Elementary Schools In Hawaii Integrate Art, Core Subjects.

The Honolulu Advertiser (12/23, Moreno) reports that due, in part, to "growing expectations of No Child Left Behind and the increased emphasis of standardized test scores," most "educators readily admit that art education often takes a back seat to other 'testable' subjects such as math, reading, and science." As such, the majority of elementary schools in Hawaii "rely on their regular classroom teachers to deliver art lessons, and usually it's integrated with another subject." The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' Artists in the Schools program, meanwhile, "matches professional teaching artists with classroom teachers to deliver art lessons that adhere to the state's curriculum standards. Artists provide 10 sessions of classroom instruction and classroom teachers then continue those lessons by integrating them into other courses." Another option for schools in Hawaii is the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Art to Go program, which circulates "a handful of art teachers who visit about 40 public schools across the state."

Your Chance to Speak to Obama and Congress

Ideas for Change in America is a citizen-driven effort to identify and create momentum around the best ideas for how the Obama Administration and Congress can turn the broad call for "change" across the country into specific policies. You can help by submitting an idea for how you would change America, discussing ideas with others, and/or voting for your favorites.

Go to Support the Arts in Public Schools!

Iowa Arts Council Scholarship

Iowa high school students planning to enter college next year with a major in an arts discipline have until Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, to apply for the 2009 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts.

Offered annually by the Iowa Arts Council, the scholarship is awarded to Iowa students who will graduate from an Iowa high school during the 2008-2009 academic year and plan to pursue a proven artistic ability in dance, literature, music, theater, traditional arts or visual arts at an Iowa college or university. The application is available at www.iowaartscouncil.org.

What kind of Secretary of Ed will Duncan be?

Education Week says

In choosing Arne Duncan as his nominee for U.S. secretary of education, President-elect Barack Obama signaled today that his administration intends to take what both men see as a pragmatic, nonideological approach to improving the nation’s schools.

Read their article.
The Washington Post calls Duncan "down to earth." Read their article.

The International Artist Teacher Exchange

The International Artist Teacher Exchange (IATE) will provide an opportunity for educators to obtain George Mason University graduate credit while gaining professional development training in arts integration during a week-long Italian cultural exchange. Participants will identify and link teaching methods, discover strategies for motivating students, and then develop lesson plans based on their findings that they will then implement in the classroom. Up to 45 participants will join a cohort of teachers, administrators, and educators from Collegio San Carlo in Milan for this cross-cultural and cross-curricular experience. The trip's focus of study will be on how the Renaissance era influenced the development of the region's arts and culture.

Participants will travel from Riccione to Assisi with stops in Urbino and Rimini. Along the way, you will experience traditional art forms while working alongside Italian "maestro" artists. Participants will be immersed in the history of the Renaissance period and practice the arts of Puppetry, Renaissance Dance, Hand Engraving, Kite Making, and Cooking.

REGISTRATIONS AND DEPOSITS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 10, 2009.

Space is limited and filling up fast!

For additional program and registration information, please click on the following links:

IATE 2009: Travel Itinerary

IATE 2009: Registration Form

Travel Dates: April 4 - 11, 2009
The total per person cost is $3,350.00.

Total price includes:

Round Trip Airfare (US Airways)
Lodging (1st Class Hotels)
All Meals (Fantastic Local Restaurants)
Activities (Work With Master Artists)
University Credits (3 GMU Graduate Credits)
Don't miss this fantastic arts-integrated travel experience!

For additional information, please contact John Ceschini at: jceschini@aems-edu.org

Building Communities through the Performing Arts

What: Building Communities through the Performing Arts
A panel discussion - followed by a Q & A.

The panel asks/answers the question, "Why/how do non-arts organizations support the performing arts?"
To answer the question, we think it important to hear it from the source (instead of only from the artist).

Who: Panel members include Jan Boland and John Dowdall from Red Cedar Chamber Music, plus representatives from Red Cedar Chamber Music's community partners: Dr. Jill Olsen of the Marion School District, Michael Zahs from the Ainsworth Opera House (pending: Nick Glew of the Marion City Council and Gail Naughton of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library).

When: Wednesday, January 7, 2009. 4-5:30 p.m.

Where: City Council Chambers of Marion City Hall 1225 6th Ave, Marion IA 52302
Free. No registration required.

Parking lot is located on the South side of Marion City Hall .
Enter the building from the South door, pass through two sets of glass doors, and wind your way to your left to double wooden doors which lead to the Council Chambers.


Here's a succinct description appropriate for marketing purposes.

Red Cedar Chamber Music is offering an opportunity for performing artists. A panel discussion called Building Communities through the Performing Arts addresses the question, "Why / how do non-arts organizations support the performing arts?" Participants will learn from Red Cedar Chamber Music's partners - a city council, a school system, a museum and an opera house - why support of the performing arts appeals to them. The discussion takes place in Marion City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, Marion, on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. The event is free (no registration required).

Panel members include Jan Boland (flutist & Exec Dir of Red Cedar Chamber Music), John Dowdall (Artistic Director and guitarist of Red Cedar Chamber Music), Dr. Jill Olsen (Dir of Teaching & Learning, Marion School District), Michael Zahs (Director, Ainsworth Opera House). Pending: Gail Naughton (President & CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library) and Nick Glew (Marion City Council). There will be an opportunity for questions following the panel presentation. For questions call Red Cedar Chamber Music at 319/377-8028 or visit www.redcedar.org/schedule.html

Directions: Free parking is available on the south side of Marion City Hall. Enter the building through the south door, pass through two sets of glass doors, and wind your way to your left to double wooden doors that lead to the Council Chambers.

