Adrienne Valencia understands the joy and rigor that comes from pursuing an artistic practice. Growing up, her family fostered a love for the arts: her father enjoyed mariachi and Big Band music. His mother had taken singing lessons when she was younger, had taken painting lessons before the COVID-19 pandemic and used to transport the children to museums, community theater. and concerts in the park. Valencia and her sisters were encouraged to experiment in the kitchen, learn a trade, take dance and piano lessons, sing in their school choirs, and take part in their high school theater productions.

When choosing a career, however, she was pushed down a more traditional path.

“My dad said, ‘Choose something stable. I don’t want to support you for the rest of my life. Although it may not seem encouraging, I think he was really watching over me. It made me really think about whether a life in the arts was what I wanted,” she says, recalling that she majored in biology in college before moving into business, but these things never quite went well.

“I was still taking a music class, though, and felt completely at home in the music department. It was energizing to meet so many creative and passionate people. I eventually changed my major to music on the recommendation of my college piano teacher, and I’ve never looked back.

His return to the arts led him to degrees in music, piano performance and arts administration – and a nearly 30-year career managing and directing music education programs for symphonies and orchestras. in California and New York (including her work as former Director of Education and Community Engagement with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra).

Today, Valencia, 56, lives in University Heights and serves as the executive director of Arts Education Connection San Diego, a nonprofit organization providing arts programs in dance, music, theater, visual arts and literary arts across the country. San Diego County for students, teachers and families. She took the time to talk about the work of the organization, how the arts intersect with other core subjects, and her love of craftsmanship.

Q: You are an artist with a music degree and you have already worked as a music teacher. Can you tell us about the role the arts played in your own upbringing?

A: Participating in the arts as a child gave me a means of personal expression and connection. The arts provide a pathway to knowing and being known, and most of my closest friendships have been nurtured through some sort of artistic endeavour. The arts created a community for me at school, being in a group of people who shared the same interests. Even now, I’m an active choir singer in San Diego and I have this community of friendship and support.

Q: Arts Education Connection San Diego was formerly affiliated with Young Audiences Arts for Learning, a national nonprofit arts education organization with affiliates in several states. Why did your organization leave this national network?

A: This was primarily a financial decision, as we value our relationship with the national office and staff of each affiliate. They are a wonderful group of people, all uniquely dedicated to bringing arts education to their communities. However, there is a cost to being a YA Affiliate (equal to 1.25% of the organization’s annual operating budget) and when we performed a cost-benefit analysis, we found that it would make more sense for us, financially. , to leave the network. .

Q: Can you talk about some of the differences in what a program looks like when, for example, dance is offered in school versus when dance is offered to teachers and then to families?

A: It’s about the impact we can have. When our teacher artists enter schools, they work directly with students, teaching them the concepts, vocabulary and skills of an art form that will last them a lifetime. When we provide professional learning opportunities for classroom teachers, the impact is different. They learn meaningful and manageable ways to incorporate the arts into their daily teaching practice. This means that even if they are not experts, they can still introduce the arts to students. When parents and children learn side by side, it gives them the opportunity to “unplug” and focus on a creative activity that was fun and might have been new to them. Families said they felt more connected to each other and their community after participating. We see these experiences as opportunities to connect through the arts.

What I love about University Heights…

I like to take a quick stroll through the Trolley Barn park to exercise and people watch, or meet friends at various restaurants on Park Boulevard. I love the quaint, older craft homes that are so unique. I love home renovations, so it’s fun for me to see what people do with their homes. University Heights is a very busy part of town, but my apartment is far enough from the action that it won’t disrupt my day. It’s also close to most highways, making it super easy to get anywhere I need to be quickly.

Q: There have been, and still are, numerous studies of the impact of arts education programs, highlighting improvements in critical thinking, writing skills, communication, self-confidence, creative problem solving and more. Can you talk about what you saw at Arts Education Connection San Diego and the feedback you received from parents and teachers about their children and students?

A: We get a lot of positive feedback from students, teachers, principals and parents. A principal said, “I have never seen my students more enthusiastic or happy. Now they have a way to express themselves. The kids I’ve never seen speak are empowered and the teachers love it. This program offers students a way to take a break from their daily struggles. When we moved our programs online at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents told us that their students were very happy to be able to continue their arts lessons. Parents and teachers see their students in a different light; they recognize talents that might have been hidden until the student entered an art class. They see more enthusiasm, engagement and excitement in learning. What’s better than that?

Q: What has been difficult about your work in arts education programs?

A: The arts bring fun, energy, and life to learning, but they are also academically rigorous. One aspect of arts education that I’m not sure people understand is that the arts are the sum of all things – math, language, culture, science, social studies – so when students study the arts, they also study these materials. While most school staff and parents love the idea of ​​arts education, we know we still have work to do before they really understand the benefits. Yes, there are many studies on the value of arts education to students, schools, families, and communities, but school principals often have difficult decisions to make in terms of allocating funds. We must continually advocate the value of arts education to schools and districts, and can serve as a resource to help them develop their own district arts plan.

Q: What has this job taught you about yourself?

A: I’ve learned that I’m tenacious, a good problem solver, a creative and logical thinker, and can handle a lot of stress.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: Never let them see you sweat! Also, do not make decisions out of fear and desperation.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: How I love craftsmanship! I can sew, knit and do different types of embroidery. I can also cook, so I’m basically a domestic goddess.

Q: Please describe your ideal weekend in San Diego.

A: Well, it’s a little difficult given the current situation, but I would like my friend Amy to come from Washington State and start with breakfast at my favorite neighborhood restaurant, Parkhouse Eatery (even s is currently closed for renovation). Their staff is super friendly, the menu is delicious, and I love the cozy vibe of the converted home. Balboa Park is a must! I was once given a “behind the scenes tour” of the park and it totally changed the way I viewed this unique treasure in our community. We would definitely take a museum or two, and I would show him Coronado Island for a bit of window shopping. Since Amy and I are both fair-skinned redheads, I would avoid the beach until evening when we could watch one of San Diego’s spectacular sunsets. And, of course, we would catch a performance or two of live theater or music. We also had a drink at Top of the Hyatt in the evening to enjoy the city lights at night.