EdTA Advocacy Update
May 8, 2018
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education.
EdTA NEWS
EdTA Nominating Committee Approves Six Candidates
The Educational Theatre Association’s nominating committee has tapped two candidates to run for vice president/president of the Board of Directors in this year’s election, and four to compete for two board director seats
Five Educators to Be Inducted Into EdTA Hall of Fame
The Educational Theatre Association recognizes International Thespian Society (ITS) troupe directors, emeritus members, and other professional members who have dedicated themselves to the cause of theatre education for 20 years or more.
EdtA Names NEA Grant Educator-Artist Teams
The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) has selected 12 two-member teams of high school theatre educators and teaching artists who will create a standards-based curriculum framework and instructional units in targeted areas of theatre.
NATIONAL NEWS
NEA Chairman Jane Chu Will Step Down in June
National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu said in a statement that she will resign June 4, after four years at the head of the federal arts agency. (Washington Post)
Assistance for Arts Education Development and Dissemination Grants Program
These grant awards are authorized to enrich the academic experiences of students by promoting arts education for students, including disadvantaged students and students who are children with disabilities. (Office of Innovation & Improvement)
Leveraging the Every Student Succeeds Act to Advocate for the Arts
As the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) rolls out in states, arts funders have a unique opportunity to respond and support arts advocacy efforts. This webinar features Jane Best, director of the Arts Education Partnership at the Education Commission of the States in Denver, CO. (Grantmakers in the Arts)
Americans for the Arts 2018 Annual Convention
On June 14-17, arts and community leaders from across the country will discuss pressing issues around public art, community development, education, advocacy and equity. (Americans for the Arts)
NEA Our Town Grants
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. These grants support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes. (National Endowment for the Arts)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to Shea: shaney@schooltheatre.org
Arizona: We’re Not Gonna Take It: Arizona teachers band together for #RedforEd (AZ Central)
California: Santa Barbara County Performing Arts Teacher of the Year Named (EdHat)
Orange County Music & Dance and From Classical to Rock Joined Forces for an Epic Charity Concert (Broadway World Music)
Sound United Introduces ‘Sound Start’ (PR Newswire)
Bay Area Children’s Theatre to Produce Original Musical Version of SHE PERSISTED (Broadway World San Francisco)
Connecticut: Kids Talk Vision at Long Wharf Theatre’s Minutes & Moments Festival (Colorado Public Radio)
Florida: A Guide to Summer Theatre Camps in South Florida (SouthFlorida.com)
Georgia: UGA Freshman Inspired by Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Red & Black)
IOWA: Will Baptiste of Black Violin on Stereotypes and the Importance of Arts Education (Iowa Public Radio)
Minnesota: The Billingsley School Provides Quality Arts Education to Inner City Students (Rolling Out)
Missouri: A&E Expands Katherine Dunham Fellowship Program (Broadway World St. Louis)
Nevada: Bessie Minor Swift Foundation Awards Grants in Carson City, Churchill County (Nevada Appeal)
New Hampshire: A Stage for All: Conant High Drama Club give everyone a chance to shine (The Keene Sentinel)
New York: Dance Theatre of Harlem Comes to Wharton (Lansing State Journal)
Four Candidates Seek Single Seat on Red Hook School Board (Daily Freeman News)
Ohio: ‘Cat in the Hat’ Performance (The Marietta Times)
Oklahoma: Lyric Grant to Bring Theatre to Rural Oklahoma (Broadway World Tulsa)
Pennsylvania: In & Around Bristol Borough: Education Fund awards grants to school district, cocktail demonstration at dad’s hat, lots more (Bucks Local News)
South Carolina: Carolina Forest High’s Choral Director Teaches More than Singing and Dancing (My Horry News)
South Dakota: Without the Arts, it Wouldn’t Feel Like Home: Conference to celebrate art in South Dakota (Argus Leader)
Texas: Morton Ranch Theatre to Host Summer Camps (Katy Times)
ArtsView to Perform Show for Children with Autism, Developmental Disabilities (Longview News-Journal)
Virginia: Sing Praises for Young Suffolk Artists (Suffolk News-Herald)
Washington: What WA Students Have to Stay about Education Cuts (Crosscut)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Canada: Parents Urges Public Trustees to Save Arts Programs (My Kawartha)
Power for the Arts: CANFAR partners with ‘SExT: Sex Education by Theatre’ to educate Canadian youth about HIV prevention (Cision)
WORTH READING
OU Student, Faculty Traveling to Puerto Rico to Aid Music Education
Ohio University student Will Horner, a senior studying music education and trombone, is planning to travel to Puerto Rico with two of his professors this Wednesday to work with high school and university students affected by Hurricane Maria, according to a press release issued last Thursday. (The Athens News)
Lily Einhorn: Parkland shows drama can help children find their voices, It must be protected in UK schools
Gonzalez’ speeches are beautifully crafted theatrical interventions in a political discourse normally dominated by carefully controlled press releases. They are galvanising because they are performative, because they connect with audiences in a place where meaning, form and emotion meet, just as brilliant theatre does. (The Stage)