TeacherTube

Now-- a video site that is safe for students--TeacherTube. There are Channels for each of the education disciplines. Fine Arts includes videos made by students and teachers, covering "how to," factoids, and fun.

The Only Choice We Have

Playing for Change: Peace through Music is a video that Mark Johnson made, over 10 years and around the world. Bill Moyers recently interviewed Mark Johnson. If you haven't seen the video or heard the story, be prepared to be impressed....

From Diane Franken: More on the 21st. Century Report

A Surprisingly Sensible 21st-Century Report is an article by Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews. Previously, Mathews wrote that the Report was "mostly a pipe dream, promoted by well-meaning people who embrace the idea of modernity but fail to consider how these allegedly new and important lessons can be taught by the usual victims of such schemes, classroom teachers."

The Partnership for 21st. Century Skills writes: "Never, as you would agree, has the Partnership advocated for the integration of 21st century skills at the expense of core subjects, like reading, math, science, social studies, etc.

In fact, the Partnership's work has been focused on how 21st century skills fit seamlessly into core subjects because it is both easy and vital to infuse core subjects with 21st century skills. As noted in research and materials, the teaching of core subjects is enhanced when students are expected to think critically and creatively, innovate, display oral communication skills and work and collaborate in diverse team settings. Quite simply, this is important work because teachers in their specific disciplines need to know how 21st century skills manifest themselves inside their discipline."

This article is an update of his opinion--now that he has calmed down. You may want to send him an email and his address appears at the end of the article!

Crossroads Conference 2008--Dec. 3 & 4--in Des Moines

Professionals in art, music, theatre, film, food and beverage, tourism and media from across the Upper Midwest to network with each other, gain professional development through seminars and celebrate the growth and achievement of the entertainment industry.
The Court Ave. District of Des Moines. Free Professional Develpment Seminars, Film and Theatre Showcase, Networking. $10 Music, Art and Beverage Showcase/$50 VIP Pass to the Thursday Night's Showcase/ $250 VIP Booth Pass goof for 6 people.
MORE INFO.

Need help getting to the show?

The Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa has announced a busing scholarship for schools attending a day-time performance.

If your school hasn't attended a Kaleidoscope performance since December of 2006, you are eligible to apply for a Buck for Buses Scholarship.

* $100 Scholarships
* Spring Semester 2009
* Applications accepted December 5th , 2008
* Awarded on first come, first serve
* Application and eligibility requirements: www.gbpac.com/outreach

From Laurie Olk:"Arts in Iowa"

The Insiders, a program on WHOTV.com, hosts Michael Morain, Des Moines Register arts reporter. They are taking a break from politics and exploring "Arts in Iowa" and the metro....focusing on music, theater and museums. They'll survey what's offered here, but also ask: how do we compare with other metros our size, how about our schools, and how do the economic cutbacks threaten the arts?
See the video

Arts Education Legislative Working Group Statement

The final, complete statement of recommendations to the Obama administration, including a section on Arts Education, which has been developed by the Arts Education Legislative Working Group (of which Barbara is a member) is now on the IAAE website.

If you have any questions, contact Barbara at bbshepherd@kennedy-center.org.

Why involve at-risk students with theater?

Teacher Mary Vasey, a volunteer in the theater program at Tate High School in Iowa City wrote a guest editorial for the Cedar Rapids Gazette that asks that question. And she answers it with a wonderful description of the experience of alternative school students putting together a play. It is beautiful.
Read the article...

The Year of the Ox

The Chinese Association of Iowa is hosting the 4th. annual Chinese New Year Poster Contest. Since the 6th. century B.C., the Chinese have used twelve common animals to represent the years in a repetitive 12-year cycle based on the movement of the moon. On the Chinese lunar calendar, the beginning of the Chinese New Year falls somewhere between late January and early February of the Gregorian Calendar.
The upcoming Year of the Ox begins on January 26, 2009. Contest entrants must be Iowa residents or residents of Hebei Province, our sister state in China. The deadline for entry is November 30! So check out the specifics for entry and get going on those entries. The celebration for winners will be on the Lunar New Year, January 26 at Valley High School in Des Moines.

From Diane Franken: Arts Education in World Class Schools

Key to Creative Thinkers
The Des Moines Register has today published a guest column that I wrote: Arts Education: Key to Creative Thinkers.
In the Register's ongoing series about world-class schools, it has given too-scant attention to the essential place of arts education in preparing students for a global society and workplace.

An initial question asked experts to identify the knowledge and skills necessary in education to be globally competitive. Science, math, language arts and other subjects are important for our students, but they are no longer enough. Who says so? More than arts educators...

Read the complete article...

Iowa Folklife, Vol. 2

The Iowa Arts Council announces the debut of Iowa Folklife, Vol 2 http://www.uni.edu/iowaonline/folklife_v2/ , which explores the traditional arts of Iowa's diverse cultures. Bring Iowa’s folk & traditional artists http://www.uni.edu/iowaonline/folklife_v2/artists.htm into your classroom to work with your students to create projects from Asian Indian rangoli http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/rangoli.htm to Danish paper cuts http://permo.homepage.dk/hjsta-01.htm and more.

