YOUTH ARTS MONTH
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto is proud to proclaim March 2026 as Youth Arts Month in Palo Alto, as part of the Council for Art Education’s national observance to emphasize the importance of art education for all children and to encourage engagement in local art programs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto’s Community Services Department and Library Department proudly support youth arts and offer a diverse array of educational materials and youth classes, including drawing, painting, ceramics, fiber arts, digital photography, fashion design, and mixed media; and
WHEREAS, the Community Services Department also proudly supports the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, which serves the community with educational experiences in all aspects of performing arts, including year-round productions on multiple stages at the Children’s Theatre, multi-disciplinary performing arts classes and camps for youth ages two through high school, Magical Series spectrum and sens ory friendly performance s and class es, and the Teen Arts Council, providing free events f or teens throughout the school year. The Art Center engages thousands of children ranging from 18 months to 18 years with after-school and weekend art classes, family workshops, and summer camps in a variety of media , as well through their volunteer and Teen Leadership program and free Family Days . The Palo Alto Library Department provides hands-on creative arts and crafts programs for youth in our community as well as gallery space to youth artists; and
WHEREAS, over the past four to five decades, the City has partnered with the Palo Alto Unified School District to provide meaningful multi-disciplinary arts education programs to youth. These include the Children's Theatre outreach theater productions in all 12 PAUSD elementary schools, student matinee field trips, and PK-3 Dance in Schools classes, as well as new Joy of Singing and Joy of Musical Theatre classes. The Art Center offers Project Look, its field trip program; Creative Connections, its artists-in-the-schools initiative; and the annual Youth Art Exhibition, all designed to engage and inspire young artists in the community. These programs have engaged thousands of children annually and have won awards in the process, including two California State Superintendent's Awards for Excellence in Museum Education; and
WHEREAS, recognizing Youth Arts Month provides a forum to celebrate the valuable skills children foster through art education such as problem solving, creativity, curiosity, observation, and communication. By recognizing this celebration, we can further promote awareness, enth usiasm, and support for art education programs, which are an essential part of the educational curriculum for our students.
NOW, THEREFORE I, Vicki Veenker, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, on behalf of the entire City Council , do hereby recognize March 2026 as Youth Arts Month in the City of Palo Alto.
Presented: March 9, 2026
______________________________
Vicki Veenker
Mayor
Proclamation