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Louise Kennelly |
Notes From the Executive Director
New Approaches to Measuring Impact of Arts in Education
It may seem counter-intuitive to accept the idea that the arts, which helps us develop spiritually, must be measured in an objective and quantifiable way to ensure its survival in the curriculum. And yet perhaps it's not an impossible --or even necessarily a reductive - task, after all.
Public schools in Massachusetts, for example, soon will be ranked not only on how they perform on standardized tests but also on whether their respective curricula encourage students to think outside of the box. Massachusetts is the first state in the country to call for the formation of a creativity index aimed at rating public schools statewide based on their ability to teach, encourage and foster creativity in students in order to ensure students are positioned to contribute to a creative economy, advancing their own and their state's competitive success.
It seems natural that our field would approach evidence of impact as innovatively as possible, moving beyond just a link to improved test scores and even standards mastery and look for other vital, quantifiable indicators of positive impact.
As the research on arts in education becomes increasingly more robust and far-reaching, we are learning more each day. For example, music training in childhood improves related cognitive function, according to recent research out of Boston College that for the first time demonstrates brain plasticity as a result of music instruction.
We should continue to be creative about our approach to evaluating arts in education, coming up with more quantifiable signifiers linking arts education to healthy development; imagining how to measure progress, a sense of meaning, even happiness, knowing full well the excitement of the arts rests in the fact the standards are always being exceeded and so the measurements will have to be quite flexible in order to keep up. |
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The National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art recently partnered with Ideal Academy Public Charter School to create a successful arts-integrated program at the school. An African-inspired interior wall mural, unveiled at a celebration in June, was one of the visual outcomes of this collaborative effort.
Located on the National Mall, The National Museum of African Art special exhibition's and permanent collections offer an exciting array of works, highlighting the art of printmaking, painting, sculpture, and other media. The National Museum of African Art offers interactive learning experiences, including creating your own mask inspired by African Art! Come check out one of their current exhibitions, Brave New World II, an exciting and innovative video-based exploration of the relationship between nature and technology.
The museum continues to list great events with the DC Collaborative's Arts for Every Student (AFES) program, including Sounds of Africa and Let's Read About Africa. We look forward to sending school groups to these great offerings this year!
For more information, please visit http://africa.si.edu/
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David Snider | David Snider
David Snider has been a director, educator, producer, administrator and actor for more than 18 years and is a valued member of the DC Collaborative Board of Directors. As producing artistic director and CEO of Young Playwrights' Theater, David has reinvigorated the company's vision and mission, raising the company's local and national profile while improving the company's fiscal health and expanding YPT's infrastructure through several capacity-building projects. Under his leadership, YPT has been awarded commissions from the White House, the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution while establishing the company's first-ever resident acting company and an advisory panel of nationally recognized playwrights. David received his MFA from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, and his BA in English Literature/Russian language from Dickinson College. He is a Directing Fellow of the Drama League of New York and the immediate past-President of the League of Washington Theatres. He is a member of the 2010 Class of Leadership Greater Washington and 2009 Meyer Foundation Exponent Award winner. The DC Collaborative appreciates his hard work and enthusiasm for the arts, as well as his commitment to the DC Collaborative's mission to ensure more students have access to the arts.
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The Arts for Every Student program kicked off successfully with registrations for hundreds of students and dozens of teachers in the month of October alone. For the first time, the DC Collaborative published school handbooks as well as member handbooks to accompany the 2010-2011 program catalogue and to ensure a smooth delivery of the field trips this year. These handbooks are available online at www.dccollaborative.org and members can expect to get a copy in the mail soon. In other news, we held two school AFES orientations for teachers who could not attend the August orientation at the Kennedy Center. These alternative sessions were attended by more than 20 teachers. Additionally, many teachers from both the DC Public Schools as well as charter schools have been registering for member professional development workshops made available through the Collaborative's on-line registration system. We look forward to ensuring that thousands of students have access to memorable Member events this school year!
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Donate Now
Make the DC Collaborative a part of your giving plan this year! Help us bring quality arts and humanities education to all DC public and chartered public schools. Your donation can provide tickets and transportation through the Arts for Every Student program (currently serving nearly 30,000 students in the District), provide teacher registration fees for Professional Development workshops, or provide for support for arts integrated work with schools as part of the Arts Education Initiative. |
REMINDER: The DC Collaborative is now on Twitter! Follow Us! |
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Tudor Place Historic House and Garden Historic Halloween Spooktacular!