This online resource provides FREE curriculum and lesson plans that include a variety of multicultural visual art projects and a variety of online resources for students (k12) and educators. Use the whole curriculum or just one unit! No need to sign up or join anything. Enhance your experience by inviting featured traditional artists or those from your community into your classroom. Consult the Folk & Traditional Artists link for each unit, the Iowa Folklife Roster, or Iowa Roots for artists' contact information, and apply for an Iowa Arts Council grant for artists' fees and other program expenses.

Questions? Contact Riki Saltzman, Ph.D., folklife coordinator, Iowa Arts Council at riki.saltzman@iowa.gov or 515/242-6195.

From Diane Franken: IOWA WEST PUBLIC ART UNVEILS FIRST ART EDUCATION POSTER

posters are available at http://www.iowawestpublicart.org/education/educator-resources.asp

Iowa West Public Art (IWPA), an initiative of the Iowa West Foundation, today launches an arts education curriculum with the first in a series of posters that may one day inspire students to further their own artistic talents.

As public art by some of the most well-known and respected artists in the world becomes part of the community landscape, IWPA is developing new teaching tools to bring public art to the classroom.

Jody Boyer, education specialist and fellow of the Iowa West Foundation, and Shari Hofschire, director of the Center for Innovation in Arts Education(CIAE) will present the first teaching guide to the Council Bluffs Community School District at the school board meeting Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. at the Council Bluffs school district administration office, 12 Scott Street.

Iowa West Foundation executive director and CEO, Todd Graham, says the curriculum guide developed with the CIAE is based on arts education standards developed by the Kennedy Center. It is intended to give students an appreciation for public art. He added, “The public art sites taking shape in Council Bluffs, Iowa are something to celebrate, a cultural asset that sets our community apart. With strong curriculum, our teachers will have another tool to inspire artistic potential and creativity in our students.” Graham hopes that the materials will be incorporated into art classrooms and libraries in western Iowa.

The first IWPA art education poster and curriculum guide features the art by Brower Hatcher in Bayliss Park. Each poster provides a beautiful presentation of the public art installation and curriculum that can be used in educational venues, museums and art centers throughout the world. IWPA plans to develop a poster with corresponding education curriculum as each public art installation is completed.

The art education posters will be distributed to schools and libraries throughout western Iowa. Poster are Area educators may request materials by contacting Jody Boyer at the Iowa West Foundation, (712) 309-3008 or jboyer@iowawest.com. The posters may also be downloaded by any educator, school, library or individual for educational or personal use at http://www.iowawestpublicart.org/education/educator-resources.asp

Iowa West Public Art is an initiative of the Iowa West Foundation. Founded in 2004, IWPA is guided by a community-driven Public Art Master Plan which designates over fifty public art sites in the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa. IWPA’s vision for the year 2015 is a community with a national and international reputation for high quality art that attracts visitors from all over the world and fuels economic development. Find out more at www.iowawestpublicart.org.

The Iowa West Foundation is an independent 501(c) (3) organization that makes grants in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest community-based private foundations in the Midwest. Its grants have improved the lives of thousands of citizens in more than 100 communities. Find at more at www.iowawestfoundation.org

Mentoring Symposium for Arts Educators

The premier Fall Mentoring Symposium for Arts Educators was a great success. We had 129 people in attendance at the Fall Symposium representing 5 arts organizations in our state. The registration was as follows: 57 instrumental, 52 vocal, 17 general music, 4 strings and 7 art. In addition to 28 first year arts-teachers, there were 59 college students representing nine colleges and universities in Iowa. The day was filled workshops and panel discussions of interest to beginning arts educators. Plans are underway for the 2009 Fall Symposium which will be held on October 31.

Disaster Relief Workshop on Nov. 15 in CR

Officials from the State Historic Preservation Office and FEMA will offer technical assistance next week at a workshop for property owners, local officials and others who are incorporating historic property considerations into recovery activities.

Tell others who may have been affected by flooding or tornado about this free workshop. More information is on the State Historical Society of Iowa website.

"The report of my death was an exaggeration..."

That quote is from Mark Twain.
GuideStar, an organization that helps people verify nonprofit organizations' legitimacy, has done a survey of nonprofit organizations. They say that the economy's impact on charitable giving is NOT exaggerated.
They reported that 35% of nonprofit participants said that contributions had decreased in October of 2008, while 64% said that the demand for their services had increased.
Of course, increased demand for charitable services and decreased charitable giving don't go well together. Organizations in the survey said that demand is up for the sixth year in a row. Organizations like IAAE depend on your charitable giving. And in tight economic times, the need for advocacy services will continue to increase. The last time GuideStar recorded this kind of data was in the fall of 2003. Weren't we seeing some market instability five years ago?
The more things change, the more they stay the same!

You Can Make a Difference

Last minute info on the election: Go to Support Music!

