Monday brief · week of 26 October 2026
Hewlett Foundation deepens investments in arts education, public lands, and community-led resilience while spotlighting long-term civic infrastructure.
Written each Monday from this funder's own recent publications. Every point links to the sentence it rests on.
What they're leaning into
Arts education remains a cornerstone, with new funding streams like the Arts Ed Accelerator Fund ensuring equitable access and high-quality implementation across California schools, especially for students furthest from opportunity.
“California schools have used 96% of the $1 billion annual investment to increase access to arts — from dance and theater to music.”Have you heard the good news about the Arts and Music in Schools Act? · 2026-10-26 ↗“We helped start the Arts Ed Accelerator Fund, which will improve implementation of the AMS Act and ensure all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, benefit from a high-quality arts education.”Have you heard the good news about the Arts and Music in Schools Act? · 2026-10-26 ↗Public lands protection and ecosystem conservation are gaining momentum, exemplified by the designation of Chiricahua as a national park, which highlights the intersection of biodiversity, cultural heritage, and long-term stewardship.
“It’s official: Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park!”It’s official: Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park! · 2026-10-23 ↗“As one of Arizona’s Sky Islands, Chiricahua protects rare ecosystems, plants, and animals”It’s official: Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park! · 2026-10-23 ↗Community-led development and multi-decade initiatives like *Blueprints for Belonging* signal a focus on sustained civic infrastructure, peer learning, and shared problem-solving to build resilience beyond political cycles.
“By supporting community-led development, peer learning, and shared problem-solving, the initiative aims to help communities sustain progress and navigate challenges that extend beyond political and funding cycles.”We're excited to see Just Solutions, a grantee in our Environment Program, launch Blueprints for Belonging, a 10-year in · 2026-10-07 ↗“We're excited to see Just Solutions, a grantee in our Environment Program, launch Blueprints for Belonging, a 10-year initiative working to strengthen the civic infrastructure communities need to build health, prosperity, and resilience over the long term.”We're excited to see Just Solutions, a grantee in our Environment Program, launch Blueprints for Belonging, a 10-year in · 2026-10-07 ↗
Framing to consider
For arts education proposals, emphasize how your work fosters *community, confidence, and lifelong connections* to the arts, particularly for young people furthest from opportunity, while aligning with state-level implementation efforts like the Arts and Music in Schools Act.
“Learning how to play music is more than just a new skill.”Learning how to play music is more than just a new skill. It can help young people find community, build confidence, and · 2026-09-21 ↗“It can help young people find community, build confidence, and develop a lifelong connection to the arts.”Learning how to play music is more than just a new skill. It can help young people find community, build confidence, and · 2026-09-21 ↗When pitching environment or public lands work, frame it as *protecting and restoring nature at scale*, with attention to cultural heritage, wildlife corridors, and the role of community-led stewardship in sustaining progress over decades.
“As one of Arizona’s Sky Islands, Chiricahua protects rare ecosystems, plants, and animals”It’s official: Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park! · 2026-10-23 ↗“This recognition preserves lands of deep cultural significance to the Chiricahua Apache”It’s official: Chiricahua is now America's 64th national park! · 2026-10-23 ↗