Judy Anderson, Founder/Artistic Director of PlatteForum, Salvador Flores-Martinez, student and First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo by Steven Purcell

Arts Education and Workforce Development

 

 

Chosen from a pool of more than 471 nominations and 38 finalists, Denver's own PlatteForum was one of 12 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country to receive the 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, which is the highest honor such programs can receive in the U.S.  

 

The awards are administered by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  

 

The award honors community-based arts and humanities programs that make a marked difference in the lives of their participants by improving academic scores and graduation rates, enhancing life skills, developing positive relationships with peers and adults, and expressing themselves creatively. Read the press release here.

 

 

National Resource for Arts Education Newly Updated

 

The newly designed ARTSEDGE website from the Kennedy Center offers free, standards-based teaching materials for use in and out of the classroom, as well as professional development resources, student materials, and guidelines for arts-based instruction and assessment. The expanded content serves a new definition of educators, encompassing classroom and out-of-school teachers, with the single-minded goal to support arts-based student learning, whether in the classroom or an informal learning environment, like the home. The free digital resources-including lesson plans, audio stories, video clips, and interactive online modules-has been streamlined for easier browsing and upgraded to leverage best practices in educational media and multimedia-supported instruction.

 

"The redesign is a wonderful extension of the original ARTSEDGE mission, set over 15 years ago," says Darrell M. Ayers, Vice President for Education at the Kennedy Center, "to connect people to people, to provide arts-centered learning experiences, and to lead the way in digitally-supported arts learning for all citizens." 

 

 

New Report on Teaching Artists

 

NORC at the University of Chicago has released a report pointing to the involvement of Teaching artists (TAs) as a critical resource for the future of arts education and to improving the quality of schools. These are two of the conclusions of Teaching Artists and the Future of Education: a Report on the Teaching Artist Research Project, a three-year study by Nick Rabkin of NORC at the University of Chicago.  The study surveyed over 3500 teaching artists, 500 program managers, and interviewed over 200 artists, managers, specialists, classroom teachers, principals, other educators, and funders in a dozen study sites.  It includes vital data on TAs and their work, as well as analysis of the dynamics of education policy, school reform, the history of teaching artists, TAs' pedagogical strategies, and the content they teach. Follow the link above to read the full press release and also download a copy of the report.

Professional Development and Networking

 

Join the Colorado Nonprofit Association    

The Colorado Nonprofit Association is a statewide membership organization representing Colorado's nonprofits. They are dedicated to making Colorado a better place for people to live by fostering an environment that supports nonprofits and recognizes the benefits they provide to our communities. They help raise awareness about the important role nonprofits play in bettering our state and the critical need to financially support their efforts. Through training, support, lobbying and leadership, they help their members achieve their missions more efficiently and effectively. This coalition unites nearly 1,300 human services providers, health care facilities, arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, animal and environmental agencies, and more. For more information on joining, attend a free Member Benefit Review on December 8th from 9-10:30 a.m.. Register here.
  
Are you an Executive Director interested in expanding your leadership capabilities, developing greater self-confidence, and mastering management techniques that will increase your effectiveness?  If so, then the Colorado Nonprofit Leadership & Management Program is for you! Accepting applications until November 15. More information.



The Colorado Dance Alliance and Ormao Dance Company will host a unique performance opportunity for Colorado choreographers, dancers, and dance aficionados on December 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Dancers and choreographers, sign up now for a slot in the program. You may present a piece of your choosing, no more than 10 minutes in length, in any dance genre. Solos, duets, trios, groups - all are welcome.
 
Dance aficionados, come enjoy what promises to be a unique, varied performance.

LOCATION: Ormao Center for Contemporary Dance, 10 S Spruce Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
TICKETS: Donations Accepted (suggested donation $5 per person - audience members and participants)   
CONTACT: Jan Johnson, Phone Number: w)719-471-9759, c)719-640-7424, ormao@msn.com, www.ormaodance.org

Denver Design Incubator

 

The Denver Design Incubator (DDI) is Colorado's first and only fashion design incubator, focused on education and business development to assist with turning creative ideas into successful and sustainable businesses.  The DDI, based centrally in Downtown Denver, will carry out its mission and vision by supporting, educating and empowering designers with the appropriate skill-sets to be successful in the Fashion Industry. The DDI will be a place of creativity and innovation for designers to build upon an already established fashion and design knowledge base.  http://denverdesignincubator.org  

 

 

Cartoon Concept Design Blog

 

Frank Forte, a 20 year veteran of the comic book and animation fields, has created a blog entitled Cartoon Concept Design to showcase the art of cartoons and animation.

"This blog will feature a behind the scenes look at how cartoons are made, says Forte, "and hopefully will help students and other artists to prefect their skills and get and keep jobs. There are many facets of the animation biz and it's difficult to break in."

The Cartoon Concept Design Blog will feature model sheets, character designs, storyboards, background designs, color theory, pencil tests, 2D Animation, 3D Animation, layout, story sketches and more.  It will feature studios such as Warner Brothers, UPA,  MGM, Pixar, Disney, Dreamworks, Hanna Barbera, Spumco, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Film Roman and many more. 

 

Colorado as a Creative Hub

 

Nominate a Colorado Company or Individual for CBCA's 2012 Business for the Arts Awards 

 

Successful companies and business leaders recognize that arts involvement has a positive impact on people, culture and performance. At the 25th annual Business for the Arts Awards luncheon, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts will honor businesses and individuals for their exemplary partnerships and engagement with the arts in these categories: 

• Impact - highlights an innovative use of the arts to propel business success, programs that engage employees with creativity and other community activities that support arts and business partnerships
• John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award - recognizes a business sector individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the arts in Colorado
• Philanthropy - honors exemplary corporate citizenship and generosity to arts projects and organizations
• Workspace - pays tribute to an exceptional work environment that advances business objectives

To nominate a company, click here. CBCA will then contact nominees who will be asked to complete a short application. Nominations are due Friday, November 11. A panel of judges will review the nominations and select finalists in each category who will be announced in January 2012. The winners will be announced at the CBCA Business for the Arts Awards luncheon on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.  

Creative Communities 

  

Denver Gallery Guide

 

Goodwin Fine Art

To help promote Denver's vibrant arts and cultural scene, Arts & Venues Denver and VISIT DENVER, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, launch the "Denver Gallery Guide," an online resource that features more than 60 galleries. The guide can be found at www.GalleryGuideDenver.com, with additional galleries and studios to be added in the coming months.

"We're excited to offer an online resource to help the community find galleries and purchase original and local art," said Ginger White, Director of Creative Sector Initiatives at Arts & Venues Denver. "Denver is such a culturally vibrant city and this guide will help people discover Denver's dynamic art districts."

The online Denver Gallery Guide provides access to: 

• Extensive database of searchable galleries by district, medium and style of art
• Additional points of interest including museums, landmarks and other cultural institutions
• Access to First Friday Art Walk information
• Exhibition openings
• Map of Denver's Public Art collection
• Links to recommended cultural itineraries

Financial Support and Incentives  

   

Colorado Grants Guide  

 

The Colorado Grants Guide is the premier fundraising tool specifically created for nonprofit & community-based organizations in Colorado. 

   
The Grants Guide will provide you with  

• Continuously updated funder profiles
• Access via an internet connection from CRC's homepage with login ID and password
• Live links to a foundation's website & most recent 990 (when available)
• Favorite funders tool to quickly return to the funders that best fit your organization
• Notes field that allows you to conveniently record your own comments 

Click here to order your Colorado Grants Guide online subscription or call 303.623.1540 X10 for multi-user pricing.