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Thanks to Free Arts Education through Arts Access Miami, Kids Excel Both on Stage and in School with More Programs on the Horizon
More than 1,300 students will be finishing up their school year with the confidence of “seasoned performers” after enjoying their moment in the spotlight at Youth Music Festivals hosted by Arts Access Miami, the region’s premier collaborative arts nonprofit bringing free high-quality music and arts education to every Miami-Dade County Public School.
The Miami Gardens Youth Music Festival on February 28, and the South Dade Youth Music Festival on March 14, brought student musicians, drumlines and dancers from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) to perform before enthusiastic crowds, showcasing the results of a year of hard work and the impact of collaborative arts programs. Celebrated in partnership with M-DCPS and iHeart radio, whose DJ’s emceed each event, attendees enjoyed food, interactive experiences, community connections, and the joy of celebrating the hard-earned talents of eager K – 12th students.
“The students have practiced all year for this day,” said Arts Access Miami Director Alan Valladares. “The festivals give them a chance to step onto a real stage, perform for their community, and feel proud of the work they’ve accomplished. These two initiatives are proof of concept and proof that arts education changes kids’ view of learning and school. These proven programs will pave the way for more festivals, impacting more kids.”
Community leaders also praised the festivals’ impact. “I truly believe an investment in our youth will always yield the greatest return,” said Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julian. “This is our fifth and most successful year to date. I’m extremely proud because this is a team effort with everyone coming together in the City of Miami Gardens. It brings me joy knowing the students have access to free arts education.”
For educators, the value of these opportunities is clear, and the results are measurable and consistent. Across regions, Arts Access Miami students demonstrate stronger attendance and academic outcomes, including higher performance in reading, math, and English Language Arts compared to their peers, along with measurable growth in motivation, leadership, and self-efficacy.
“Music classes give students a chance to express themselves, and we’ve discovered students with incredible hidden music talents! The more students are exposed to the arts, the more they learn and grow. The only thing that limits them is the opportunity gap, which Arts Access Miami is helping to fill,” said Chanda O. Scott, principal of North County K-8 Center.
The two festivals involved a total of 66 schools, and even more after school nonprofits from the Miami Gardens and South Miami areas. The event sponsor, Arts Access Miami, operates at a scale unmatched by any other coordinated arts education system in the country. The initiative currently unites 25 nonprofit arts organizations, school leadership, district partners, municipalities, higher education institutions, and philanthropic partners into a single system delivering free, high-quality arts education across Miami-Dade County. Arts Access Miami now serves more than 14,000+ students every week across the 66 schools, replacing isolated programs with a coordinated system built to scale.
The best news is that Arts Access Miami continues to grow. The 2026-2027 school year will see the addition of the Central Dade school region, adding another 3,000+ students served at 22 more schools in the county. So, lookout for one more youth music festival coming to a community near you!
For more details about Arts Access Miami in your school, contact www.artsaccessmiami.org.
