Sonoma Valley School District & Community Grants
2023-2024
Our 2023 Sonoma Plein Air Festival in September was a huge success thanks to the generosity of our wonderful Patrons, donors, artists and art aficionados. With the over $175,000 raised, the Foundation was able to fund grants for creativity development and arts education programs at many Sonoma Valley schools and through our community partners (Art Escape, Sonoma Arts Guild, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, La Luz Center, Sonoma Community Center and Sonoma Valley Museum of Art). We are very excited to announce the following grants for the 2023-2024 school year.
Altimira and Adele Harrison Middle Schools
For the 2023-2024 school year at the 2 Middle Schools, SPAF Grants provide all the supplies needed for the visual arts education programs and projects offered by Art Teacher, Cheryl Coldiron. Almost 200 students are being served at the two schools.
These visual arts programs are an introduction to art history and art appreciation where students learn to observe, analyze and interpret. Studying art teaches an appreciation of aesthetics, beauty, proportion, emotions and understanding of the human condition. All Middle School art lessons develop hands-on skills and visual literacy. The students also get to visit exhibits at museums outside of Sonoma Valley to expand their perspectives and appreciation for a variety of art forms.
Quotes from the Middle Schools' grant applications:
"Overall, this program creates avenues for students to use their hands, use the artistic side of their brains, have a calm place to relax and express themselves in different modalities and have opportunities for experiences that they may not normally have. Thank you Plein Air for the opportunity to continue to provide this amazing experience for kids!
(Chrissy Waters, Prinicpal, Altimira Middle School
"Thank you for the funding and supporting Arts Education!"
(Kelly Kriss, Principal, Adele Harrison Middle School)
For the 2023-2024 school year at the 2 Middle Schools, SPAF Grants provide all the supplies needed for the visual arts education programs and projects offered by Art Teacher, Cheryl Coldiron. Almost 200 students are being served at the two schools.
These visual arts programs are an introduction to art history and art appreciation where students learn to observe, analyze and interpret. Studying art teaches an appreciation of aesthetics, beauty, proportion, emotions and understanding of the human condition. All Middle School art lessons develop hands-on skills and visual literacy. The students also get to visit exhibits at museums outside of Sonoma Valley to expand their perspectives and appreciation for a variety of art forms.
Quotes from the Middle Schools' grant applications:
"Overall, this program creates avenues for students to use their hands, use the artistic side of their brains, have a calm place to relax and express themselves in different modalities and have opportunities for experiences that they may not normally have. Thank you Plein Air for the opportunity to continue to provide this amazing experience for kids!
(Chrissy Waters, Prinicpal, Altimira Middle School
"Thank you for the funding and supporting Arts Education!"
(Kelly Kriss, Principal, Adele Harrison Middle School)
Art Escape
With their Grant, Art Escape will support 4 different art programs - 1 for 2-8 graders from all Sonoma Valley schools, 1 for Sonoma teens and 2 for students from El Verano and Flowery Elementary schools specifically.
With their Grant, Art Escape will support 4 different art programs - 1 for 2-8 graders from all Sonoma Valley schools, 1 for Sonoma teens and 2 for students from El Verano and Flowery Elementary schools specifically.
- The Friday After School Art program started in 2015 and attendance has grown over the years. Participants have the opportunity to experience a variety of art projects while meeting and interacting with students from across the Valley.
- Art in the City for Teens provides several Sonoma teens an opportunity to visit art venues in SF such as the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Here are a few comments from the teens who participated: "The trip was really fun and informative regarding art and art history." ""I loved it because of all of the different types of art we got to see." "It was my first time going to the city and now I know how different it is from Sonoma."
- The El Verano School program continues the vision of former Principal Maite Iturri for a permanent beautification of the school's courtyard through the installation of mosaics that provides exposure to Mexican culture and art while reflecting Mexican traditions and heritage.
- Flowery School students in grades 3-5 will attend afterschool art classes at Art Escape during the school year. This ongoing partnership in arts education introduces students to a variety of art mediums and techniques; projects are often related to current holidays so students also learn about other cultures and customs.
