Who We Are

The Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation are volunteers and donors dedicated to bringing arts learning to Contra Costa County kids and adults through program support and scholarships for Civic Arts Education. Civic Arts Education is Northern California’s premier community arts education program and part of the City of Walnut Creek’s Arts, Recreation and Community Services department.

The arts are essential to learning and engagement. Quality arts education has been tied to academic success and shown to be fundamemental to healthy biological, emotional and educational development. 

As cities and counties wrestle with budget shortfalls, funding cuts are made to arts programs. The City of Walnut Creek is not immune to these challenges and class fees do not cover costs of staff, instructors and materials. The Foundation’s support is essential to full community enjoyment and participation in artmaking and learning.

Challenged by changes in 2004, the Civic Arts Education Advisory Council was compelled to lay the groundwork for the Foundation as a separate non-profit 501c3 oranization dedicated to preserving arts learning opportunities. Foundation members support capital planning initiatives; retaining and attracting outstanding art instructors; and ensuring that our arts education programs fluorish; and our children are culturally well nourished with endless, quality artistic opportunities.