Top Tips for Planning Your School Budget: Why It’s Time to Include Art
As the school year moves forward, now is the time for principals and administrators to begin planning budgets for the year ahead. Between staffing, curriculum, and technology needs, priorities can pile up fast but one area that should always have a place in your plan is art education.
Art isn’t an optional enrichment activity, it's a proven driver of academic, social, and emotional success. Building room for art in your school’s budget ensures every student can grow creatively, think critically, and feel confident expressing themselves.
Below are key reasons to make art a priority in your budget planning, plus a few tips to help you get started.
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Budget planning starts months before a new school year begins, which makes now the ideal time to think about your art program needs.
💡 Tip: Include art in the same category as core curriculum resources. This ensures it’s treated as an educational priority, not an afterthought.
Early planning also helps you take advantage of grants, Title I funds, and community partnerships that support arts education.
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Art programs don’t just nurture creativity, they improve overall learning outcomes.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Art challenges students to plan, revise, and reflect.
Fine Motor Skills & Focus: For younger students, cutting, painting, and drawing build essential early learning skills.
Collaboration & Communication: Group art projects foster teamwork and empathy, vital for social growth.
When principals invest in art, they strengthen every other subject in the process.
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Social-emotional learning is central to student success. Art gives students a safe outlet to explore their emotions, build confidence, and experience joy in learning.
Art encourages self-expression and reflection.
Students learn perseverance through creative problem-solving.
It helps build a positive, inclusive school climate.
🎨 Tip: In your budget, allocate funds for programs that integrate SEL with art lessons, it maximizes both emotional and academic growth.
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When art is part of your school’s culture, families notice and get involved.
Art showcases and student galleries bring the community together.
Lessons featuring diverse artists help students see themselves represented.
Parents and volunteers can easily support art lessons with the right curriculum.
💡 Tip: Budget for family engagement events or art nights that celebrate student work. They build school pride and positive parent relationships.
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Adding art to your budget doesn’t have to mean a huge expense. Programs like Art in Action are designed for flexibility:
Standards-based lessons for each grade
Easy-to-follow guides for teachers and volunteers
Hands-on projects with affordable materials
Professional development options for staff
You can start small, then grow your program over time as your school’s needs evolve.
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Schools that prioritize art stand out. Parents want creative, well-rounded learning environments, and teachers thrive when their classrooms are vibrant and expressive.
Art-rich schools report higher student engagement and teacher satisfaction.
Programs that reflect cultural diversity build equity and representation.
Art fosters pride, motivation, and a sense of belonging schoolwide.
🎯 Tip: Include data-driven outcomes like improved attendance or engagement in your budget presentation to show art’s tangible impact.
Plan Ahead, Invest in Creativity
As you prepare next year’s school budget, make sure creativity has a seat at the table. Prioritizing art education helps students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. This sets your school apart as a place where learning is both meaningful and joyful.
👉 Ready to bring art into your school?
Explore Art in Action’s flexible curriculum and start planning your art program today.