Music Educator Supreme

Dick Oatts, the son of Jack Oatts, who was widely known as "Iowa's patron saint of high school jazz bands," will be playing with The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and tribute to the Oatts Family at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State Center, Ames. Check out the article in the Des Moines Register.
If you can't make it to Ames on Sunday, you can experience the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at Luther College on Saturday night. Or at Buena Vista University on Monday.
When you look at the Orchestra schedule, it is great to see Ames, Decorah, and Storm Lake in the middle of the column that includes many New York Cities.
And isn't it wonderful that jazz is alive and well in Iowa schools? And aren't you glad that we can call them "Jazz Band" rather than "Stage Band" now?

Voting as an Arts Educator

Larry Brandstetter reminded me tonight that the presidential candidates have statements of position on arts education. You can see a simple chart of positions at ArtsVote.


Here are links to both candidate's positions: Obama and McCain

As an old friend says, "Vote Early! Vote Often!"

More Presidential Election Information

From someone who has done the research: ArtsceneIowa's editor Cathy Wilkins says "Remember — the future of the arts is in your favorite politician’s hands!"

Meet a Board Member: Leon Kuehner

One of the ideas that came from a recent IAAE Board meeting was to introduce you to the members of the Board. So the first man up is Leon Kuehner! We thought he could take the heat! Thanks for all that you do for kids, Leon!

From Diane Franken: Visual Art in the Campaign

Caricature characterizes and criticizes. How does it affect our opinions? Check out The Power of Political Pratfalls an article from the New York Times columnist, Edward Rothstein.
Published: October 12, 2008

ARTSVOTE

When you go to the polls in less than a month, keep the ARTS in mind. Check out Artsvote website.

National Endowment for Humanities Announces Second Picturing America Application Period

K-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools, as well as home school consortia and public libraries, can receive forty pieces of great American art and an illustrated teachers' resource book to help teach American history and culture....Request for Proposals.
Deadline: October 31, 2008

Latino Conference 2008

You can still register for the Latino Conference at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.


There will be artists workshops such as:
Aztec Dancers from Minnesota
Day of the Dead Altar Making
Mariachis
Latino Dancers from Iowa City Nora and Mark


And many more workshops on issues regarding Latinos. ALL are welcome. The food will be provided by Le Chisme and part of the low cost registration fee!
If you haven’t registered go to: http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/LatinoConference2008.html

The Visual Arts Kiosk at the Wells Fargo Center

One of the newest exhibits at Iowa Hall of Pride highlights the story of Visual Arts Education in Iowa. There are ten content areas that relate to the actions and services of the Art Educators of Iowa. Although this site was created to appeal to a broad audience it is specifically designed to reach art educators, students, art patrons, administrators, teachers, parents, and relatives of students.

Provided at the site are trivia questions about art and architecture in Iowa. An easy to use touch screen format allows one to select from three options and points are given for correct answers. There are also questions about Grant Wood and Art Education in Iowa.

One of the more visual aspects of the exhibit is a category called All-State Art Awards. Here one can look at the artwork of winning All-State art students going back to 1997. Like most of the categories, this area will be updated each year. Visitors are finding that they enjoy looking at the artwork. Each student showcases five works of art and there are many categories.

Student and teacher interviews are also provided. They explore such issues as the nature of creativity and the demands of a “21st Century Creative Workforce”. This site reflects the strength of the people who work together and share ideas, concerns, and enthusiasm for Visual Arts Education in Iowa.

Dave Pratt, All-State Chairperson
Pratt3d@iowatelecom.net

Help Aplington-Parkersburg Schools

Vote for the A-P School and help them win $25,000. You can vote every day!

Followers

To the right, you will now see Followers of the Alliance. This is the place to see who else keeps track of what is going on with The Alliance. Support the Arts Education umbrella organization. Let others know that you are a Leader by being a Follower!

Free PBS Media Resources

Sign Up for Teachers’ Domain to Access Free PBS Media Resources.

Teachers’ Domain is an online library of more than 1,000 free media resources from the best in public television. These classroom resources, featuring media from NOVA, Frontline, Design Squad, American Experience, and other public broadcasting and content partners are easy to use and correlate to state and national standards.
Teachers’ Domain resources include video and audio segments, Flash interactives, images, documents, lesson plans for teachers, and student-oriented activities. Once you register, you can personalize the site using “My Folders” and “My Groups” to save your favorite resources into a folder and share them with your colleagues or students. www.teachersdomain.org

From Laurie Olk: Problem Solving Problem

Last month, I mentioned a report I had read this past summer. Just this week, I’ve begun to move in my thinking. I have been pondering the problem of how to teach my students the art of identifying the problem to solve every since I read that interesting survey.

The survey asked school administrators and business leaders what they considered the most valuable skills students needed to be taught. As expected, administrators had identified that skill as problem solving. That’s good. I consider that a big part of what I do on a daily basis.

But, as you recall, the business leaders’ decided to take it a step further and make my job harder, I think. They identified the main skill necessary as that of “identifying the problem to solve”. This all makes perfect sense though. Corporations are looking for minds that can solve the problems, but first identify those problems to solve. They know that if we are to keep ahead of the economic curve, we need to be innovative. And to be innovative, we need to create new things and come up with new ways of doing things. That doesn’t happen by someone telling you what to create.

I’ve been struggling with how this would look in the classroom and have spoken about it to the gifted ed teacher. Then I saw a commercial on TV the other night for a major vacuum cleaner company. They were talking about their new model of upright. How, instead of 4 small wheels that only go one direction and don’t turn, they now have one big ball shaped wheel that allows the vacuum to turn any direction. I’ve never noticed, when vacuuming, that I’ve had problems getting around the room, but someone identified the problem and came up with this new design.