Arts Guild of Sonoma
The Arts Guild of Sonoma's Grant enables them to hold a student art show featuring public high and middle school students in the spring of 2024. The Arts Guild provides materials, hangs the paintings, displays the works for 30 days and staffs the gallery at no charge to students or their teachers. Students, their families and the Sonoma Valley community can then enjoy viewing these 'masterpieces'!
The Arts Guild of Sonoma's Grant enables them to hold a student art show featuring public high and middle school students in the spring of 2024. The Arts Guild provides materials, hangs the paintings, displays the works for 30 days and staffs the gallery at no charge to students or their teachers. Students, their families and the Sonoma Valley community can then enjoy viewing these 'masterpieces'!
Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley
With their Grant, the new Mental Health Services group will be able to explore the addition of Art Therapy as a tool for supporting the mental health of young children. Funds will be used to provide the supplies needed to provide art therapy using various art forms such as drawing and painting.
With their Grant, the new Mental Health Services group will be able to explore the addition of Art Therapy as a tool for supporting the mental health of young children. Funds will be used to provide the supplies needed to provide art therapy using various art forms such as drawing and painting.
Creekside High School
Creekside High School's Grant supports 3 programs: 1) the art supplies needed for their Art Elective classes 2) the Raku Clay programs and 3) a field trip to a San Francisco museum.
Creekside High School's Grant supports 3 programs: 1) the art supplies needed for their Art Elective classes 2) the Raku Clay programs and 3) a field trip to a San Francisco museum.
Kenwood School/Kenwood Education Foundation
.This Grant supports the art instruction and supplies such as various mediums, paints, brushes, clay and books needed to support art education at the Kenwood School for students in grades K-6 for the 2nd half of the 2023-2024 school year.
.This Grant supports the art instruction and supplies such as various mediums, paints, brushes, clay and books needed to support art education at the Kenwood School for students in grades K-6 for the 2nd half of the 2023-2024 school year.
La Luz Center
In their first year as a Grant recipient, La Luz Center will use most of their grant to support the Avenue Artistica & Film Camp which are part of their Casa de la Cultura initiative launched in 2021. These 2 activities will take place in the summer of 2024 to continue building and engaging Sonoma Valley youth residents. Additionally, a portion of the grant will the Creative Circle which is a monthly meeting of parents & children at which hands on art projects are completed. Emphasis is on the importance of art in regards to mental health.
In their first year as a Grant recipient, La Luz Center will use most of their grant to support the Avenue Artistica & Film Camp which are part of their Casa de la Cultura initiative launched in 2021. These 2 activities will take place in the summer of 2024 to continue building and engaging Sonoma Valley youth residents. Additionally, a portion of the grant will the Creative Circle which is a monthly meeting of parents & children at which hands on art projects are completed. Emphasis is on the importance of art in regards to mental health.
Sassarini School
Sassarini School's 2023-2024 Grant supports the operation of the Maker Lab, a space designed for thriving creativity. Team work, a growth mindset and creativity development is embedded in each lesson and emphasized throughout the school year.
Sassarini School's 2023-2024 Grant supports the operation of the Maker Lab, a space designed for thriving creativity. Team work, a growth mindset and creativity development is embedded in each lesson and emphasized throughout the school year.
Sonoma Charter School
This year's Grant funds the acquisition of supplies to support the expansion of the ceramics program, the printmaking program and the sewing studio for the Sonoma Charter School students (grades TK thru 8th).
This year's Grant funds the acquisition of supplies to support the expansion of the ceramics program, the printmaking program and the sewing studio for the Sonoma Charter School students (grades TK thru 8th).
Sonoma Community Center
With their SPAF Grant, the Sonoma Community Center intends to provide a range of opportunities for the youth of Sonoma Valley to engage in creative & educational art activities.
With their SPAF Grant, the Sonoma Community Center intends to provide a range of opportunities for the youth of Sonoma Valley to engage in creative & educational art activities.
- Wednesday Afterschool Program will be offered weekly for children in grades K thru 8th. The arts and wellness program includes art classes, a movement session and a culinary class.
- The Creative Summer Camps program is a series of 1 or 2 week art camps for youth ages 6-17. The camps are taught by professional teaching artists and offer high-quality arts activities in a variety of creative disciplines. Curricula responds to state visual arts standards and helps participants deepen their understanding of social, cultural and historic contexts through the exploration of artistic ideas and works.
