by Trina Martin
As an elementary fine arts teacher, you’re more than an educator — you’re a spark.
You ignite creativity, confidence, and critical skills that children will carry for a lifetime. In many cases, you are a student's first exposure to the arts and can influence whether they continue in fine arts programs to master skills that contribute to success in any career path.
But in today’s environment of budget constraints and competing priorities, your program needs more than passion to thrive — it needs advocacy. Unfortunately, many decision-makers still view the arts as “nice to have” versus essential — and they don’t know what they don’t know.
So how do we change that? By using the most powerful advocates sitting right outside your classroom door: parents.
Here’s why you should engage them — and how you can do it, even with limited time and resources.
Why Parents Matter in Arts Advocacy
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Parents are voters, taxpayers, and decision influencers.
When parents speak up, school boards, principals, and legislators listen. Their voices carry the weight of lived experience and local investment.
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They see the impact at home.
Parents witness the transformation the arts bring to their children — whether it’s the shy student finding their voice in theater or the energetic child discovering focus through music. When they connect those dots, they’re motivated to protect and promote your program — not only in your school but as their children move into middle and high school.
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They often want to help — they just don’t know how.
Many parents deeply value the arts but aren’t sure how to turn appreciation into action. You can bridge that gap.
5 Ways You Can Empower Parents to Advocate and Promote Future Involvement
1. Communicate the “Why” of Your Program
In every newsletter, showcase more than what’s happening — explain why it matters.
Most parents want their children to be happy and successful and worry they’ll miss a key component to achieve that. You can show them, with proven research, how your class builds skills that contribute to future success and support positive mental health.
Share quick facts like:
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“Students with high arts involvement are twice as likely to meet college-readiness benchmarks.”
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“Arts education helps build collaboration, creativity, and communication — top skills needed in every career field.”
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“Students who engage in performing arts are more likely to report higher levels of self-confidence and overall satisfaction with life.”
2. Invite Them into Your Classroom and the District-Wide Fine Arts Programs
Host informal “arts in action” open classrooms or end-of-unit showcases.
When parents see and experience the magic firsthand, they become your best champions.
Talk about and highlight all the fine arts opportunities available in middle and high school. Ask for performance schedules and share them with your families.
Invite middle and high school arts parents — across all disciplines — to share their experiences at parent meetings or before performances. This motivates elementary parents to plan for fine arts courses in their child’s education path. Plant these seeds well before 5th and 6th grade.
3. Give Them Stories to Tell
Send home student spotlights or quotes like: “I love music because it helps me feel calm and happy.”
Spotlight alumni doing great things in middle school, high school, and beyond — including those who chose careers outside the arts but credit their arts experience with teaching vital life skills.
Highlight all arts disciplines. We need to speak as one fine arts voice rather than diluting the message between music, dance, theater, visual arts, etc.
Parents can share these stories when speaking to PTA members or school board trustees.
Include simple prompts like: “Ask your principal or school board member how they support arts education”
4. Make It Easy for Them to Get Involved
Share advocacy resources from Parents for Arts Education: printable flyers, sample emails, talking points, and more.
Invite them to follow us on social media for ready-to-share messages and updates.
Encourage families to purchase a “PAE at Home Music Kit” to enjoy making music together and support our advocacy work.
Post a “How You Can Support Our Program” flyer outside your classroom or on your school website.
5. Help Connect the Dots with the School Community
Encourage your campus PTA to include arts updates and advocacy items.
Invite a parent of a recent graduate to speak at a PTA meeting — they often tell the full story and can help debunk myths about what truly supports college admissions and student success.
Suggest a parent-led Arts Booster Committee or appoint a parent liaison to advocate for the arts during campus meetings. Help connect this liaison with middle and high school fine arts booster presidents or active parents to form a united front at school board meetings and community events.
Request a PAE advocacy kit that includes PAE buttons for everyone to wear during performances or meetings — showing that a large group stands behind fine arts education. Strength in numbers!
Let’s Work Together
At Parents for Arts Education, we believe advocacy starts at home — but it grows in partnership with passionate educators like you. With your help, parents can move from passive supporters to powerful defenders of fine arts programs.
We’re here to support you — with toolkits, campaigns, and a growing network of families ready to raise their voices. Together, we can ensure that every child has access to the arts experiences that help them thrive.
Need materials or want to connect with us?
🌐 www.parentsforartseducation.org
📢 Follow us @Parents4ArtsEd on social media
✉️ Email tmartin@paetx.org to request a custom advocacy packet for your school or district
The arts are essential. Parents are powerful. And with you leading the way, our students can shine.
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