The art enrichment program at Friday Harbor Elementary School is alive and well, and thanks to donations by San Juan Islands Museum of Art, art at the middle school is making strides as well.

This year, in addition to support for art in the elementary school, IMA donated $13,300 toward the cost of a middle school art instructor for the 2015-16 school year. The annual donation and is intended to help bridge the gap between elementary school AEP program and the award-winning art program at Friday Harbor High School.

“The San Juan Island School District is very grateful and would like to formally thank the San Juan Islands Museum of Art for their annual and highly significant donation in support of public school art,” school district Superintendent Rick Thompson said.

For the last five years IMA has administered the elementary school Art Enrichment Program that provides a variety of artistic learning opportunities for the youngest students in the district. This program is made possible through local partnerships that include the school district, Washington State Arts Commission, San Juan Island Community Foundation, San Juan Public Schools Foundation, local PTA organizations and private donors.

The IMA Board of Directors looks forward to a time when art is fully funded by the state as essential curriculum for the well-rounded student. Full funding of education will strengthen life-long opportunities for public school students by providing a basic education that includes the arts, STEM, health, and humanities, IMA’s board of directors said in a press release about its recent donation.