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SALT LAKE CITY -- Parents and teachers are crossing their fingers that at least some of the Legislature's funding for the arts won't get cut in this tough budget year.
Friday morning, Kindergarten students at Wasatch Elementary School were working on learning textures in the art room. They carefully glued everything from feathers to used bottle caps onto frames.
Julie Lewis is a parent who volunteers in the art room. She said art helps kids from all walks of life.
"A lot of those same kids that aren't academically getting a lot of positive feedback about education are getting it in the arts," Lewis said. "Education becomes positive because there are here having this experience. All of a sudden they get that curriculum thing because it's become an art project."
"It all goes with the curriculum. We tie it in with science. The second- and fourth-graders study rocks and we bring that in," said Sue Cowley, another parent who volunteers in the art room.
Down the hall, a class of fourth-graders explained how they recently used art projects to understand their math lesson better.
Principal Julie Miller asked them what they thought about arts in their school and how they would feel if the classes and programs were taken away.
Some talked about how the arts connect to the other subjects they are studying.
"If we lost it, we would have to do regular math, and it wouldn't be fun," one boy said.
Many said they love how all their art projects on display make the school look brighter and more welcoming.
"It would just be gray," one girl said.
"A school's not a school without art," her classmate added.
Miller explained how legislators gave $15.8 billion to arts funding in 2008 but were forced to cut 35 percent of it last year. Now it could all be on the chopping block.
Miller said parents and teachers at Wasatch Elementary have started a letter-writing campaign to lawmakers to beg for at least some funding to remain.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
