The Advocacy Update is where you can find state and national news about theatre and other arts education
EdTA NEWS
Thespian Festival registration is now open. “Hit your mark” at Thespian Festival 2015 in Lincoln Nebraska, June 22-27. Registration closes May 1.
NATIONAL NEWS
House of Representatives Voting on “Student Success Act” Friday: On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a Republican bill and a Democratic alternative to reauthorize federal education programs last completed 13 years ago through No Child Left Behind. Americans for the Arts has issued an action alert that details the reductions to arts education included in both bills.
Arts Advocacy Day 2015: There’s still time to register for Arts Advocacy Day.. AAD annually convenes advocates from throughout the country in Washington, D.C. for training and lobbying for strong public polices and funding for the arts and arts education.
March is Youth Art Month: The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month at the national level. Started in 1961 through the Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) and in cooperation with the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Youth Art Month emphasizes the value of visual arts education for all children and encourages support for quality school art programs.
First Arts Education Day Celebrated February 25th: Arts education nonprofit Bridging the Gap launched the first ever #ArtsEdDay on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. The day was created to raise awareness for the need of Arts Education for all children, and functioned as an online arts education gathering.
Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx Vouches for Arts Education: Jamie Foxx brought the purpose of the Texas Medal of the Arts Awards into clear focus. At the event, which supports grants for arts education in Texas schools, Foxx shared his personal connection and commitment to arts education.
Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, and More Musicians Unite for Arts Education: Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum founded Adopt the Arts, a foundation providing initiative for musicians to collaborate across the country and help raise funds for art programs in public schools nationwide.
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to Anna amarsala@schooltheatre.org
California: What Locally Funded Grants Tell About the State of Arts Education Funding (Inside Philanthropy)
Iowa: House OK’s Bill Which Would Add Fine Arts to Iowa Core (WRAL.com)
Massachusetts: Eye on Education: Using Arts in Every Class (CBS Boston)
Missouri: Arts Advocates Seek Funding, Respect at Missouri State Capitol (Kansas City Public Media)
New Jersey: Arts Education Continues to Grow: 97% of NJ Students Have Access to Arts Education (New Jersey Arts Education Partnership)
Ohio: Cleveland Foundation Starts #FredTalksCLE, a Discussion About Arts Education (Fresh Water Cleveland)
Texas: Charles Matthews: Arts Education Vital to Texas’ Economy (Standard-Times San Angelo)
Wisconsin: Musicians and Visual Artists Unite for Arts Education at Arte Para Todos (Wisconsin Gazette)
WORTH READING
Students will Dance, Act, and Design with Core Arts Standards: The National Core Arts Standards were released in October. They update the initial standards released in 1994, which included instructional guidelines for dance, music, theater and visual arts. The new standards emphasize developing artistic ideas, refining them, and following projects through to completion. (District Administration)
More Evidence Favoring Art-Based Learning of STEM: At the “Learning and the Brain” conference in San Francisco last week, neuroscientists and researchers spoke about the numerous ways to engage young people and enhance learning. Many speakers stated that where art-infused education is used to redesign the curriculum, student’s attendance dramatically improves, as well as performance. It’s STEAM that will make the difference. (Huffington Post)
We Need More STEM Majors with Liberal Arts Training: The Obama administration has set a goal of increasing STEM graduates by one million by 2022, and the “desperate need” for more STEM students makes regular headlines. The emphasis on bolstering STEM participation comes in tandem with bleak news about the liberal arts. Our culture has drawn an artificial line between art and science. (Washington Post)
Case Study for Securing Arts Education Funding in Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities: To argue that private foundations are working to replenish lost arts education funds misses an equally powerful counter-narrative. Many communities never had robust arts education funding to begin with. Should financial support go to areas trying to keep the arts alive or areas where funding has always been scarce? (Inside Philanthropy)