Jacksonville – A pilot arts initiative funded by the city has shown measurable academic benefits for children of military families. The Cathedral Arts Project’s Brave HeARTs program, launched for the 2025‑26 school year with a $250,000 municipal grant, delivered in‑school arts instruction, two free summer camps, and a Military Family Day in partnership with Blue Star Families Jacksonville.
Program reach and impact
According to Cathedral Arts Project Vice President of Advocacy and Community Engagement Lucy Chen, the program served 4,300 students during its first year. Participants attended four schools—Abess Park Elementary, Mandarin Oaks Elementary, Venetia Elementary and Springfield Middle—chosen for their history of supporting military families.
Data collected by the Florida Data Science for Social Good program at the University of North Florida indicates strong outcomes. Teachers reported that 51% of students showed increased academic engagement, nearly two‑thirds of parents observed improved communication skills, and 74% of students said they had better mental focus.
Standardized testing results reinforce those findings. Sixty‑seven percent of Brave HeARTs participants achieved proficiency on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking in both English and mathematics, more than ten points above the districtwide average of 56.3%.
Why arts matter for military kids
Brant Marcus, a master’s student at UNF who analyzed the program’s impact, highlighted the unique challenges military children face. Frequent relocations can disrupt friendships and a sense of belonging, making stable, collaborative activities like the arts especially valuable.
“The skills learned through the arts—grit, perseverance, teamwork—are as essential as athletic training,” Chen said. “In a rapidly changing world, those traits prepare kids for future workforces and help them navigate the uncertainties of military life.”
Funding uncertainty
Despite the program’s success, Jacksonville City Council is considering a pause or reduction of half of its cultural service grants for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Cathedral Arts Project receives less than 15% of its budget from public sources, relying heavily on business, civic and philanthropic support to sustain operations.
City officials have not yet decided whether the proposed cuts will affect Brave HeARTs. The discussion underscores the broader tension between municipal budget constraints and the demonstrated benefits of arts education for a vulnerable population.
Community response
Local volunteers and parents have praised the program’s ability to create a supportive community for military children. One student, who declined to name his family due to the sensitivity of his father’s service, described how connecting with peers who understood his experience eased the stress of frequent moves.
As the new school year approaches, Cathedral Arts Project plans to continue its partnership with schools, the Mayport Child Development Center and Blue Star Families, while seeking additional private support to offset any potential loss of city funding.
Looking ahead
Duval County Public Schools estimates it serves between 7,500 and 8,000 military families each academic year, suggesting a sizable pool of students who could benefit from expanded arts programming. Advocates hope the city council will recognize the program’s academic returns and maintain, if not increase, its investment in the arts as a critical component of military family support.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
