Van Wezel Foundation Announces Partnership with Larry Livingston

December 5, 2022 – Sarasota

The Van Wezel Foundation, with the School District of Manatee County and Manatee Arts Education Partnership (MAEC) provided a series of professional learning options with distinguished conductor, educator and administrator, and motivational speaker Larry Livingston. Professor Livingston provided a professional development for all teachers in the School District of Manatee County on Wed, Nov. 2, highlighting the life and academic benefits of the arts. On Friday, Livingston was the keynote at Manatee Arts Education Council’s Arts Rise and Shine Leadership Breakfast. The purpose of the breakfast was to convene school district and community leaders, arts educators, local arts advocates, and MAEC members to support and celebrate the arts in Manatee County. ”Having the opportunity to work with teachers and administrators in Manatee County has been a truly rewarding experience. The caring, committed, and talented educators in this area are doing incredible things for current and future students.” says Professor Livingston, “I am thankful for the support of the Van Wezel Foundation and MAEC and the entire community for making this inspirational visit possible.”

Through a series of stories and data from studies on the benefit of arts education on learners, Professor Livingston gave a call to action for the continued advancement of arts education in Manatee County.

“Larry Livingston is an incredibly talented conductor, educator, and administrator, and we are thrilled to work alongside him to explore new possibilities for the arts in our local schools,” said Jeramiah Bowman, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist for the School District of Manatee County. “We are so thankful for our ongoing partnership with the Van Wezel Foundation that makes building relationships with speakers like Larry possible.”

In addition to announcing the partnership with Livingston, the Van Wezel Foundation also announced the foundation is underwriting a PD for more than 100 art teachers in the area.