Funding Philosophy

Funds are received from two primary sources: community parents during Back to School Sign Up (BSSU) and our cornerstone benfactor, La Fiesta de la Seis Banderas.

HP Arts is dedicated to funding arts related activities and capital purchases which expose students to the arts at all eight HPISD campuses.

Teachers are given freedom to make requests, facilitating exposure to a wide variety of visual and performing arts including Art, Band, Choir, Dance, Orchestra, Opera, Symphony, Theater, and Literature. HP Arts also supports arts integration within core and non-arts classes.

HP Arts Funding 2022-2023

Elementary Schools

Jerry Pallotta Author Visit for Boone
Mark Shelton Strike, Scrape & Shake Percussion Performance for Hyer & Bradfield
Storytelling Events for Bradfield
Hansel & Gretel Opera Performance for UP
Pianist for Bradifield 4th Grade Winter Concert
Rhythm Band Drumming for all K-5th Grade
Melissa Stewart Author Visit for Armstrong
Spotlight for Armstrong Auditorium

MIS/HPMS

Video Projections for Wizard of Oz Spring Musical for Theatre
2 Timpani Drums for Band
Tuner Caddies for Band
Violin Sectionals for Orchestra
Lighting for Junie B. Jones Musical for Theatre
Class Set of Pneumo Pros for Band
High-Quality Student Bows for Orchestra
Show Kit & Performance Rights for Rudolph Musical for Theatre
Pedal Harp for Orchestra*

HPHS

Clay Slab Roller for Art
UIL Sight Reading Selections for Orchestra
Lighting Repairs for Palmer Auditorium
Writing Workshops for HP LitFest
Art Gelli Plate Printing Squares for Art
Advanced Art Glass Blowing Field Trip for Art
Pottery Wheel Accessory for Art
Choreography for Belles
Competition Costumes for Bells
Violin & Viola Cases for Orchestra
Wireless Speaker for Band
Tuba & Case for Band
Upgraded Drumline Equipment for Band*

*Denotes programs that were partially funded by HP Arts.

Senior Scholarships: Two $2,500 HP Arts Linda Raya Memorial Scholarships awarded to students who demonstrated a continuous commitment to the arts in high school and who plan to pursue their art in college: Cate Gould and Julia Smartt

Teacher Appreciation: Annual recognition celebration in April for all HPISD fine arts teachers. HP Arts Awards- Fine Arts Teacher of the Year Award: Katie McDaniel, Arts in Education Teacher Award: Belina Zerdelija, Arts Advocate Award: Becky Gould

HP Arts Funding 2019-2020

Art: Pottery wheels and stools for HPMS Ceramics classes; Frames for student photography in the newly renovated MIS/HPMS hallways; Silk-screening materials for HPMS art classes; A steel flat file drawer unit to store student artwork at HPHS Art department
Band: Musical instrument purchases for HPHS and MIS/HPMS; Clinicians and master classes with renowned musicians at HPHS and MIS/HPMS; MIS “Meet the Instruments” professional screeners for transition from 5th to 6th grade band students
Choir: Vocal clinicians; District-wide piano tuning; Piano accompanist and piano brackets/dollies for the HPMS Choir department
Debate: Consultant for practice, argument construction, and judging during competition
Literary Arts: Highland Park Literary Festival Student Writing Workshops at HPHS; author presentation – Stacy McAnulty, MIS and Armstrong Elementary; Victoria Coe, University Park Elementary
Orchestra: Clinicians and master classes with renowned musicians at HPHS and MIS/HPMS; SMU Julius Quartet Chamber Music clinic for HPHS orchestra classes
Theater: Cyclorama backdrop for HPMS auditorium; Audio package for the new HPMS Black Box Theater

Programs at Elementary Schools: A high-energy percussion program, Rhythm Path Day of Drumming; Presentation by inspirational artist Desmond Blair; Fiber Arts project through Explore Fiber and visiting artist Christine Miller; Djembe drums for the Armstrong Elementary music program; Science-related artwork created by students for the University Park Elementary science lab; Piano accompanist for Bradfield Elementary Winter Concert; Dallas Symphony Orchestra program for 4th graders at Armstrong Elementary
Outside of Fine Arts: Installation of the OmniGlobe for the Grand Opening and Dedication of the Moody Advanced Professional Studies Center at HPHS; 6th grade Social Studies Latin dance class with Ernesto Plazola from United Dance Academy at MIS
Senior Scholarships: $2,000 HP Arts Linda Raya scholarship awarded to a student who demonstrated a continuous commitment to the arts in high school and who plans to pursue their art in college
Special Project: Finishing out and lighting of a new HPMS Black Box Theater
Teacher Appreciation: Annual recognition celebration for all HPISD fine arts teachers; Awards – inaugural Fine Arts Teacher of the Year Award, a non-fine arts teacher who integrates arts into their classroom (Arts in Education Teacher Award), and a community member who supports the arts (Arts Advocate Award)

HP Arts Funding 2018-2019

Art: Ceramics equipment and a new kiln at HPHS and MIS/HPMS; silk screening supplies for a partnership project between MIS/HPMS and the elementary campuses
Band: Musical instrument purchases for HPHS and MIS/HPMS; Clinicians and master classes with renowned musicians at HPHS and MIS/HPMS
Choir: Vocal clinicians, sheet music, and sight-reading software at MIS/HPMS; District-wide piano tuning
Dance: Choreography and sound equipment for the Highland Belles
Debate: Consultant for practice, argument construction and judging during competition
Literary Arts: Highland Park Literary Festival workshops with authors, songwriters, bloggers, and photo jouranlists at HPHS; author presentation – Nathan Hale, author and illustrator of The New York Times best-selling graphic novel series on American history “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales” at MIS/HPMS
Orchestra: Musical instrument purchases for HPHS and MIS/HPMS; Clinicians and master classes with renowned musicians at HPHS and MIS/HPMS
Theater: State-of-the-art projection system, software, and laptop for the theater program and auditorium at HPHS; improvisation and reactivity workshop at HPHS

