: Fender Foundation, Casio Keyboards, Yamaha, Gretsch drums, Rode Microphones, Ultimate Support, JBL Audio, Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Planet Waves and Gibraltar Hardware.

According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 50% of elementary school children in the district are not receiving arts education of any kind. As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally. The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.