The Advocacy Update is where you can find state and national news about theatre and other arts education
EdTA NEWS
EdTA Conference registration is now open: Help your colleagues “Set the Standard” in theatre education October 1-4 in Tampa, Florida.
NATIONAL NEWS
Arts Advocates Make Case for Increasing Federal Arts Funding: Hundreds of artists and arts leaders from 48 states stormed Capitol Hill Tuesday, March 24 for the annual Arts Advocacy Day, a national effort to increase federal support for cultural programs. Some 550 arts supporters met with their local representatives to tout the economic benefits of the arts and arts education
Arguing for STEAM on Arts Advocacy Day: To all the artists and art organizations calling on local, regional politicians and Congress, it’s time to call for STEAM again. Many educators have already adopted the concept of arts integration – teaching through the arts – to considerable success.
Record Number of Members Sign “Dear Colleague” Letter Supporting Federal NEA Funding: Congressional Arts Caucus co-chairs Louise Slaughter and Leonard Lance led a bipartisan letter requesting $155 million for the National Endowment for the Arts in fiscal year 2016. A record-breaking 134 House members joined them in that request.
White House Film Festival Emphasizes Arts Education: President Obama, the American Film Institute, and Participant Media hosted the 2nd Annual White House Film Festival on March 20. The event acted in part as platform to announce a new joint effort to provide over one million hours of mentorship to American students to help inspire and mentor young artists around the country.
Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2015: In the midst of arts advocacy season, Randy Cohen of Americans for the Arts updates his list of top reasons to support the arts. These updates include new research about arts in our GDP, benefits of arts in the military, and the new Creative Industries data.
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to Anna amarsala@schooltheatre.org
Alabama: Arts in Danger of Budget Cuts (Troy Messenger)
Alabama: Arts Advocates Speak Out at Alabama Arts Advocacy Day (Troy Messenger)
Arizona: Art, Music, and Physical Education: All Important in our Schools (East Valley Tribune)
California: LA’s Unified Finds “Art Poverty” Within School District (LA School Report)
Florida: Magnet Schools of America Recognizes Florida Middle School for Visual and Performing Arts (Arts Schools Network)
Illinois: District 300 Parents Start Campaign for Art Classes in Schools (Chicago Tribune)
Indiana: Ditching Common Core Brings Big Test for Indiana (National Public Radio)
Maine: Maine Arts Commission Crafts New Strategic Plan for Supporting Arts (Portland Press Herald)
New Jersey: Arts Charter School Shutting Down After Reported “dismal” Academic Results (New Jersey.com)
Oklahoma: Allied Arts Awards over $100,000 in Local Grants (News Oklahoma)
South Carolina: SC New Education Standards – How Similar Are They to Common Core? (Breitbart News Network)
Vermont: Sen. Sanders Stresses Arts in Education (Rutland Herald)
Wisconsin: Schools Plan Massive Layoffs after Gov. Walker Slashes Funding (Think Progress)
WORTH READING
Norman Lear – The Arts Will Save Us: This week, I gave a speech for Americans for the Arts at the Kennedy Center, celebrating the arts and it’s caused me to think about the role the arts play in binding us together during these trying times. We will save our world and when we do, the door will have been kicked open by the arts and the politics and politicians will follow. (The Hill)
A New Way to Think about Intrinsic Versus Instrumental Benefits of the Arts: For well over a decade now, advocates have contested whether the arts should be valued more for their ability to further non-arts goals, like public health or economic development, or for the unique qualities that set them apart from other aspects of social life. Which matters more? Neither, according to a new report. (Createquity)
Funding the Arts is Good for the Nation: It is time to correct a long-standing misconception that has infected the political debate on funding for the arts: that it is a waste of taxpayer money. In reality, the arts are a powerful economic engine which provide a return on investment for taxpayers rarely seen in other industries. (The Hill)
School Funding Formula Could Help Curb Abuse: Child and education advocates say lawmakers should keep at-risk students and victims of child abuse in mind when they overhaul the funding formula for public schools in Pennsylvania. Allocating money to train teachers to recognize signs of abuse, hiring more counselors, and implementing more music and arts programming could significantly help students. (WatchDog.org)
Reflections – Creativity in the Courts: A group of teaching artists convened by the Teaching Artists Guild and the Alameda Office of Education have been working intensively in student units of the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center. These students are painters, sculptors, music makers, theater artists, dancers, and more. Watching students come out of their cells into a windowless classroom to practice art is both moving and powerful. (Teaching Artists Guild)
What to do if your Child’s First Love is…Art?: In a culture whose cri de coeur is “follow your passion,” there’s a certain irony here. Say the word “artist” and for many people adjectives like flaky, loner, eccentric and unemployable come to mind. This last one is especially alarming to any parent. But how accurate are these caricatures? (Wall Street Journal)
What is Arts Integration? – An Infographic: Arts integration is the connective pathway toward reaching and teaching every child; it empowers educators in their professional growth. Arts integration is still somewhat misunderstood by many in the educational community. This infographic hopes to prove how arts integration is an elegantly simple concept. (Education Closet)