Photo Credit: Jie Wang
Universal Music Group has announced its support for California’s ballot initiative to increase funding in public schools for arts and music education.
The statewide ballot initiative in California is being proposed by Californians for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools. “UMG is proud to support this essential initiative,” says UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge. “Music education supports all education – it fosters reasoning and skills that are the building block for learning other subjects.”
“This measure is critical not only for education and learning, but also to mental well-being and even the state’s economic health,” Grainge adds. “Companies like ours that moved to California to be at the nexus of entertainment and technology, rely on a skilled workforce to fill the high-quality jobs we create here. If enacted, this initiative will ensure a future job-ready workforce and secure California’s position as the global epicenter of music and the arts.”
The Arts and Music in Schools measure, for which UMG has announced support, is expected to appear on the November 2022 ballot. The ballot initiative needs to collect 623,212 valid signatures from registered voters before June 30, 2022, to appear.
If approved, the ballot initiative would provide almost $900 million in additional funding each year for arts and music education in every Pre-K through 12 public schools in California – without increasing taxes. Funding will come from existing state revenues and a budget surplus. The funding will be used for a wide range of arts and music education, including traditional music, visual arts and performing arts, computer graphics, animation, coding, and costume design.
“This effort will create a brighter future for public school children and help make sure the workforce in media, technology, and entertainment better reflect the diversity in our schools,” says Austin Beutner, the former L.A. Unified Superintendent. “This will lead to the largest investment in arts and music education in our nation’s history. We are delighted to have the world leader in music join us in this effort.”