Blog

Cathedral Arts Project to Receive $50,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

The Cathedral Arts Project has been approved for a $50,000 Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to continue its work on the Landscape of Education in the Arts in Duval and introduce a new Arts in Schools Certification system allowing for more transparency in supporting equitable access to arts education. 

“In my three-plus decades in education, I’ve learned we can’t see the arts as a separate component to a child’s education; the arts are education, and they carry aspects of learning that you can’t find anywhere else,” said Dr. Diana L. Greene Superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. 

Along with partners from Duval County Public Schools and Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG) at the University of North Florida, CAP will create an Arts in Schools Certification system for Northeast Florida, which will produce a roadmap for expanding quality and access in the arts. This will be a shared system for measuring and understanding access and a tool to support principals’ decisions to grow arts instruction in their schools.  

CAP arts-integration students from Hyde Grove Elementary

“We will continue to partner with the Cathedral Arts Project and assist with creating an Arts in Schools Certification system to measure the depth and breadth of arts education opportunities in the Duval County Public Schools,” said Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy, Associate Professor in Computing at UNF. 

This grant is one of 1,251 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling nearly $28.8 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants. CAP is one of 44 arts organizations in Florida to receive a Grants for Arts Projects award, and one of only three organizations in the state to be awarded $50,000 or more. 

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects in communities nationwide,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “Projects such as this one with CAP strengthen arts and cultural ecosystems, provide equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and contribute to the health of our communities and our economy.” 

CAP to receive a grant award from the @NEAarts to continue the LEAD project and introduce arts certification for schools in the community. Share on X

The Arts in Schools Certification will show actionable pathways for schools to improve their arts offerings with families and community partners. This will generate a deep understanding of the arts education landscape while leveraging existing resources and community relationships as part of a high-quality education. 

“We are honored to continue our partnership with DCPS and FL-DSSG to create the Arts in Schools Certification system,” said Dr. Lucy Chen, Vice President of Advocacy & Community Engagement for CAP. “This data-driven system will measure the depth and breadth of arts education opportunities in DCPS, providing a valuable tool for our community to drive change for access to arts education.” 


About Florida Data Science for Social Good: 

The Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG) program blends data science and technology design to inform and solve important social problems in Florida. We intend to accomplish this goal by partnering with nonprofit and public sector organizations in Florida, analyzing their data, and finding impactful solutions to social issues. The FL-DSSG program provides internships for students from diverse disciplines to work on these data science projects along with our community partners. Nonprofit and public-sector organizations receive data analysis and visualization reports supporting their work in the Florida communities. Florida DSSG is hosted at the University of North Florida (UNF). 

About the National Endowment for the Arts: 

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Learn more at arts.gov. 

 

February 16, 2023

For media inquiries, please contact media@capkids.org.

Musical theatre isn’t just fun and games. As this #CAPkid explains, it’s ‘way more work and it’s way more important.’ Theatre education allows students to gain essential skills like creative thinking, perseverance, teamwork and self-discipline, building the confidence and character they need to excel. Just don’t forget to read your lines please, read your lines! 🎭🥰#theartsaddup #capkidsjax
Arts education creates tomorrow's leaders. It enhances the creative capacity of young people and empowers them to analyze, innovate, create and lead. For more information about our programs visit capkids.org. #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax @duvalcountyschools
Transforming lives through art: The Cathedral Arts Project is a nationally recognized nonprofit provider of arts education and therapeutic programs for children and young adults in Northeast Florida. Visit link in bio to learn more! #capkidsjax
Donors like you allow CAP to ensure all students in Northeast Florida have access to a quality arts education. 

Your gift will help support CAP's summer programs and prepare for the 2025-2026 school year. CAP staff and volunteers are gathering  supplies, ordering youth-size T-shirts and hiring exceptional teaching artists to ensure local students have everything they need to dance, sing, play and create from day one!

Will you join us in reimagining what’s possible for arts education? Donate today at our link in bio. 💜
Last chance to visit CAP’s Visual Arts Showcase at the Alexander Brest Gallery through June 4! It’s a truly spectacular exhibition of over 250 artworks created by CAP students throughout the year. Showcase is the ultimate finale and this exhibition aims to inspire a sense of pride and joy, instill a lifelong appreciation of the arts and celebrate every child’s creative spirit. Don’t miss it! #CAPkidsjax #theartsaddup
CAP’s Annual Visual Arts Showcase Reception this morning was a huge success! Congratulations to the student artists, their teaching artist fellows and teaching artists for the incredible display of creativity and inspiration! You have until June 4 to visit. Click here for more info capkids.org/visual-arts-showcase-2025/ 
#TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax 🎉🎨
It’s imperative to hear about the impact of our programs directly from our students! CAP’s vision is for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every child’s unique skills and strengths. capkids.org ⭐️ #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax
It's teacher appreciation week and we are all excited to celebrate our amazing CAP Teaching Artist Fellows, Teaching Artists, teaching assistants and classroom partners! 

Through CAP programs, children and young adults in NE Florida, across various educational settings receive quality, standards-based instruction in dance, music, theatre and visual arts. CAP also provides specialized programs designed for students with disabilities, including art counseling, music therapy and sensory arts. 

None of this would occur without the passion and dedication of our exemplary CAP teaching artists. We'd like to send them all a deep and resounding thank you, for the important work they do every day to empower each and every child’s creative spirit! #ThankATeacher #TheArtsAddUp
The first show of the Performing Arts Showcase 2025 is a wrap! Thank you to everyone who has supported our incredible performers this year -- no matter how you choose to show that support. None of this would be possible without you! #capkidsjax #artsed #theartsaddup
Performing Arts Showcase rehearsals are in progress here at the @jaxperformingartscenter! We're amazed at the dedication and talent on display this morning. Which performance are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments! #theartsaddup #artsed #showtime
Our mission is to inspire every child's creative spirit! #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp #artsed #strings
Every heart needs art! Happy Valentines Day❤️
#TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed

JOIN THE CAP MAILING LIST