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California Arts Day: Celebrate the arts!
Join the California Arts Council (CAC) in celebrating the culture and creativity of all Californians on October 1. This year's theme is pARTicipation! You can show how important and rewarding the arts are by joining in an organized event, taking an arts class, visiting a theater, museum, gallery, or dance performance, or by writing a poem or short story. Visit the CAC website for more details on Arts Day and a tool kit to plan your own event.
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The impact of NCLB on arts education
A recent study from Purdue University shows the impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) on arts education in public schools. The study also highlights ways to evaluate and improve arts education programs and provides suggestions on how to advocate for increased support of the arts. |
Integrating the four Cs into arts education
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) recently collaborated with the leading art, dance, music, theater and visual arts associations to create a 21st Century Skills Map for the Arts demonstrating how the four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation) can be integrated with the arts.
According to Michael Blakeslee, senior deputy executive director of The National Association for Music Education, "The 21st Century Skills Map for the Arts, which includes examples that reflect classroom practice, represents a major achievement in showing how core subjects, such as the arts, can be fused with the four Cs. The examples in this map illustrate how the arts promote habits that cultivate curiosity, imagination, creativity and evaluation skills, as well as all the essential skills that students need to be successful in today's world. This document demonstrates that the arts are among society's most compelling and effective paths for ensuring 21st century readiness for every student." Read the P21 press release for more information. |
Arts education grants
California State PTA Cultural Arts Grant
Grants are available annually from the California State PTA for use by unit, council, and district PTAs to develop and implement student-centered cultural arts programs and projects focused on arts education. This year's cultural arts grant application deadline is the close of business on November 15. Download the grant application here.
Mr. Holland's Opus Music Foundation has three grant programs: the Melody Program that targets qualified school music programs in need of assistance; the Special Projects Program that targets community schools of the arts, after-school programs and youth orchestras in need of assistance; and the Michael Kamen Solo Award which helps student musicians in grades 8-12 who cannot afford an instrument. These programs do not include any cash grants, but fund instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments up to $10,000. Eligibility: school music programs K-12; community schools of the arts, after-school programs, and youth orchestras. The deadline to turn in the pre-qualification form for these programs is October 1. |
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National Arts in Education Week
On July 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res.275 to designate the second week of September as "Arts in Education Week." This week celebrates all art disciplines and recognizes the importance of an arts education in a complete curriculum that equips students with 21st century skills.
More information will be coming soon with ideas on how you can participate in "Arts in Education Week." |
