ARTS FIRST Partners
ARTS FIRST is a network of organizations whose mission is to work collaboratively to create the conditions and culture that promise a comprehensive high-quality arts education – learning in, about, and through the arts – for every student in Hawaiʻi.
ARTS FIRST Partners
Arts First Partners at the April 2026 retreat (left to right, starting on the top row): Elizabeth Lentz-Hill, Hawai’i Community Foundation; Christopher Cabrera, Chamber Music Hawai‘i; Elden Seta, Hawai’i Department of Education; Una Chan, Hawai’i Department of Education; Randy Wong, Hawai’i Youth Symphony; Aaron Padilla, Honolulu Museum of Art; Mark Jeffers, Storybook Theatre; Elise von Dohlen, Hawai’i Community Foundation; Alice Ka’ahanui, Molokai Arts Center; Jeninne Heleloa, Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society; Gaye Humphrey, Hawai’i Arts Alliance; Ku’uipo Kumukahi, Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society; Erin Brothers, Prince Dance Company; Daniel A Kelin II, Honolulu Theatre for Youth; Laurel Salinas-Nakanishi, Hawai’i Open Arts; Danica Rosengren, Hawai’i State Foundation on culture and the Arts; SheenRu Yong, University of Hawaiʻi Outreach College; Hannah Watanabe, Hawai’i Youth Symphony; Emi Horii, Legislative Manager for Representative Lisa Marten.
The Hawaiʻi State Legislature enacted ACT 80 in 1999 which called for Hawaiʻi’s major stakeholders in arts education to revise the State’s Fine Arts standards and develop a statewide Strategic Plan for Arts Education. In 2001, ACT 306/01 passed into law (SFCA’s HRS Chapter 9), formally naming the ARTS FIRST Partners and mandating the implementation of the Strategic Plan (HRS Chapter 9 Section 3).
ARTS FIRST Affiliate Partners
Representatives from ARTS FIRST institutions meet to discuss and plan activities in alignment with the strategic plan.
ARTS FIRST Partners invites entities interested in participating as affiliate partners to contact the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. We seek partners who will contribute resources and expertise toward reaching the AFP strategic plan goals.
ARTS FIRST Mission and Vision
2026-2030 Strategic Plan Mission and Vision
- Archive for Health, Arts and Spirit (AHAS), Prince Dance Company
- Chamber Music Hawaiʻi
- East-West Center, University of Hawaiʻi
- Hana Arts
- Hana Hou Music Program
- Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools
- Hawaiʻi Open Arts (HŌʻĀ)
- Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre
- Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA)
- Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony
- Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society
- Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)
- Honolulu Theatre for Youth
- Maui Arts and Cultural Center
- Molokai Arts Center
- Prince Dance Company
- State of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Education
- Storybook Theatre
- University of Hawaiʻi College of Education
- University of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Music
- University of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Theatre and Dance
- When We Shine
Mission
To collectively advance diverse, equitable and quality arts education in Hawaiʻi through advocacy and access.
Vision
A Vibrant, arts-enriched learning culture in which
- The arts are diverse, equitable and inclusive.
- The arts are subjects in schools as well as integrated throughout subjects in schools.
- The arts support community, community supports the arts.
We do this through collective action by:
- Advocating for equitable access to arts education and enrichment in all schools, with attention to underserved communities
- Professional Development for teaching artists, classroom teachers, and artists
- Continuous, rigorous Research around Arts Education in Hawaii
- Expanding awareness of arts education resources and opportunities to increase access.
Advocacy
Objective
Advocate for equitable arts education and enrichment for all Pre-K–12 students across Hawai‘i by strengthening public investment, expanding arts education workforce capacity, and deepening partnerships between schools and the local arts community.These goals build on recent advocacy successes, growing collaboration among partners, and increasing recognition and support of arts education within the Department of Education, while responding to clear needs identified through community feedback.
Goals
- Support and provide input for the Statewide Arts Education Asset Map
- Use Data and Community Voice to Drive Targeted Policy and Funding Solutions
- Strengthen the Arts Education Workforce
- Expand School–Community Arts Partnerships
- Build Public and Legislative Understanding of the Value of Arts Education
Professional Development
Objective
Establish a comprehensive, replicable, and accessible professional development infrastructure for arts education across the islands by formalizing model programs, centralizing resources, and actively diversifying the facilitator network.
Goals
- PD Excellence: Establish replicable and scalable model PD programs
- Resource Hub: Launch a publicly accessible, organized, and searchable online PD resource
- PD Facilitators Outreach and Training: Widen the circle of arts education PD facilitators throughout the pae ‘āina
Research
Objective
Develop a statewide understanding of how communities define, practice, and value the arts across cultural and socioeconomic contexts, by gathering historical knowledge, teacher and student data, and community voice, to guide programs, policy, and practitioner wellness over the next five years.
Goals
- Establish a shared statewide definition of arts education in Hawaiʻi by aligning values, language, and priorities across teachers, students, and communities.
- Document existing arts education practices, histories, and perspectives through statewide research, interviews, and community-informed case studies.
- Engage and expand a diverse network of partners to contribute to and strengthen a connected, representative arts education ecosystem.
- Analyze and validate findings with community and cultural grounding to identify key themes, needs, and statewide priorities.
- Develop and implement practical resources, tools, and strategies that support and sustain arts education across Hawaiʻi.
Expanding
Objective
Increase public awareness of arts education resources and opportunities with a focus on outreach.
Goals
- Leverage various events and conferences to share about arts education resources and opportunities statewide
- Develop common messaging
- Create an ARTS FIRST Festival
- Expand storytelling initiatives to increase awareness of arts opportunities across the state.
Role of the SFCA
The SFCA is responsible for facilitation, coordination and reporting on behalf of the AFP.
ARTS FIRST Partners Annual Report
Following the end of each fiscal year, each of the partners provides summarized narratives and financial information of their respective arts education activities in support of the AFP Strategic Plan.