Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
January 15, 2016
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
Democracyworks essay competition accepting entries: The Educational Theatre Association’s eighth annual Democracyworks essay competition is now accepting entries. The winner will receive $1,500 toward expenses to attend Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., March 7-8, 2016, plus $250 cash. Deadline for submission is February 1.
NATIONAL NEWS
2015 was a huge year for the arts!: From the monumental new federal K-12 education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, to a funding increase of $2 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, to key federal charitable tax provisions being made permanent, arts and arts education policy have progressed immensely this past year. (Americans for the Arts)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
Arizona: Act One brings arts to students (East Valley Tribune)
California: Teachers trade winter break for training in bringing the arts to class (89.3 KPCC)
Colorado: Guest Commentary: A better picture of arts education (The Denver Post)
Florida: Measuring the Impact of Arts (SRQ Magazine)
Indiana: Music lessons never end at Indy charter school (Indianapolis Star)
Kansas: Lawrence Arts Center expands STEM learning (Lawrence Journal World)
Louisiana: Louisiana’s Next First Lady to Champion Music, Arts Education (OffBeat Magazine)
Massachusetts: Hanover Theatre fills bill for arts education (Worcester Telegram)
Montana: 'Enchanted Forest' art installation raises money for education (The Missoulian)
New York: NYC Chancellor addresses the value of arts education (The Indian Panorama)
Artistic path leads new Explore & More CEO to WNY (Buffalo News)
North Carolina: UNCW, New Hanover County Schools Selected to Participate in Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education Program (UNCW News)
South Carolina: A look ahead at the arts in 2016 in South Carolina (The State)
Texas: TETA award going to Smithson Valley HS theatre teacher (Houston Chronicle)
Virginia: Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Commits $1 Million to Early Childhood Education (Wolf Trap)
WORTH READING
More Than a Number: The Role of the Arts in Youth Development: When a potential supporter for creative youth development approaches me, one of the first things I tell them is to look at the numbers. This model works. Students who participate in rigorous, arts-based after school programs perform better in school and have higher graduation rates than that of their peers who do not participate in the arts. (Americans for the Arts)
Lucas: 5 Questions with Broadway veteran Paul Canaan: Theatre is a face-time activity, which is something more young people could use. You want to say, 'Put down your phone, you might enjoy this.’