EdTA Advocacy Update
December 18, 2018
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education.
EdTA NEWS
Democracyworks Essay Competition: What’s Your Theatre Story?
The Educational Theatre Association’s eleventh annual Democracyworks essay competition, co-sponsored by Samuel French, Inc., is now accepting entries. The winner will receive $1,500 toward expenses to attend the National Arts Action Summit in Washington, D.C., March 4-5, 2019, plus $250 cash. Application deadline is February 1.
NATIONAL NEWS
Americans for the Arts Files Federal Comment in Support of Arts-Based Community Development (Americans for the Arts)
Tony Awards Open Submissions for Excellence in Theatre Education Award
The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will once again recognize an exemplary teacher with the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award," to be presented at the 2019 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Now through February 15, 2019, submissions will be accepted online for K-12 theatre educators at an accredited institution or recognized community theatre organization. (Broadway World)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to Katie: kferchen@schooltheatre.org
Arizona: Dustin Loehr Seeks to Empower Arts Education in Arizona (YabYum West)
Arkansas: Arkansas Celebrates First Statewide Arts Day (Americans for the Arts)
California: Extra Funding Coming for Visual and Performing Arts Programs (Monterey Herald)
What is EdOut? (Santa Barbara Independent)
Alameda County and CREATE CA Launch Statewide Campaign for Arts-Integrated Education (Independent News)
Florida: CMU Presents Drama Master Class to Florida Students (Carnegie Mellon University)
Illinois: St. Mark Enrichment Program Focuses on Critical, Creative Thinking (Daily Herald Chicago)
Indiana: Indy Arts Council Launches New Arts Education Website (WFYI Indianapolis)
Kentucky: Lowe Elementary Students Learning Through Dance (WLKY)
Maine: RSU 13 After-School Art Programs in Full Swing (Penobscot Bay Pilot)
Massachusetts: Ashland Preps for Celebration of the Arts (Metrowest Daily)
Minnesota: Prescott Students Compete at Drama Rama (Pierce County Herald)
Missouri: Circus Harmony Teaches the Art of Life (KSDK 5)
New Mexico: Spencer Theater Program Aims to Inspire Learning through Performing Arts (Ruidoso News)
Ohio: Dayton Arts Industry has $213M Economic Impact (Dayton Business Journal)
Art Education for Those ‘Who Need It Most’ (Business Journal Daily)
Pennsylvania: Logan Elementary Pushes Art, Technology in Younger Grades (Philadelphia Tribune)
North Penn Opens Its Curtains to PA Thespians (Knight Crier)
Washington: High School in Vancouver Brings Together Students of All Abilities to the Dance Floor (KPTV-12)
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Standards for Theatre (WI Department of Public Instruction)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The Australian Drama School That Encourages Students to Take Risks + Experiment (Backstage)
Theatre with a Purpose: Studying Art for Social Change in London (ArtsHub)
Haitian and American Students Connect Through Music at Astoria Middle School (QNS)
WORTH READING
“All the World’s a Stage”: Improving Theatrical Accessibility in the U.S.
The performing arts, as an actor or a spectator, are notoriously inaccessible in the United States for people who are geographically and economically disadvantaged, and we must examine how our country values the arts at all levels in order to address the roots of this problem. (Brown Political Review)
Weaving Art into STEM Benefits More Creative Students
While some may view STEM as exacting subjects, these fields also rely on creativity to push the boundaries, develop innovative products and make new discoveries. Without experimentation, and abstract and creativity thinking — all skills inherent in an arts education — astronauts wouldn't be orbiting the earth, scientists wouldn't have discovered uranium and inventors wouldn't be testing out cars that can drive themselves. (Education Dive)