Haley Brown
Rep. Ben Diamond and Sen. Darryl Rouson, both from St. Petersburg, each filed legislation designed to identify high-achieving art students.
The legislation would establish a Seal of Fine Arts through the Department of Education. The seal would be awarded to high school graduates who “attain a high level of skill in fine arts coursework” with the goal of promoting the value of arts education throughout the state.
“We are thrilled that the Florida Seal of Fine Arts bill will recognize highly accomplished arts students. From our own Department of Education data, we know that students who complete a rigorous, sequential arts education program out-perform their non-arts peers on all educational accountability measures,” said Jeanne Reynolds from Pinellas Arts for a Complete Education.
“For our students, we need to do more to incentivize the importance of arts education,” Diamond said. The importance has been documented in studies showing arts education improves critical thinking skills and helps students achieve higher levels of tolerance and empathy. “Arts education is unparalleled in nurturing social emotional growth and healthy, inclusive communities,” Reynolds said.
The legislation makes sense for politicians from St. Petersburg, a community known for its thriving arts scene.
“In St. Petersburg, the arts have played a critical role in our city’s remarkable renaissance,” Diamond said.
St. Pete’s creative art and design sector hosts more than 1,000 events annually and grew 10% over the last ten years.
“So goes the arts, so goes the vibrancy of our community. We must protect the arts, especially in our schools, by highlighting those students who have achieved excellence,” Rouson said.
