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In This Issue
- Investing in the Arts: AB700
- Governor Seeking $5 Million for Schools
- Compton Alliance for Arts Education
- San Jose Unified: Arts Among Programs to Help Combat Dropout Rate
- Why Arts Education Will Save the World
- Duncan Spells Out Preferred Use of Stimulus Funds
- Obama Administration’s Warm Welcome to the Arts Community
- SRI Follow-up Studies of Arts Education in California
- New National Arts Education Research Organization
- Best Communities for Music Education
- Arts Parent Leadership Council Meeting April 23rd, North Hollywood
- Call for Teaching Artists Stockton: Request for Volunteers
CONFERENCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- San Diego Arts Education Summit
- Courageous Creativity Conference, June 24-26th
- Wells Fargo: Teaching Through Musical Theatre Institute
RESOURCES, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- NAEA Research Grants
- PTA Arts Enhancement Grants
April 23 , 2009
ArtsEdMail provides all the latest information to connect the Arts Education community in California. Our free e-newsletter is published every two weeks.
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Arts
to the Core
We’ve just returned from our statewide Leadership in Arts Education conference
in Sacramento – two days of inspiring examples of arts education in action
from across California. Playwright and Teatro Campesino founder Luis
Valdez spoke to the crowd on the first day. He talked about building
something from nothing, and read a poem in Nahuatl, Spanish and English.
He concluded, “Fellow arts administrators, organizers and agitators:
find your heart. Find your heart and share it with your kids, your communities
and your neighborhoods. The future belongs to those who can imagine it.”
The following day, singer Linda Ronstadt spoke to the crowd about her
life and about her experience with music and learning. “We tend to think
of music as entertainment,” she said. “Music has a profound biological
component, and it is an integral part of every human endeavor.” She regaled
the crowd with stories drawn from her years on stage, and left everyone
in the room inspired and full of laughter. Thanks to our partner CCSESA
and sponsors-- The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Lesley University,
NAMM Foundation, Claremont Graduate University, California Arts Council,
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, and Bad Wolf Press.
The conference happened at a great time. We have a packed legislative season ahead of us, with pending bills that affect the future of visual and performing arts instruction in our public schools. During the conference, advocates met with over 100 legislators at the Capitol. They delivered a message that visual and performing arts education matters to people in their district – the parents, educators, administrators, artists and cultural organizations that the Alliance represents.
Our advocates talked about pending bills like AB 554 (Furutani) and others that will soon be up for debate in the Education Committee and beyond. If you’re interested in tracking relevant legislation, visit our legislative update online. We update the site on a regular basis with an explanation of the Alliance’s stance on pending legislation and soon we’ll be launching a related blog for policy discussions related to arts education. The full implications for arts education of any given bill aren’t always readily apparent, and part of the Alliance’s ongoing work is to analyze each one and let you know what we think it really means for the future of arts education in California.
This is a tough year for public education across the board. But the current crisis in funding for schools is all the more reason to keep our eye on the nuance of emerging public policy. The decisions we make today are more than just an expedient response to the current crisis; they shape the way arts education will be taught tomorrow and for years to come.
Watch for our coverage of the May 19th ballot initiatives in the next issue of the newsletter.
Investing
in the Arts: AB700
AB 700, The Creative Industries Revitalization Act (Krekorian) will be
heard by the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee on Monday, April 27th.
The fund would provide a stable revenue source for the California Arts
Council and its programs, and would help support the arts as a significant
contributor to California’s economic recovery through tourism, jobs, social
services and education outreach. Take
action to support AB 700.
Governor
Seeking $5 Million for Schools
Governor Schwarzenegger recently asked the federal government for $5
billion to stave off layoffs and preserve programs. Some educators are
taking a conservative approach to planning spending for the stimulus
funds they may receive, because of uncertainty about exactly how much
money may come to their districts. The outcome of the May elections will
also affect the size of the deficit that needs to be addressed. Read
the full story.
Compton
Alliance for Arts Education
The Alliance recently held an event for arts education advocates in Compton
to launch a local organizing effort. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and
Assemblyman Isadore Hall III addressed a group of community activists
and stakeholders. Compton is one of ten communities taking part in our
local advocacy pilot project. Read
more. Watch
video of the event on our site.
San
Jose Unified: Arts Among Programs to Help Combat Dropout Rate
San Jose Unified Superintendent says arts and sports are among the courses
that engage students on an individual basis and combat a high dropout rate
– but they are also the courses that are fast disappearing due to cutbacks.
Read more.
Why
Arts Education Will Save the World
A recent essay in the Huffington Post by Lucia Brawley talks about why
arts education is a matter of social justice, and the critical difference
it makes in the lives of students. She points to the example of what’s
happening with arts education in Alameda County, under the stewardship
of Louise Music (Alliance board member), as an example of what innovative
districts are doing to improve and distribute arts education. Read
more.
