Syllabus of Color

A core part of SBAC’s mission is to offer opportunities for young students of color to find expression in creative outlets. Advocates have long established the power of the arts in education. Young students engaged in the creative arts develop both academic skills and character development. These abilities include mastering self-expression, building resilience, improving cognition and self-confidence, and developing enhanced communication skills—all of which lead to improved academic performance and success after graduation.

But data shows that area-based Black and Latino students are less likely to be consistently involved in arts activities and instruction than their white counterparts. That gap is the reason SBAC recently launched our three-year “Syllabus of Color” initiative, a comprehensive effort to tackle systemic disparities and to engage families, schools, and cross-sector community partners to implement the principles of diversity and inclusion

in art education for middle and high school students, and community organizations.  

We are partnering with the Sarasota School system and Newtown Community Organizations to facilitate this. The initiative also invites college students studying the arts to serve as student teachers. These young ambassadors will encourage students to explore and participate in all forms of art. 

This program is funded by: 

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota

Floyd C. & Flo Singer Johnson Foundation