Oregon Public Broadcasting

The DC-based John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has chosen Portland to join two other U.S. cities as partners in improving arts education for grade schoolers.

The "Any Given Child" collaboration, as it's called, doesn't bring immediate funding. Instead, it starts with an arts audit at four participating school districts: Portland, North Clackamas, Hillsboro, and Gresham-Barlow.

Jeff Hawthorne with the Regional Arts & Culture Council says the partnership can help prioritize the arts in a time of tight resources.

Jeff Hawthorne: "Schools obviously have many challenges right now, way beyond arts education. But given the interest we have seen from the superintendents who are participating in this effort, and seeing how much they really want to find a solution that will help teachers provide arts education in the classroom, we think it will move the dial." 

The audit phase is expected to begin in October, and last up to nine months. After that, officials hope the "Any Given Child" program will help maximize existing arts dollars, and will help schools attract additional donations.

In addition to Portland, the Kennedy Center previously selected Sacramento, and Springfield, Missouri.