How do I now relate that to my classroom? I know that it will require my classroom to be less teacher centered and more student centered. I will no longer be center stage. Of course, this change will not happen over night. Instead of me talking to the students, and telling them what they need to do to improve their artwork, I’m going to need to let go and have them identify what their next step is, and even better, down the road, I suppose I need to let them set the problem to solve entirely.

There is a great school in Italy, the Reggio Emilia School, where students set the direction of their learning. If they are studying birds, they decide what they want to do. One time it was to design a bird amusement park. That led them to all types of research and design. Ah, ha! The learning. They set the problem, and the teachers facilitate the research and design process. I think in big companies, they call that the R & D department.

In infancy, this could look a bit like my fourth graders this week. They were working on drawing things to look 3-D, the real skill was looking and thinking. So, as I work individually, I point out to them, over and over, what to do with their shading to make things look more 3-D. Perhaps, what I should be doing is to let them draw their pictures and then after they look at them, they should tell me what the problem is with their work. For some it might be scale and proportion, for others, color clarification and for others 3-dimentional shading. Just as my art ed. professor Dennis Dake always told us, “Like all teachers, we are teaching students to think, it’s just that we are using art to do it.” And here, I thought I was teaching students to make art.

Education will look drastically different if we switch to this way of learning. Students will look different in the classroom. They will be excited and they will apply real life processes and who knows what kind of great things they will be involved with. Will basic skills and information be left behind? Absolutely not! They will have to learn those basic pieces as part of their research process. They will learn to play instruments, to communicate ideas, to make things and do other kinds of artwork. The ideas can go on and on.

As you proceed through the school year, I challenge you to think of ways that you can turn more of the problem identification over to your students. Yes, it’s a longer process, but it is so empowering and it gives our student such a powerful life skill. And isn’t that really what we, as teachers, are here to do? Yes, expressing yourself through your favorite art form is valuable as both a vocation and avocation, and necessary, but I see that delicate balance changing. We are more than painters, singers and actors; we are thinkers. I would appreciate views from more of you on how this would look in your classroom. Our editor, Nancy, keeps trying to encourage me to work this into a Blog, so maybe your responses will be here.

Happy Thinking
Laurie

The Jumpstart Iowa Recovery Initiative

Please, let your friends and neighbors know about this program.

The Jumpstart Iowa Recovery Initiative is a $40-million housing and economic development program developed to address the immediate financial needs of Iowans affected by the 2008 storms, flooding and tornadoes. The assistance provided through Jumpstart Iowa will help bridge the gap between the immediate needs and the first installment of $85 million in Community Development Block Grant funding distributed by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency.

The Initiative contains two new programs: one to address housing needs in storm-impacted communities, and one to help small businesses damaged by this year’s severe weather.

DOE Before and After School Grants

The deadline for submitting Before and After School Grants to the Department of Education has been extended to October 31, 2008.

Other changes have been made to the grant application. To view an updated application, please follow this link: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/1482/526/

FEMA Extends Deadline for Disaster Assistance until October 31

Today, Governor Chet Culver and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that residents and business owners who suffered damages from the tornados and flooding in disaster-declared counties now have until October 31 to register for federal-state disaster assistance. More info...

From Diane Franken: Cultivating Demand

The Rand Corporation has published a monograph entitled Cultivating Demand for the Arts: Arts Learning, Arts Engagement, and State Arts Policy.

"To shed light on the decline in demand for the nonprofit arts, the authors describe what it means to cultivate demand for the arts, examine how well U.S. institutions are serving this function, and discuss whether it is in the public interest to make such cultivation a higher priority than it has been in the past."

You can purchase the monograph or you can download the pdf file to read on your computer. Go to The Rand Bookstore.

From Diane Franken: Arts Education

Arts Education
September 17, 2008 by Kathleen Kennedy Manzo
Arts learning can play a central role in giving students a lifelong appreciation for cultural activities and ensuring that as adults they will demand and become patrons of high-quality arts programs, according to a new report.
Read the article from Education Week.

From Diane Franken: New Skills for Global Competition

Quality Arts Education can be the primary source for student learning in innovation and cultural competency.
New Skills Seen Essential For Global Competition
September 17, 2008 by Dakarai I. Aarons
To remain internationally competitive, group argues, schools must teach innovation and cultural competency.
An Education Week article.

From Diane Franken: Consensus on Learning Time

"Is this a way to have equal time for the arts for all children?"
Consensus on Learning Time Builds
September 24, 2008 by Catherine Gewertz
Under enormous pressure to prepare students for a successful future—and fearful that standard school hours don’t offer enough time to do so—educators, policymakers, and community activists are adding more learning time to children’s lives. Read the article from Education Week.

Des Moines Register's Roundtable on World-Class Schools

The Register invited five educators to talk about how educators can make sure students have the knowledge and skills to be globally competitive. 
The full transcript of educators' discussion about world-class schools is posted online.

Diane Franken's Letter to the Des Moines Register:

Response to the Des Moines Register Panel Discussion on World-Class Schools…

I am the Executive Director of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to support and advance arts programs across Iowa. I would like to bring to your attention, through quoting recent studies by leaders in business and education, that your responses have missed the mark in leaving the arts out of your solution for Iowa’s students and, therefore, being represented on your panel. I provide evidence for my remarks below.

