For the first installment I recently had the pleasure of speaking with, Senator Jose M. Serrano, a Democrat from the 28th Senate District, chair of the Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation and strong supporter of arts education in NY State. We discussed his experience – both professional and personal – with arts education, and his recent victories and his hopes for the coming legislative session.

Jeremy Johannesen (JJ): What was your experience with arts education as a student growing up in the Bronx? And how did the arts affect your educational experience?

Jose Serrano (JS): I attended Pre-K-6th grade at PS31, otherwise known as the William Lloyd Garrison School. My experiences in the arts are some of my strongest memories from my time at PS31.
I remember a teacher that exposed our class to opera appreciation as early as first or second grade, who made the arts a part of the students’ daily experience. The school employed wonderful arts instructors during the mid-1970’s… It was a magical time, with a renewed emphasis on arts education as part of developing a well-rounded person.

JJ: Coming out of Manhattan College with a degree in Government, what prompted you to work for the New York Shakespeare Festival? Is there any specific knowledge and/or experience gained from the Festival that you have carried with you to the Senate?

JS: I was the first in my family to complete a four-year college degree and I graduated in 1994 into a tough job market with nothing lined up, but I always wanted to work in the arts.
This led me to an entry-level position with the NY Shakespeare Festival, known for providing theatre to a diverse audience by producing productions in Central Park. I embraced the mission of the Festival founder Joe Papp to bring theatre to the masses. The position was an eye-opening. I witnessed the challenges the arts community faces daily – something that guided my later work on the New York City Council, and later in the Senate.

JJ: Do you have any examples of the positive influence of arts education in the 28th District?

JS: There are so many groups doing so much good work in my District. There always could be more, but my goal is to make sure that every organization that deals with arts education, youth development and mentoring has every opportunity to be successful.

JJ: Do you believe there is a role for public school funding to play in arts integration in classroom subjects like reading, science, and math (arts integration), in addition to funding for the four prescribed art forms (dance, music, theatre and visual arts) by themselves?

JS: It has been widely established that students who receive an education in the arts do better in reading, math, and science. I believe there is certainly a role for the Department of Education to play in supporting arts integration. The problem with the current models of funding for arts integration is that it is ‘here today and gone tomorrow.’ By establishing steady funding streams we can count on, we can then evaluate and quantify the impact of these programs on students and their learning in other subject areas.
Unfortunately, the impact of the arts is often overlooked; subsequently, the arts are the first to be cut when budgets get tight. What the arts need are more money and the right people to administer it. The arts are developing the next generation of artists, administrators, and community leaders.

JJ: Congratulations on the passage of the amendment creating an Arts Advisory Committee for the NYC school system.
Do you feel that the Arts Advisory Committee for NYC public school (with its revised power) has the authority necessary to enforce the NYS Learning Standards in the Arts in NYC?

JS: The goal of the Arts Advisory Committee is not to provide a heavy-handed enforcement tool, but to provide a layer within the discussion of making school policy. While the Committee may not be where it ultimately needs to be, it was certainly a victory, a step in the right direction for arts education. …Mayor Bloomberg has reached out to me on this issue and expressed his support for including the arts in the discussion.

JJ: What are your thoughts on a committee of this sort being developed as part of all school boards across New York State?

JS: Schools from across New York State look to the NYC school district as a model to see how it’s done. The Committee could certainly be used and duplicated by school districts in other parts of the state to help keep arts education at the forefront of the discussion.
I have introduced a bill that will require a complete census of arts education and compliance with the NYS Learning Standards to be executed by the NYS DOE every five years. This process would make sure that we have the ‘correct numbers’, which will most likely show that we are not where we need to be… but it will provide the necessary data to show where we are.

JJ: What do you see as the largest hurdle facing arts education reform in NYC and across the State?

JS: We are all aware of the fiscal crisis – which is getting bigger by the day. It is certainly difficult to introduce any measures that are seen as increasing costs to the state. The Governor has gone as far as to threaten to veto any bill that creates a spending liability. But that being said, if the goal of education is to create the next workforce, then we must include the arts. The arts create jobs and economic ripples throughout the community.

JJ: There has been talk regarding a joint Senate / Assembly Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Park and Recreation and Senate / Assembly Education Committees hearing – any news on that front?

JS: I hosted, in conjunction with Assemblyman Steve Englebright a joint committee hearing on the arts back in February 2009. The hearing was an effort towards reform and openness, something I want to expand upon during the upcoming session. I want to get back to what we were elected to do – think outside the box and solve problems. Groups like NYSAAE and CAE have helped to provide a proper focus for my passion for the arts, and I look forward to continuing our efforts in January.

JJ: Would you be in support of a dialog between the New York State Council on the Arts and the State Department of Education, and potential funding for expanded collaborative efforts on arts education?

JS: Collaboration is necessary, particularly in this economic climate. We need to get the most out of every taxpayer dollar. I think there is a natural marriage between NYSCA and NYSED in making efforts to get arts in the classroom seamless… the possibilities are endless.

JJ: Any final message for your constituents and arts education supporters across NY State?

JS: I am excited about the far-reaching impact of arts education, and am looking forward to fostering dialog and keeping the momentum going through the next session.
Many arts educators think their work goes unnoticed, and see that their programs are the first to get cut – I urge you to not give up. Keep ‘flipping the switch’ in students’ minds, like my experience as a child in school. My experience in the arts has provided me with a wonderful appreciation for the world around me – seeing things through an artist’s lens, observing the color and beauty that is all around. I will carry on my work to give arts educators what they need to continue to change the lives of their students.

Senator Jose M. Serrano, represents the 28th Senate District (Bronx and Queens) and recently sponsored a successful Senate resolution, declaring October as Arts Education Month in New York State. Join Senator Serrano for the
Creativity and Other Boundless Resources for Recession-Era Education Conference, Tuesday October 27, 2009 at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel, Syracuse, NY.
For complete details click here.

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