<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Fund The Arts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fund The Arts]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 09:12:13 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.fundthearts.net/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Parent Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Before my son came to Foster, he was struggling to understand who he was and where he belonged. The Foster theater program changed that, and for that, I will be forever grateful. They welcomed him in, helped him discover his passion, and nurtured his talent in a way that truly transformed him. Watching him grow, both as a performer and as a person, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. He began in the ensemble and, by his senior year, earned a lead role. That kind of...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/parent-statement-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eec3be3fe49635e6905ec7</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:03:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_6f052e51d0a341868d4644bbb69725ba~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_855,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Parent</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Junior Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[I started my theater journey in third grade, thinking that it was just going to be a fun hobby I did. But it was way more. I joined it in middle school, and I was a part of many fabulous plays, but the one thing that always kept me down was the inconsistency of the directors. I became a freshman in high school, and that’s when Cobb joined the picture. He was a new director, and it was his first year, like mine. At first, I just thought he was some nerdy Marvel-loving guy. But for the past...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/junior-student-statement-2</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eec31b40a0465aa6c8aa95</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:01:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_a76a2a3b4ec44af09c112cb15b974a45~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Junior Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sophomore Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a sophomore that has gone through many art classes at Foster High School and has assisted Theatre with set design, I am truly saddened by this whole situation. How are you going to just “cut a position” that has such a huge impact on the fine arts community at Foster? It’s not like LCISD can’t afford to pay another position. Theatre, Art, Speech &#38; Debate, etc, all make profits for our school and district. From winning trophies, thespians, being S&#38;D NATIONAL qualifiers, and many art pieces...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/sophomore-student-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eec2867c7678baadea428e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:58:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_cb396ecce2b44383a5a0d3a8d72c5630~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sophomore Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Junior Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Before high school, I didn’t even know what I wanted to do as an elective/extracurricular, in middle school I did yearbook, art, piano and yet even with my love and passion for those subjects, I still did not feel satisfied. My friends recommended that I did tech theatre because it incorporated art, design and building in which I was interested in all of it. My freshmen year, I was in intro to tech theatre with Mr. Cobb and it changed my life forever. I learned new things, I made props, I...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/junior-student-statement-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec4ffd81e17196bd26a597</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:27:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_a8f26a2904c7493e8244b5f285fa1712~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Junior Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freshman Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Before theatre, I was someone who stayed quiet and didn’t always feel seen. I remember eating lunch alone or sitting in empty classrooms, feeling like I didn’t really belong anywhere. That started to change when I met Mr. Cobb and Mrs. Thomas. They welcomed me in, gave me a chance, and saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself yet. It’s hard to explain, but when the lights come up, and you step into a character, you also start discovering parts of yourself you didn’t know were there....]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/freshman-student-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec4f8d81e17196bd26a44a</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:23:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_6e8031dae24844d2907b0303bef7b309~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Freshman Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Speech And Debate Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every passing hour since finding out there is a high chance of the speech and debate program no longer existing at Foster, I get more angry, confused, and most of all heartbroken. Part of me wishes that we could get Mr.Cobb back, but I know that contracts have been signed and there is no going back. I still can't wrap my head around the choice to cut a program that holds so many awards and has been recognized by the board. It's surreal how in the span of 5 months I go from attending a board...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/speech-and-debate-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec4d6c81e17196bd269d7e</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:19:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_bc8ed1103c324f0092a035bf66600d90~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>S&amp;D Member</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anonymous Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[fine arts matter to me because i love marching band. i get to spend half of my life having fun learning a show every year and every year its better and better. and musical is also very fun to play in the pit. we should fund arts to continue great performances and music. :3]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/anonymous-student-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec2e1704fc81dfe25abf87</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:00:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_99b55a3dd4f54d7995f1743bc0b51f74~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Anonymous</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parent Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a mom, there is nothing more powerful than watching your child find where they truly belong. For my daughter, that place has been the theater arts program at Foster High School. Theater is so much more than performances on a stage. It builds confidence, teaches discipline, fosters creativity, and creates a space where students can express themselves freely and authentically. It’s where friendships are formed, voices are discovered, and young people learn how to collaborate, support one...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/parent-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec2cebb502c05c43b542c0</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:56:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_88ed178df35344b289d3cb40619e1ca4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Parent</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Outside Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello, I am a junior theatre student and I am not apart of your company. I am apart of Studio VII Theatre Co. at Seven Lakes High School and I am deeply troubled by the situation happening over at your school. The arts is such an important thing to the world, and to our communities that it is imperative that the arts must be continued for the further expression of creativity among the student body. As someone who has been in theatre for well over 6 years now including my junior high days, I...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/outside-student-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec2bc604fc81dfe25ab9a4</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:50:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_c1d6154b110949da814b8575481081d4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Outside Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Junior Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a child and preteen I didn’t really fit in to any sports I tried, and I tried a lot. I never felt like it was what I was meant for. I knew I wanted to do something medical when I grew up but what kind of extracurriculars are there for kids that want that? I was stuck for a really long time. When I moved to Briscoe in 8th grade I joined theatre, I was in the beginner level class but I tried out for every show. I got cast in These Shining Lives as the judge, but about a month into rehearsals...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/junior-student-statement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ec2b4604fc81dfe25ab85b</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:47:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_558ea0d39f904a4dbf9aa9abbd796b8b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Junior Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Junior Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Never in a million years did I believe I'd need to make an advocacy for this but I just wanted to show that this is the family you are tearing apart because of “budget cuts”. We work constantly whether it’s speech and debate OAP, thespians, musicals, etc. We spend countless hours on stage or in the black box but we do it because we love theatre not just us but so do our directors. To get rid of one is to get rid of both. Our company has won medal after medal trophy after trophy and has been...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/why-funding-the-arts-matters-for-communities</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eaa8a3a3f320e0758f81be</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:17:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_0004f012ff0e41f88aabeacd828f0570~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Junior Student</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sophomore Student Statement.]]></title><description><![CDATA[When i was in fifth grade my biggest worry was what elective I would chose for 6th grade. I'm so glad that I chose theatre. It genuinely has shaped who I am and what I want to do forever. Unfortunately it hasn't been all sunshine. Each year I have had a new director. While sure that's how this world works its so jarring not knowing what is next for the thing you love most. Every director I have had has left after a year, all of them except for cobb. While 2 years isn't alot for most people...]]></description><link>https://www.fundthearts.net/post/top-strategies-to-support-arts-funding-initiatives</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eaa89fa3f320e0758f81b3</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:17:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b15ffc_a49292689aa24e6f903cc0f3e1f44e8e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sophomore Student</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>