The original question posed was to identify the knowledge and skills necessary in education to be globally competitive. The responses at the beginning of the discussion from the college contacts centered exclusively on obtaining more and more math and science skills. According to the authoritative evidence I refer to below, this simply is limited in scope in today’s world. One of the teachers, to their credit, pointed out that education should not be about preparing for the next level, (a place where the college contacts had misdirected the original question) but to be “prepared to live in a global society.” Yet, responses continued to be primarily about obtaining basic skills in math and science, even when it was brought out that there is just too much information out there and that students now should be life-long learners not information gatherers. Only at the end of the discussion, did one of the college contacts bring up the creative thinking skills and innovation of the U.S education system. However, this was not connected to the arts education, the original purveyors of these skills. I cannot stress the need to emphasize their importance. Please do a search for the studies I am quoting so you can read the complete reports and see the emphasis on the essential arts education skills of creativity and innovation by business leaders and economists, as well as art education leaders.

First, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has developed a vision for 21st century student success in the new global economy in their recent report, Learning for the 21st Century. The Framework of their recommendations includes the arts as one of the Core Subjects. The Partnership also includes the skills of Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Communication and Collaboration. These skills have always been at the core of arts education teaching. The Partnership also includes the Life and Career Skill of Social and Cross-Cultural Skill and an Interdisciplinary Theme of Global Awareness, which your panel seemed to agree, are important. Why is this study particularly important? For one, as I pointed out, this call comes from the business leaders who authored the document with educational leaders. The Alliance applauds Governor Culver for recently signing Iowa on as a Partnership State, and the Iowa Department of Education’s inclusion of Arts Units in the Iowa Model Core. The Alliance plans to continue to collaborate with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Education to include all the above recommendations from the Partnership that will further support and advance arts education programs.

The second document I wish to cite, Tough Choices, Tough Times, by the new Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce from the National Center on Education and the Economy concludes that the skills of CREATIVITY and INNOVATION are essential for our students in the 21st century and goes on to say that: “While the basic subjects of math, science, language, etc. are still important, they are no longer enough for our graduates to compete in our global world. Our education system is built for another era. Our testing system rewards students who will be good at the very routine work that will not be waiting for them. While doing this, we are not providing opportunities for students to display CREATIVE and INNOVATIVE thinking and analysis. The problem is not with our educators. It is with the system in which they work. A system that pursues the wrong goals more efficiently is not a system this nation needs.” Again, they echo that: “an equal preparation in the arts that teach these skills will make the competitive difference and translate to all types of jobs.”

The third document is a recent survey, called Ready to Innovate: Key Findings, by the Conference Board, Americans for the Arts, and the American Association of School Administrators that found 85% of employers, concerned with hiring creative people, say they cannot find the applicants they seek. The findings indicate that in most high schools, this study in their curricula is only offered as an elective not as an essential core learning for all. A national survey of American voters( artedpartnership.org ) indicated that the “majority are dissatisfied with public education’s narrow focus on the ‘so-called’ basics and believe developing the imagination is a critical, but missing ingredient for student’s success in the 21st century and for moving students beyond average. 88% of respondents indicated that: “An education in and through the arts is essential to cultivate the imagination."

International lecturer and author of Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, Ken Robinson, says: “American’s education system continues to stress the skills needed in the past, ignoring the real needs of today’s workforce. The biggest mistake is educating people to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. CREATIVITY is central to the practice of science and business and more. The U.S. needs creative people in all fields. CREATIVITY is now as important in education as literacy and mathematics and we should treat it with the same stature.” He goes on to say: “It is essential that there be an equal balance between areas of the curriculum and between knowledge and creative development. We need an education that values different modes of intelligence.”

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Improving Iowa schools: Use arts to nurture a global outlook
CANDICE MCMAINS IS A FOURTH-GRADE TEACHER AT HILLSIDE SCHOOL, WEST DES MOINES. CONTACT: MCMAINSMC@ YAHOO.COM. • SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

If you want to see global education right in central Iowa, look no further than Phenix and Hillside Elementary in West Des Moines. Granted, the Leonard Bernstein model of "artful learning" emphasizes the arts as the vehicle to hook kids into engaging in learning, but globally speaking, it does so much more. More...

From Diane Franken: Congressional Art Contest

An Artistic Discovery is the annual art contest conducted by Members of Congress for high school students across the country. Students submit original works of art to their Representative’s office, and the winning piece from each Congressional district goes on display as part of a year-long national exhibition in the Cannon Tunnel, an underground walkway to the United States Capitol from the House office buildings.

The Congressman’s First District Art Competition is open to all high school students residing in the First District of Iowa. Only one entry per student will be accepted.

Guidelines and rules for the competition follow:

Only high school students in grades 9-12 may enter the art competition.
Artwork must fall into one of the following categories: painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer generated art or photography.
The following guidelines apply to all submitted artwork:
All submissions must be 2-dimensional
Artwork can be no larger than 30x30 inches, including the frame
Artwork can be no larger than 4 inches in depth.
All artwork must be protected by a frame. Metal frames with glass or Plexiglas recommended.
Each entry must be original in concept, design and execution; no violation of US copyright laws. Pictures reproduced from existing photos, paintings graphics or advertisements will not be accepted.
Artwork must be submitted for the entire year. Artwork cannot be removed early for any reason.
A completed Student Release Form must be submitted with all entries.

