CENTRAL COAST — The Tri-County Arts Councils, representing Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, have taken their next step in addressing the urgent shortage of arts educators in the Central Coast region.
Launched earlier this year, the Pathways for Arts Educators – A Regional Creative Workforce Project (formerly the Visual and Performing Arts Pathways Project) is funded through Gov. Newsom’s California Jobs First Initiative and administered by Uplift Central Coast through a grant awarded to the San Benito County Arts Council.
The project aims to bridge the gap between the unprecedented Prop 28 funding — up to $1 billion annually statewide for arts and music education — and the lack of credentialed teachers to spend it. With the majority of Prop 28 funds designated for hiring staff, the tri-county region is working to build a qualified workforce to ensure students receive the arts instruction they are due.
Espiritu Consulting, founded by Aimee Espiritu, M.Ed., was recently engaged to provide strategic support, expert facilitation and coordination. A seasoned arts educator and administrator with over two decades of experience, Espiritu brings deep expertise in strategic planning, creative youth development and culturally responsive arts programming — ensuring the project’s framework is inclusive and rooted in community needs.
A central part of the project is gathering input from and increasing collaboration between artists, arts-based organizations, teaching artists, local education agencies and higher education institutions to address teacher workforce development in the region.
This week, a series of community sessions will take place to begin this critical element of the work. With Espiritu as lead facilitator, the first 30 minutes of each session will be for community building and networking, followed by a 90-minute session for sharing ideas and planning the future:
- San Benito County: Nov. 13, 3-5 p.m., The Epicenter, 440 San Benito St., Hollister;
- Santa Cruz County: Nov. 14, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Watsonville Center for the Arts, 375 Main St., Watsonville; and
- Monterey County: Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., United Way Monterey County, 232 Monterey St., Salinas.
Register at bit.ly/pathwaysforartsrsvp.
“Community perspectives are essential to conducting an initial environmental scan of our region’s strengths, challenges and opportunities in arts education,” said Jacquie Atchison, executive director of the Arts Council for Monterey County. “All are welcome — artists, educators, administrators, parents and community members. Attend any or all of the sessions to share your insights.”
For those who are unable to attend an in-person session, virtual community sessions will be announced later this year. Additional focus groups, listening sessions and working groups will be announced in early 2026.
Building an Equitable Pathway
This initiative is a proactive response to the need for qualified arts teachers across the Central Coast. By engaging local school districts, colleges, artists and community members, the project will:
- Create “Good Jobs”: Develop pathways for local artists and teaching artists to pursue Visual and Performing Arts credentialing, securing them full-time salaries, health benefits and retirement;
- Respond to Prop 28: Ensure that the region can utilize the new, ongoing arts funding stream to deliver high-quality visual and performing arts instruction; and
- Center Local Talent: Build a sustainable, equity-centered pathway that reflects the region’s unique artistic and cultural heritage.
“We recognize the immense talent within our communities, especially among uncredentialed teaching artists who bring rich cultural traditions to their work,” stated Sarah Brothers, arts education director for the Arts Council Santa Cruz County. “This initiative will center their voices and experiences, creating an equity-centered credentialing pathway that reflects our region’s unique artistic and cultural heritage.”
