When budget cuts eliminated arts instruction from Los Angeles public schools in the late 1970s, it was up to local communities to fill the gap. Skid Row area schools and students, already struggling, were at a clear disadvantage—until Bob Bates and Irwin Jaeger teamed up to form Inner-City Arts in 1989. Knowing the benefits of the arts in the lives of all children, Bob, an artist and teacher, and Irv, an entrepreneur, were determined to bring those benefits to children in downtown neighborhoods, who would otherwise miss out.
A groundbreaking—and enduring—partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District brought students from 9th Street Elementary School to Inner-City Arts' first studio space on Olympic Boulevard where they received hands-on instruction in the visual and performing arts. In its inaugural year, Inner-City Arts served a total of 60 elementary school students.
With evidence mounting that Inner-City Arts' unique approach to arts education supported student gains in literacy and overall achievement, principals and teachers from other schools soon signed on. Specialists in music, theater and dance joined Bob as teaching artists. Inner-City Arts forged collaborations with other educators and the academic community to develop new programs targeting specific student needs. Programs were created to support classroom teachers, bringing the lessons of the studio to other academic disciplines. Partnerships with the cultural community and other service providers extended the range of arts experiences for students and families.
For twenty years, the support of key partners and funders has enabled Inner-City Arts to expand its programs and establish a permanent home:
1992
Inner-City Arts receives the first of several multi-year Title VII grants from the U.S. Department of Education supporting student achievement and the development of teacher training programs
A gift from The Mark Taper Foundation enables the purchase of a 8,000-square-foot auto body shop at the corner of Kohler and 7th Streets, establishing a permanent home for Inner-City Arts
1995
Inner-City Arts partners with California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), adding animation to the Inner-City Arts core curriculum and an intensive weekend program in animation for high school students
Inner-City Arts begins a collaboration with researchers at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs
1998
Inner-City Arts receives its third U.S. Department of Education Title VII grant, Project ALL (Arts for Language and Learning), to develop new programs targeting the needs of English Language Learners
2001
Researchers at UCLA confirm the effectiveness of Inner-City Arts programs for high- poverty children
$1 million grant from The Annenberg Foundation establishes
the Inner-City Arts -
Annenberg Professional Development Program
Inner-City Arts receives the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities Coming Up Taller Award
2002
$1.24 million grant from the State of California supports Inner-City Arts' campus expansion project
Project ALL evaluations confirm the impact of Inner-City Arts programs on student achievement
Professional development programs receive accreditation from Los Angeles Unified School District
2003
Inner-City Arts Artistic Director and Co-Founder Bob Bates receives $100,000 Use Your Life Award from Oprah's Angel Network, in support of middle school programs
2003-04 Ford Foundation/Catterall/Worldview
2004
Inner-City Arts record of success and innovation is featured as a case study by Harvard University's prestigious Bruner Loeb Forum
2005
With the support of a U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant, Inner-City Arts staff develops and implements a nationally recognized program for low-performing middle school students, Arts in the Middle (AIM)
2006
The Inner-City Arts - Annenberg Professional Development Program Teachers Institute collaborates with UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies Center X Teacher Education Program to develop and provide arts training for new teachers committed to working in high-poverty schools
Board members Monica and Philip Rosenthal contribute $2 million toward building The Rosenthal Theater
2007
A grant from DreamWorks Animation SKG establishes the DreamWorks Animation Academy at Inner-City Arts
2008
The Inner-City Arts - Annenberg Professional Development Program Teachers Institute becomes two accredited UCLA courses in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
2009
$1 million gift from the Glorya Kaufman Dance Foundation establishes the Glorya
Kaufman Dance Academy at Inner-City Arts
Inner-City Arts receives the prestigious Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence
Inner-City Arts celebrates its 20th anniversary
Good, Good, Good
Knowing the benefits of the arts in the lives of all children, Inner-City Arts founders Bob Bates and Irv Jaeger were determined to bring those benefits to underserved children in downtown neighborhoods.
