The New Children’s Museum will be the site of a rock ’n’ roll benefit gala Aug. 21 where leather pants are the suggested attire and arts education in local public schools is the beneficiary. The third annual Party Animals! gala will feature rock star performances by Third Eye Blind and culinary stars like Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille. The event will feature an inaugural after-party at the Hard Rock Hotel, a big supporter of the cause, said Rachel Teagle, the New Children’s Museum (NCM) executive director. The nightclub, which will welcome local band Get Back Loretta, is a step in introducing a new demographic to the NCM’s cause. “The [venue] is a great spot to raise money but also a place to generate public awareness,” Teagle said. “Our core issue is that public schools can no longer provide the means for arts and enrichment classes.” This year’s theme correlates to the museum’s current exhibit, where 18 animals educate youngsters on the relationship between man and animal. The menu for the evening will include local and sustainable vegetarian entrees from local kitchen rock stars Andrew Spurgin of Waters Fine Catering, Guiseppe Ciuffa of Giuseppe Restaurants and Chris O’Donnell of Dolce Pane E Vino. The nonprofit New Children’s Museum raises funds for San Diego’s impoverished youth year-round, welcoming one child in five free of charge into the enriching educational complex. The 2010-2011 goal is 63 percent improvement in local arts school programs, which will impact 25,000 school children, Teagle said.