In line with this trend, The Renaissance School in Oakland will have a display of children's art by students in pre-school through seventh grades. The art show titled "The Celebration of Children's Creativity" opens Saturday, June 19th.

"Cuts to arts funding have always been a complete mystery to me," said Leslie Hites, The Renaissance School's Head of School. "Art is important in every human being's education and is the kindling of the human spirit. It is where a child can experiment and always succeed."

Unlike what you might expect to find at children's art shows - boxy houses with a picket fence and smoke coming from the chimney - the art program at The Renaissance School consistently creates phenomenal pieces.

Although it has been nearly 25 years since the passage of Proposition 13 - which cut funding to the state's schools and virtually eliminated arts programs - schools have struggled to find a place in their budgets for the arts. According to the California Department of Education's DataQuest, only 23 percent of the state's student population benefit from art-specific programs.

"The Celebration of Children's Creativity" opens at 11a.m.Saturday, June 19, and will continue Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Franklin and Waterfront in Jack London Square. Admission is free.

Founded in 1992 as A Child's World Montessori School, The Renaissance School is committed to the academic needs of the individual child. Following the full A.M.I. (Association Montessori International) curriculum, The Renaissance School offers an international center of learning which enriches the child's physical, intellectual and social development.

For more information on the California Alliance for Art Education, visit www.artsed411.org.