Message from the President and Head of School

I recently traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to attend a summit and to be in conversation with educators from around the world. Leaders from the Blue School (NY), Harvard’s Project Zero (Boston), and Reggio Emilio (Italy) among others, highlighted the success of their programs as educational leaders in Vietnam consider a bold future for the children of their country.

Educators everywhere are questioning how to prepare students to be globally competent citizens of the world.  New technologies such as Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality make it impossible to imagine the jobs that young people will have in the future. It is clear that they must be ready to meet the challenges they will encounter as well as the opportunities that will be available to them.

Pursuing the arts seems more important today than ever before. Being creative is having the ability to put forth ideas that are original and valuable. Schools must prepare students with the tools to address monumental challenges such as homelessness, poverty, inequality, and more. I once heard Choreographer and Producer Debbie Allen say, “We’re living in a world of technology and innovation but there is no technology or innovation without creativity.”

Idyllwild Arts was founded to provide a place where students from around the world could pursue their passions in the arts. Today, we continue to be committed to a culturally rich environment and an education deeply rooted in the arts. By doing so we know that we are preparing our young artists for successful futures and empowering them to make a difference in the communities they will seek to serve.

In service,

Pamela Jordan
President and Head of School