Artwork must be submitted to one of the Congressman’s District Offices by Monday, May 5, 2008. Entries should be mailed to the Waterloo office or delivered to any District office. The Release Form

National Arts and Humanities Month

October is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM)—our opportunity to recognize and celebrate the positive impact the arts bring to our schools and communities. We hope you’ll join us along with other arts leaders and supporters across the county in recognizing the importance of arts and culture in our daily lives.

This year’s highlights are listed below, but be sure to visit the NAHM website at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/NAHM for additional information.


Participate Locally (Des Moines Symphony is listed)
National Arts and Humanities Month Events Map—Learn more about the NAHM events happening nationwide this October. Use this Google Map to create, track, and share information about your NAHM events and programs with others. To have your event included, e-mail nahm@artsusa.org.

Creative Conversations—Are you an Emerging Arts Leader? Attend or host a Creative Conversation in your city this October and connect with others who want to make a difference for the arts in your community.

Get Involved
Become a fan of NAHM on Facebook—Americans for the Arts is encouraging all arts lovers to join Facebook to show support and promote the arts and humanities during NAHM. On the page, you can view videos and photos from NAHM events around the country or post your own. Be sure to leave a message on the Wall and read NAHM’s twitter feed for the latest news.

Advocate for the Arts—Anyone can be an advocate: parents, teachers, children, artists, arts organizations, and patrons. Defend, support, or promote your cause by writing your local newspaper, contacting local political leaders, organizing community meetings, circulating a petition, or finding other ways to make your voice and message heard.

Official Proclamations—Encourage local public officials to support the arts by signing a NAHM proclamation. Samples are available from the online tool kit. And send your signed proclamation to nahm@artsusa.org to have it posted on the website.

Promote NAHM—Include the NAHM logo in your publications, or place a Web sticker on your website or blog. These graphic resources are available as part of the online tool kit.

Be Inspired
National Arts and Humanities Month presents the opportunity for every American to experience the arts this October, whether it’s attending the theater or other cultural event, taking a ceramics or dance class, or singing songs with your kids. Please join Americans for the Arts in recognizing this special month.

From Diane: World-class Roundtable?

"World Class Education in Iowa" Roundtable from the Des Moines Register. The Register invited five educators to talk about how educators can make sure students have the knowledge and skills to be globally competitive. You may not be surprised by their opinions!
While you are on that site, don't miss the Related Article: Improving Iowa schools; Use arts to nurture a global outlook. It is an article written by Candice McMains, a fourth grade teacher at Hillside School, West Des Moines.

From Laurie Olk: Changing Makeup of Iowa Schools

At the secondary level, the squeeze is starting with those pesky new regents entrance requirements and also staff additions to cover model core concepts, cutting in the fine arts. It just doesn't get easier.
Interesting mtg. and discussion at the IMEA mtg. today. Something brought up was the changing makeup of Iowa Schools and request for mariachi bands competition, apparently big in the South and West, and other needs that align with other cultures, like the Bosnians. They spoke about how involved these other cultural populations are at the k-8, but then drops drastically at 9 - 12. Something I think we'll need to address more of in the future.

Keeping the Arts in Front of the School Board

Here is a very good article by a PTA Music Education supporter that articulates just how to keep the arts in front on the School Board and make the message meaningful enough to get them to not flinch in the face of economic difficulties.

I am hearing reports from all over SW Iowa about the impending student count (coming up October 1) and all the numbers are showing many significant decreases. Small schools are getting hit the hardest. Red Oak, 1300 students, is loosing 30, but Nishna Valley, 500 students, is loosing 35.

I have no reason to believe that SW Iowa is any different than any area of the state of Iowa. This is most definitely a harbinger of problems for elementary and middle school arts programs come this spring. Each student lost translates to $5,300 lost to the school district. Thus, 35 student lost in the count means a loss of $185,500.

Why are elementary and middle school areas being hit the hardest? The community won't stand for not having a band on the field for half time, or a pep band in the stands for the basketball game. Most vocal music programs have groups who get out into the community and entertain the clubs, service organizations and many retired citizens. The school musical production is always filled to the rafters with audience members. The high school art program has many exhibits that the public invited to see and discuss. High school theatre and speech contest cost the district very little to offer, yet the number of qualified people willing to step up and take the leadership is growing smaller and smaller

Where calls for help to IAAE have come from centers in the elementary and middle school programs. Elimination of elementary art and music teachers, and then bringing music and art teachers from the high school to take those places, but in a diminished capacity.

Teachers of the arts in all schools of Iowa must begin now to realize the impending fight we are all going to up against when these numbers begin to hit next years school budgets. If teachers of the arts don't have a strong and aggressive advocacy program in place now, and have begun to implement the elements of that plan, they most assuredly will be blind sided by administration and board considerations next spring during budget time.

It is my experience that most of our arts teachers have their heads securely buried in the sand believing that advocacy is not what they are paid to do. Numbers do make a difference and no matter how important we feel that arts are in the lives of Iowa children, dollars are the numbers that pay the bills.

