The Sacramento County Office of Education, in partnership with the City of Sacramento, recently distributed more than 10,000 art kits to 26 different schools across the city.
The art kits contain basic artmaking materials for both younger and older students and are meant to give them some basic tools for self-expression and artmaking, said the City’s Arts Program Coordinator Melissa Cirone.
Students will find paper, colored pencils, sharpie markers, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and more in the art kits.
“The pandemic has closed many schools and taken away some of the tools students would have access to in the classroom,” continued Cirone. “I am so glad the City was able to provide these art kits to help students explore creativity outside of school and hopefully bring some brightness to their day during these difficult times.”
The art kits are part of the “Sacramento HeART and Mind,” a new program funded by the City’s federal CARES Act funds that combines artists, community mentors and mental-health support to assist students most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures.
The City’s Office of Arts & Culture is working with the Sacramento City Unified School District to place artists and mentors with 26 school sites that will work with up to 60 students per school to reach up to 1,400 youth. All services are being provided virtually. For more information, contact Melissa Cirone at mcirone@cityofsacramento.org.
Other COVID-19 resources including Wi-Fi access, job training and placement and business assistance programs can be found on the City’s COVID relief website.