Donation from guitar maker Gibson supports arts in Austin schools

A gift from guitar maker Gibson is going toward supporting arts in the schools.

During a Dec. 17 news conference, the Gibson Foundation presented 100 guitars to the City of Austin. The guitars were intended to show appreciation of the Any Given Child Initiative, the arts enrichment K-8 program supported by John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a City of Austin news release said.

"The Any Given Child creative learning initiative highlights cultural heritage as an essential component of an arts-rich education," said Greg Goodman, director of Austin ISD's fine arts programs, in a statement. "As students develop the art of playing guitar, they also have the opportunity to tap into the instrument's rich, cultural heritage to express themselves."

The guitars will be used by some of the 1,400 AISD students who participate in school-based guitar programs. Since the creative sector generates more than $71 million annually in city tax revenue and has created almost 49,000 permanent jobs, it is important to strengthen arts education, a City of Austin news release said.

"These guitars will not only promote the creative development of our students, it will develop the habits of mind that support academic skills that will be useful throughout the lives of these young people," Mayor Lee Leffingwell said in a statement. "We are very grateful for this gift and the benefits for our students."

At the news conference, Leffingwell presented the guitars to MindPOP, the cultural arts education organization that is the lead convener of the Any Given Child partnership.

Click here for more information on the Any Given Child initiative, and click here for more information on MindPOP.