Teachers of the arts must know what that count is on October 1 and how the numbers have changed over last year and in the past five years. Do the math and see how this is effecting your district financially.

If you are a teacher who has a hurt in your stomach about what may happen to your program, now is the time to do something about it. Doing nothing will do nothing but hurt children who want and need what we teach. Developing and directing an advocacy program IS the responsibility of each teacher of the arts and their department whether we like it or not. It was not taught to us in our college program, we must learn to do it ourselves: with the help of IAAE

Does your school district have a "Arts Matters Coalition"? Do you have an Arts Advocacy program for your district?

Larry Brandstetter

IAAE At Work for You

As Executive Director of IAAE, I met with Representative Bruce Braley at one of his "Congress on Your Corner" meetings held at the AEA in Bettendorf, Iowa. The meeting was well attended and Congressman Braley remained beyond the time he had alloted to allow all who wished to speak to him on a one-on-one basis. I shared information on the Alliance and its involvement with the Department of Education and the office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the status of arts education in Iowa, including our current part in the Model Core and the 21st Century Skills along with our efforts for expansion in these areas as well as others. I also left a packet of materials on the latest research of the importance of arts education in a total education. Senator Braley shared that his own children are involved in the arts and that he is an arts advocate. The conversation was most productive and I look forward to a continued dialogue with the senator.

Congratulations, Southwest Iowa!

Southwest Iowa will be rocking with the Wilson Performing Arts Center!

Get your tickets for the Grand Opening Season.

A note from Larry B.:  The Wilson Center is a Performing Arts Center. The lobby will be open to SW Iowa artists to put their work on exhibition and we will rotate artists every 2-3 months. We didn't have enough money to build classrooms for visual arts classes, but are currently working to find a space, much like the great Arts on Grand in Spencer, to offer classes, have exhibits and have a space for sales of work.

We are offering classes in strings, guitar, and creative drama. When the building opens, there will be a beautiful dance studio featuring a state of the art floor. The first classes we will offer will be "ballet for adults." We have many adult women who took ballet when they were young and want to renew their feeling of the muscle pain associated with the experience.

 

Millions of Dollars Available

eSchool News posts deadlines and opportunities for teachers to apply for funding for student projects. Take a look at the videos produced by student teams: How Technology Helps Me Learn. The ideas are also reflected in an article on the eSchool News website--The America Association of School Administrators' annual conference in Tampa seemed to agree that the old ways of rote memorization, standardized testing, and chalkboards are not what students need to succeed in today's schools and the world at large. You can subscribe to the eSchool News site to receive the latest from them, too.

A Newsletter about Non-profits

GuideStar--Connecting People with Nonprofit information. Larry B. recommends their newsletter. I just read a President's Article about Branding that spoke loudly to me!

Roses to Larry Brandstetter!

Larry is the emeritus newsletter editor and webmaster for IAAE. In fact, when the IAAE board met for their summer meeting, it was the first board meeting that Larry was not involved in since the organization began in 1988!

Thank you, Larry, for your able assistance in setting up the new website and newsletter. I truly could not have done it with out you! 

I found this photo of Larry by doing a Google image search. If anyone can provide me with a more recent (or higher resolution) photo, I'll be happy to post it. ;)

Advocacy in Other States

An article in the Philadelphia Daily News carries the bad taste of politics in schools outside of Iowa. Read more...
And it sounds like New York is the site of more need for advocacy in the arts at Poplar Ridge.

IAAE Prepares for the 21st. Century

Welcome to this new feature of the IAAE program. We will be using this blog to disseminate arts education information to you and your colleagues. It is our hope that this information will help to strengthen you in the knowledge that this association has the people and programs to support you as an arts educator. 

If you are here, you already know that IAAE has a new website. As of 8-8-08, the new website will take the place of smartz.org. I am glad to be a part of this new update.  There are a few links that don't go anywhere, yet, but that will change very soon. My hope for the site is that it will provide you with the support that you need in your program, community, or school.

You might like to know who I am and where I came from. I'm adding a little snapshot, so that you can see who is talking to you. I retired last year after 32 years of teaching art and computer technology (and gardening) at North Winneshiek School, North of Decorah, Iowa. I taught everyone from pre-kindergarten through seniors in high school. When North Winn. began buying computers back in the 1980's, I was one of the first in line to ask for a computer in the art room. The first program for an Apple IIC made designs on the screen by using pixels that were coded. It was kind of like making a drawing in the next room by sending a secret code, the artistic version of Battleship.  The design was created by typing letters and numbers and then going back to the screen to see what your typing had produced. I've thanked heaven many times for the subsequent ever-improving drawing programs developed for Mac computers since then!

I've been building websites since I took a  Graceland class on the fiber optic network, called Teaching Technology. It was the case that I had students who were WAAAY ahead of the teachers. The most valuable class I took to learn how to use html was on-line class from UNI in 1999. I was teaching computer graphics to high school students and needed to know more. And as the mother of two computer savvy teen-aged sons, I was anxious to figure out what they were doing on our computer at home. Our school was ready to have an interactive website, so Tech. Director Dick Dovenberg and I collaborated to build the site for the UNI class. That website has been undated thousands of times over the years.

About that time, Art Educators of Iowa was looking for a new webmaster. I have learned much of what still works by maintaining that site. I am also the newsletter editor for Art Educators. Who knows what computer communication tool will call to me next!