Programs at Elementary Schools: A high-energy percussion program called “Strike, Shake & Scrape” with Mark Shelton; Presentation by inspirational artist Desmond Blair; Shakespeare on the Go; Fort Worth Opera;Silk screening supplies for a partnership project between MIS/HPMS and the elementary campuses
Outside of Fine Arts: Google Expedition kit including virtual reality headsets and software to allow virtual tours of art museums and cultural landmarks worldwide for the Languages Other Than English department at HPHS; Equipment for Audio Visual production program at HPHS
Senior Art Awards: Nine students received prizes for their work in photography, 2D and 3D art
Senior Scholarships: Two $2,000 HP Arts Linda Raya scholarships awarded to students who demonstrated a continuous commitment to the arts in high school and who plan to pursue their art in college
Special Project: State-of-the-art projection system, software, and laptop for the theater program and auditorium at HPHS
Teacher Appreciation: Annual recognition celebration for all HPISD fine arts teachers; Recognition teacher awards – a non-fine arts teacher who integrates arts into their classroom (Arts in Education Teacher Award) and a community member who supports the arts (Arts Advocate)

HP Arts Funding 2017-2018

Art: HPMS Silk screen squeegees and tape, drying racks for large art work, Desmond Blair speaker, clay for ceramics classes
Band: Three French horns, original musical arrangement for percussion group at PASIC, Eddie Green conductor coaching and wind instrument pedagogue, sectional coaches and UIL clinicians, music stands and racks, full orchestra clinician (combined band and orchestra)
Choir: Digital piano repair, piano tuning, music stands
Dance: Guest dance instructor to teach dance classes cultural dances from Africa, India and Spain, box light interactive touchscreen display for dance analysis for Belles, partial funding for competition uniforms, choreographer for new dances for Belles
Debate: Consultant for practice, argument construction and judging during competition, fine arts study materials
Literary Arts: Funded half of the LitFest workshops, Grove Music Encyclopedia research software, Naxos Music Library with streaming access across all genres
Orchestra: Bass extensions, adjustable cushioned bass studio chairs, UIL clinicians, bass, cello, viola and violin bows, violas, viola cases, SMU quartet to perform and coach student groups and individuals, refining repertoire clinician, full orchestra clinician (combined band and orchestra)

Programs at Elementary Schools: Shakespeare performance and interactive workshop, Mark Shelton Strike, Shake & Scrape, Ft. Worth Children’s Opera, Bluebonnet award winner Susan Stevens Crummel, piano accompanist for concert, Note Knacks interactive music notations teaching tool, silk screen printing
Theater: Stage combat workshop; Wound and Scar Makeup workshop, Improv and reactivity workshop, Choreographer Hilary teaching West Side Story Broadway musical, Kabuki/Japanese Theater workshop, Pulitzer & Tony award winning playwright Doug Wright
Outside of Fine Arts: Academic Decathlon coaches to work with student groups and individuals and purchase of required art and music study materials and print resource guides for the 2018-2019 competition season, Zumba classes
Senior Art Awards: Nine students received prizes for their work in photography, 2D and 3D art
Senior Scholarships: Two $1,000 scholarship awarded to students who demonstrated a continuous commitment to the arts in high school and have a serious intention to concentrate in fine arts in college
Special Project: Auditorium Lighting at MIS/HPMS

HP Arts Funding 2016-2017

Art: Screen print washout booth, Wacom penand digitizer tablets offering natural feel of pen and paper while drawing on a Mac or PC, Museum workshop for two teachers to learn strategies to teach, interpret and use works of art in the classroom
Band: New PA system for marching practice and clinics, two Bass clarinets, one wooden bassoon, percussion marching instructor, sectional coaches and UIL clinicians
Choir: Sheet music for sight-reading practice, accompanist for Honor Choir and one tuner/ metronomes
Dance: Belle’s received weather proof sound system, master teacher for Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and guest artists to teach cultural dances from the regions of Africa, Spain, China, Scotland and India
Debate: Consultants, Art, Music, and Literature quizzes
Literary Arts: LitFest partial funding, writing workshops, author visits and poetry workshops

Programs at Elementary Schools: Ballet Folklorico, DSO Yes! introducing string instruments, 123 Andres a Rockstar for young language learners, Ft Worth Opera Studio, Strike, Shake & Scrape, Shakespeare program, pianist for concert
Theater: Instructors for stage combat, acting for the camera, improvisation, choreography, college audition coaching, makeup workshops, ballroom dancing, fight choreography, and Kabuki theater
Orchestra: For spring concert, professional arranger for “Alexander Hamilton” and “Say What You Mean to Say” for guitar/vocalist and percussionist, sectional coaches, two tuner/ metronomes and two UIL clinicians
Outside of Fine Arts: Academic Decathlon Team arts related materials and partial funding of print resource guides for 2017-2018 competition season, Spanish/French Nepris site licenses, Zumba, Legends of the Lone Star State Theatre celebrating the legends, heroes and tall tales that make up Texas History, Ft Worth Capoeira Company – Brazilian martial art combining elements of dance, acrobatics and music.