Art IS Education is an annual showcase of youth arts learning in Alameda County in March during national arts education month. It is an opportunity for students to share with their community what they are learning in and through the arts.

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of Art IS Education, the Alameda County Arts Commission in partnership with the Alameda Office of Education has coordinated featured events within each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

Join us to:

• Celebrate the hero within each child. Hear their voices and see their vision of what can be! 
• Honor the adult heroes who are forging new relationships, practices and programs to bring arts learning to youth.
• Be a hero and advocate for arts learning for every child, in every school, every day.

Within each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors
All events are free and open to the public.

District 1 Featured Event

Champions For the Arts: A Celebration of Our Regional Arts Heroes

Thursday, March 4, 7pm
Bankhead Theater, 2400 First Street, Livermore
A special evening honoring community art heroes and showcasing music, performing and visual arts by students from Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol and Fremont. Presented by the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, District 1.

District 2 Featured Event

Art IS Education: Hayward Band Festival & Tri-City Visual Arts Exhibit

Sunday, February 28, 2pm
Chabot Community College Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward
A celebratory performance, featuring noted guest conductors, showcasing how students grow as they progress through elementary, middle and high school music programs. Artwork by Fremont, Hayward, Newark and Union City students will be on exhibit as well. Presented by Hayward Arts Council and the Art Association of the East Bay, Inc. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, District 2.

District 3 Featured Event

Hero Art: Exhibition of Youth Creativity

Reception: Friday, March 5, 6 -8pm, Exhibition continues through March 28
San Leandro Museum & Art Gallery, 320 West Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro An art reception highlighting inspiring visual art, creative writing, and drama by elementary, middle and high school students exploring the theme of Hero Art. Presented by the Arts Council of San Leandro and the San Leandro Public Library. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, District 3.

District 4 Featured Event

Libraries Are Places 4 Art & Creativity

Saturday, March 20,10:30am-3pm
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Avenue, Castro Valley
A fun-filled community arts day at Castro Valley Library with opportunities to learn about the process of making the public art in the library from the artists who created it, try hands-on art activities based on the public art themes, and view demonstrations by community professional artists. Also featured are high school theatrical performances and an elementary art exhibit. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, District 4.

District 5 Featured Events

The Hero Within Us

Friday, March 5, Staggered times 6 -10pm
Art Murmur Venues, Oakland: 

• Rock Paper Scissors Collective 6-9pm  2278 Telegraph Ave
• 21 Grand 7-10pm, 416 - 25th St
• Creative Growth Art Center 6-9pm, 355 - 24th St
  

A family focused component of the popular monthly art stroll, Art Murmur, includes super hero cape making and sign poetry writing, video screenings, youth art exhibits and performances at multiple galleries. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson's Chief of Staff Rodney Brooks, District 5.

Performing Arts Showcase

Sunday, March 21, 1-3:30pm
Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley High Campus, 1930 Allston Way, Berkeley
Berkeley Unified School District’s annual festival of music involving 500 students representing all 15 Berkeley district schools.  Choirs, orchestras, concert bands and jazz bands share the skills and songs that they have learned throughout the year. Special guest: Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, District 5. For details please call 510-644-8772.

Many of Alameda County’s capital improvement projects include a Percent-for-Art Program in which professional artists are commissioned to make artwork for each site. Due to the upcoming schedule of construction projects, many of the artists commissioned for these public art projects will be selected from two registries of pre-qualified artists (Artist Registries). Visit the Opportunities Page for more information.

Informational Meetings for Artists
Interested artists may attend these meetings to learn more about the Alameda County Arts Commission’s Public Art Program, the project opportunities associated with the Artist Registries, and receive information about submitting an application through CaFÉ. Attendance is optional. The same information will be presented at both meetings.

Thursday, January 14, 2010, 6:00-7:30pm | Location: Lakeside Plaza Building, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1107, Oakland (a short walk from the Lake Merritt BART station)

Tuesday, February 2, 1010, 6:00-7:30pm | Location: Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Avenue, Castro Valley (a short walk from the Castro Valley BART station)

Alameda County Arts Commission announces the five recipients of the 2009 Arts Leadership Award