- A portion of the grant funds Art at the Market which offers free art activities at the Tuesday Night Farmers' Market. For the 6th year, SCC staff will provide instruction, tools, materials & space for fun and fulfilling hands-on art activities.
- In conjunction with the SV Mentoring Alliance and Creekside High School, SCC will conduct Art and Trashion design classes . This structured afterschool activity provides participants opportunities to learn the basics of costume design so they can design/model a 'trashion' costume in the Center's annual Trashion Fashion Show.
Sonoma Valley High School
This year's Grant to SVHS provides Art Program teachers Aaron Anderson, Andy Mitchell, Renate Kuprian, Monica Mueller and Visual Arts instructor, Peter Hansen with a much needed a range of supplies and equipment to support exciting hands-on experiences for their students in a range of programs from 3-D Design, to Drawing & Painting, to Photography to Graphic Design and the Video Arts. With this grant, these dedicated teachers will provide a creative outlet and a vibrant arts education experience for SVHS students.
Quotes from the SVHS grant application:
"Art keeps kids in school, too often young adults get lost in this world they do not feel a part of. In Art Classes at SVHS, students find their voices, new skills, passions, and inspiration...Our students are problem solvers, creative and our world's modern innovators."
(Aaron Anderson, Art/Art Design teacher)
"Thanks to Plein Air Foundation, teachers can purchase quality materials and thus enrich students' art experience. Students really get excited when they find out all the different media they can explore with and for this we are truly grateful."
(Renate Kuprian, Art/Art II teacher)
"Participating in art classes helps students learn who they are and see the world through the eyes of others...They get to dream, inspire and create. As we become more of a visual society, the arts are now more important than ever."
(Andy Mitchell, Photography teacher)
"Students are provided with great opportunities to learn, explore and express themselves through the Plein Air grant. We are able to get supplies in a variety of mediums so that everyone can try multiple modalities and find their niche."
(Monica Mueller, 3D Design: Ceramics/Art)
This year's Grant to SVHS provides Art Program teachers Aaron Anderson, Andy Mitchell, Renate Kuprian, Monica Mueller and Visual Arts instructor, Peter Hansen with a much needed a range of supplies and equipment to support exciting hands-on experiences for their students in a range of programs from 3-D Design, to Drawing & Painting, to Photography to Graphic Design and the Video Arts. With this grant, these dedicated teachers will provide a creative outlet and a vibrant arts education experience for SVHS students.
Quotes from the SVHS grant application:
"Art keeps kids in school, too often young adults get lost in this world they do not feel a part of. In Art Classes at SVHS, students find their voices, new skills, passions, and inspiration...Our students are problem solvers, creative and our world's modern innovators."
(Aaron Anderson, Art/Art Design teacher)
"Thanks to Plein Air Foundation, teachers can purchase quality materials and thus enrich students' art experience. Students really get excited when they find out all the different media they can explore with and for this we are truly grateful."
(Renate Kuprian, Art/Art II teacher)
"Participating in art classes helps students learn who they are and see the world through the eyes of others...They get to dream, inspire and create. As we become more of a visual society, the arts are now more important than ever."
(Andy Mitchell, Photography teacher)
"Students are provided with great opportunities to learn, explore and express themselves through the Plein Air grant. We are able to get supplies in a variety of mediums so that everyone can try multiple modalities and find their niche."
(Monica Mueller, 3D Design: Ceramics/Art)
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
This year's Grant to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art(SVMA) supports several pilot programs for the Re-imagining Art Education under development: 1) an expansion of the family make-in events, 2) the gallery & visual art studio hands on experience days and 3)an exploring the studio program for teens.
This year's Grant to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art(SVMA) supports several pilot programs for the Re-imagining Art Education under development: 1) an expansion of the family make-in events, 2) the gallery & visual art studio hands on experience days and 3)an exploring the studio program for teens.
Woodland Star Charter School
The Woodland Star School's SPAF Grant provides funds to support the Waldorf approach to art education integration across all classes for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. The emphasis is on the graphic arts, ie., drawing & painting but also extend into sculpting and the fiber arts.
The Woodland Star School's SPAF Grant provides funds to support the Waldorf approach to art education integration across all classes for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. The emphasis is on the graphic arts, ie., drawing & painting but also extend into sculpting and the fiber arts.