Adopt The Arts-the Los Angeles-based non-profit that preserves and creates arts programs in US public schools--will launch a school adoption for Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA on Thursday, February 5th at 12:45pm on the Westminster Elementary Playground (1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291).

Adopt The Arts was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in US public schools.  Actors Jane Lynch  and Johnathon Schaech are on the Adopt The Arts Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, Adopt The Arts honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps. Last month, Adopt The Arts gathered their industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction. The event--which honored music legends Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Butch Trucks (Allman Brothers Band)--was a smashing success, raising over $106,000 in one night for Adopt The Arts music programs in LAUSD elementary schools.

Adopt The Arts recently garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from the Carter Lay Charitable Fund. Adopt The Arts would also like to thank the following instrument sponsors for their support of Westminster Elementary: Fender Foundation, Casio Keyboards, Yamaha, Gretsch drums, Rode Microphones, Ultimate Support, JBL Audio, Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Planet Waves and Gibraltar Hardware.

According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 50% of elementary school children in the district are not receiving arts education of any kind.  As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally.  The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.

“Adopt the Arts was born out of the frustration for my own children losing education in the arts,” explains Adopt The Arts Co-Founder Abby Berman. “When the system is failing, we have to take action.  With influential people like my Co-Founder Matt Sorum adopting schools, we can preserve this valuable component to childhood development, which is also known to boost test scores.  Because Federal and State funding is falling short, the responsibility is upon us as concerned parents and citizens to ensure we’re raising a new generation of healthy and well-rounded individuals.” Adopt The Arts Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder Matt Sorum adds, “We’re starting in our own backyard here in Los Angeles with Westminster Elementary school in Venice, CA and we’ll continue to adopt schools across the nation.  We believe that art is a universal and necessary language that unites us all, regardless of our backgrounds.”