Dear Mr. Richterman:

We have recently learned of your decision to eliminate the visual art program from the Baton Rouge Center for Visual & Performing Arts (BRCVPA), and are joining our voices to urge you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider that decision. We appreciate all that you do to instill an enthusiastic love of the arts in the students at BRCVPA, and we count on you to be a defender of the arts in the East Baton Rouge school system and in our community.

The visual art program is a crucial component of the arts-integrated educational program at BRCVPA—indeed, it is included in the school’s name! As a visual and performing arts magnet school, BRCVPA stands apart from other schools by providing its students with instruction in visual art, drama, dance, and music from specialized teachers, who in turn have access to the resources (studio space, supplies, instruments, etc.) that are necessary for the practice of these arts. It is essential to the mission of BRCVPA that dedicated staff and resources are maintained for each of the artistic disciplines. We understand that budgetary constraints sometimes require undesirable cuts, but in this case, we consider the decision to eliminate the visual arts program to be not just undesirable, but unacceptable.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

Cc:
Mr. Wayne Talbot, Fine Arts Director, EBRPSS
Ms. Theresa Porter, Recruiter for Magnet Programs, EBRPSS
Ms. Darlene Brister, Executive Director for School Leadership, EBRPSS
Mr. Michael Haggen, Deputy Superintendent for Innovation & Reform, EBRPSS
Ms. Toni Brown, Arts Education Director, The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge