Artist-in-Classroom Program Revived

Elementary school students will get another chance to build sandcastles, bake pottery in a Native American style and sing in school with local artists and performers, thanks to a City Council decision to renew funding for the popular Artist-in-the-Classroom program.

The council cut funding for the innovative program last fall. On Monday, the panel decided to reinstate $3,938 to run the program through the remainder of the current school year, although officials said the city will not provide any money for succeeding years.

Sponsored by the Ventura Unified School District and the county superintendent of schools, the program puts artists in classrooms to help children learn about performing and literary arts.

From 1992 through 1996, the city provided $3,500 each year to support the program--which later spread to other cities in the county.

Each session lasts eight weeks and costs the city $375, which covers an artist’s fee, supplies and administration. Expenses have risen over time so that it now will cost the city $3,938 to put the program in every school in the district.

The program blossomed, but city officials cut funding last fall, saying that it was never intended to continue indefinitely.