PBC School District Superintendent Shares 2024 Arts-Related Goals with Kravis Education Committee
(West Palm Beach) – Setting the stage for a vibrant 2024-25 season, the Kravis Center’s Education Committee kicked off with a spotlight on the arts on November 12 in The Founders’ Room at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, underscoring their starring role in local education. Michael J. Burke, Superintendent of the School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC), presented key updates from the District’s strategic plan, outlining the positive impact and goals for sustaining arts programs in the community.
“As the nation’s tenth-largest school district, we are proud to offer access to arts and culture for our students across Palm Beach County,” said Superintendent Burke. “The generous support of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts provides all of our 14,000 fifth grade students with the opportunity to experience a live performance at no cost to our families or schools. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Kravis Center to enrich our students’ lives through the arts.”
At the reception, attendees discussed the success of the SDPBC’s Community Experiences initiative, which recently expanded to reach every fifth grader in the District. Sponsored by Leonard and Norma Klorfine and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Arts & Cultural Education Fund, the program unveiled a new name this season, Curtain Up for 5th Grade! Through a partnership with the Kravis Center, this initiative spanned September 24 to November 12, offering a series of seven interactive performances. Curated for fifth-grade students, the presentations included culturally diverse performances across music, dance, theater and storytelling. This initiative will be an ongoing collaboration between the Kravis Center and the School District of Palm Beach County.
“The Education Committee at the Kravis Center is dedicated to fostering accessibility and partnerships that bring the arts to children and community members of all ages,” said Tracy C. Butler, Director of Education at the Kravis Center. “We believe that by igniting creativity and passion for the arts, we can transform lives and cultivate a community that celebrates artistic expression for generations to come.”
In 2025, the Kravis Center will launch a robust lineup of educational programming, including the 20th-anniversary season of the Kravis Center’s Writers’ Academy. Other offerings will feature the third year of “Changemakers: Exploring Young Women’s Voices” as well as The De George Academy for Performing Arts, a free program that offers underserved students from grades 3-8 in Palm Beach County Title I schools a year-round performing arts education.
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is one of South Florida’s premier performing arts centers located in Downtown West Palm Beach. Since 1992 the Kravis Center has hosted the very best in live entertainment featuring world-class artists in music, comedy, dance, Broadway and more. Since opening its doors, the Kravis Center has welcomed millions of students to its comprehensive arts education programs. Students of all ages can participate in a variety of workshops, classes and special events, as well as free and reduced-price tickets to those who might not otherwise have the chance to experience live performances. For information, please visit kravis.org.
For more information about the Kravis Center’s education programs, visit kravis.org/education. To support the Kravis Center’s educational mission, please contact the Development Department at (561) 651-4320 or visit kravis.org and select “Giving and Support.”