Duncan
Spells Out Preferred Use of Stimulus Funds
The Department of Education recently unveiled a list of suggested use
of stimulus funds, by way of explaining their statement that such funds
must be used “smartly” or risk losing billions more. The Department says
they are prioritizing saving jobs, but also promoting good reform. Applying
for future rounds of stimulus money will depend on districts showing
that they used the first round funds to “drive reform and improve achievement.”
Read
more.
Obama
Administration’s Warm Welcome to the Arts Community
Backstage Magazine summarizes recent evidence of arts advocates and organizations
getting the word out that what artists do is real work – and the administration’s
unusual receptiveness to the message. The question now is whether this
advocacy and awareness-raising will result in increased arts funding.
Read
more.
SRI
Follow-up Studies of Arts Education in California
SRI International, with support from the Hewlett Foundation, has conducted
a suite of studies following up on their 2007 report, An Unfinished Canvas:
Arts Education in California. The studies examine how more California students
might receive standards-based arts education. The most recent study, District
Capacity and the Use of New State Funds for Arts Education, is available
now. Get
report.
New
National Arts Education Research Organization
Quadrant Arts Education Research will serve the cultural, commercial, educational
and governmental sectors with arts education research, analysis and market
intelligence. Find
out more.
Best
Communities for Music Education
The NAMM Foundation announced the results of its tenth annual “Best Communities
for Music Education” survey, recognizing districts across the country for
their support of music education. The districts were measured across curricular
and programmatic criteria as well as public support of their music programs.
See
results.
Arts
Parent Leadership Council Meeting April 23rd, North Hollywood
A representative from Senator Alex Padilla’s office will make a presentation,
“Understanding the Legislative Process.” Neutral information will be provided
about the May 19th special election, as well as a new bill in the works, written
by San Fernando Valley Assemblymember Julia Brownely – AB 8 creates a formula
for public school funding. Potluck dinner at 6:00, meeting from 6:30 to 8:30
at the Maurice Sendak School, 11414 Tiara St., North Hollywood, CA 91601. RSVP
to 818.610.2050 or assist@aieac.org
Call
for Teaching Artists
The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission seeks teaching artists to be considered
for paid teaching projects in visual, literary and performing arts over the next
five years. Ten to fifteen artists will be engaged for projects before June 30,
2009. Get more information.
Stockton:
Request for Volunteers
The Stockton Arts and Multicultural Celebration, happening May 9th at Weber Point,
needs volunteers to help with this free community event, featuring music, dance,
theatre and arts that reflect the cultural traditions of the community. More
information.
Conferences, Professional Development
San
Diego Arts Education Summit
On Wednesday, April 29th, Center ARTES at CSU San Marcos, San Diego County
Office of Education and Americans for the Arts will present an arts education
summit to explore strategies to ensure that children are receiving effective,
comprehensive arts education. The event is open to educators, artists,
parents, administrators and other arts education advocates. Where: San
Diego County Office of Education, Linda Vista Campus, 6401 Linda Vista
Road, San Diego, CA 92111. Registration is only $30, $35 after April 24th.
For more information, call 858.292.3789. Register
online.
Courageous
Creativity Conference, June 24-26th
In June, The California Arts Project (TCAP) will hold the 3rd Annual California
Arts Project Courageous Creativity Conference at Disney's Paradise Pier
Hotel in Anaheim. The conference is aimed at administrators, teacher leaders,
faculty, and the wider school community who wish to learn more about arts
education through the lens of arts, media and entertainment as a viable
pathway into post secondary and the workforce for students. For more information,
call TCAP at 909 537 7542.
Wells
Fargo: Teaching Through Musical Theatre Institute
The Wells Fargo Teaching Through Musical Theatre Institute takes place
July 6-10. The Institute was developed by California Musical Theatre as
a 40-hour professional development program for K-12 educators interested
in learning more about musical theatre and integrating performing arts
into the classroom. Learn
more.
Resources,
Funding Opportunities
NAEA
Research Grants
This program is designed to encourage research in arts education and provides
major grants for research specifically relating to one of the recommendations
in Creating a Visual Arts Research Agenda Toward the 21st Century identified
by NAEA's Commission on Research in Art Education. The deadline for the submission
of proposals for the 2010-2011 grant cycle is October 1, 2009. Learn
more.
PTA
Arts Enhancement Grants
Each year, PTA’s Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program
offers a limited number of matching grants of up to $1,000 to local PTAs for
student-centered programs focused on arts education. Special consideration is
given to programs that reach large numbers of students whose environmental, familial,
and/or socioeconomic situation may affect their academic success or ability to
learn. Talk to your school’s PTA about applying. Applications are due May 1,
2009. Learn
more.
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