Saturday, October 23 | 10 - 12 p.m.
Families enjoy early American children's games and crafts, including pumpkin painting. Join costumed interpreters to create your own delicious Halloween treats. A storyteller delights children of all ages with some spooky Halloween tales. Children wear your Halloween costumes to participate in a Spooktacular Halloween Costume Parade!
Members: Free
Children: $10
Adults: $3
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Washington National Opera
What happens when four kids end up lost in an opera house? They discover the wonders of lights, scenery, costumes, music, and more! In addition to offering this very popular event through Arts for Every Student (AFES), the WNO also offers Opera Look-in for the entire family on Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. This behind-the-scenes introduction to the magical world of opera is perfect for children ages 6-12 and their families. For more information, check out the Family Look-In Flyer |
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Job Opportunities
- The Washington Ballet seeks a Director of Development (DOD) who will lead its fundraising programs and advancement efforts to new heights. Interested parties should send a cover letter to: Russell P. Allen Executive Director rallen@washingtonballet.org
- The Shakespeare Theatre Company seeks an experienced Director of Education. The Director is responsible for the vision, development, implementation and evaluation of all new and existing education programming. To apply, please view the full post and application instructions on our website at http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/about/opportunities/jobs.aspx.
- The Corcoran Gallery of Art seeks a responsible artist/teacher with proven community arts experience to teach art in their award-winning outreach program. Please send a cover letter and résumé with at least three references to:hr@corcoran.org
- Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, an art collector's personal museum located in Washington, DC, seeks a motivated museum educator for part-time work. To apply, submit letter of interest, resume, and names of three references to Rebecca Singer's attention by email: rsinger@hillwoodmuseum.org
- Dumbarton Concerts in Washington, DC is seeking a part-time stage/house manager. Email Mimi Newcastle, Managing Director at office@dumbartonconcerts.org
- The Cultural Development Corporationis looking for an Associate Producer-Casting. This part-time contract position collaborates with the Source Festival production team to present a three-week Festival of new work. To apply, submit a resume with cover letter to: Cultural Development Corporation Attn: Associate Producer Search hr@culturaldc.org
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Become an Urban Alliance Job partner!
The Urban Alliance of Washington, D.C., seeks to place D.C. high school seniors with internships guided by motivated professional mentors. Interns work November through May from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and all day in the summer months. Interns receive intense job training before their internships begin and then continue the training weekly, on Fridays. The Urban Alliance, whose mission is to employ youth and inspire excellence, has offered internships to more than 1,500 dedicated DC High School Seniors since 1996.With the help of professionals across the city, Urban Alliance students have higher graduation rates and college enrollment rates than their peers. For more information on how to become a job partner please contact Veronica Nolan at vnolan@theurbanalliance.org .
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DC Collaborative Celebrates Arts On Foot Festival
The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative recently celebrated Arts on Foot Festival held on September 11th in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown Washington, DC. The Washington Examiner's Arts on Foot is DC's premier fall festival that showcases the upcoming performing and fine arts season. Components of the festival included a fine arts market, crafts, theater, dance, music, film, cuisine, and wine.
The day's events included live performances at multiple stage locations. Participating DC Collaborative Member organizations are as follows: Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ford's Theater, Washington Performing Arts Society, CityDance Ensemble, Arena Stage, Washington Improv Theater, Young Playwrights' Theater, Joy of Motion, Dance Place, and The Washington Ballet.
Sponsored by the Washington Examiner, the DC Collaborative's booth was located in the Cultural Corridor section of the festival. As part of the DC Collaborative's Butterfly Initiative, festival- goers helped decorate a four-foot butterfly sculpture by affixing personal wishes to a ribbon lattice body. Completed butterfly sculptures are now available for sponsorship. For more information please contact info@dccollaborative.org
"Arts on Foot served a wonderful showing of the vast cultural resources that Washington, DC has to offer. The DC Collaborative was honored to take part in the festival," says Executive Director, Louise Kennelly. |
Teachers: Opportunity for High School Artists
Giant Food announced a reusable bag design contest for high school students to celebrate It's Academic's 50th anniversary. Entries will be accepted October 1 - 31. The winning design will be printed on reusable bags and sold in Giant stores across the region. First, second, and third place winners will also receive cash scholarships in the amount of $1,500, $750, and $500 respectively. For more details call 202.414.0788 or email sneumann@susandavis.com.
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National Arts and Humanities Month What is National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM)? Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, NAHM is the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. Let us know how you plan to celebrate! |
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Call for Partners
VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, invites you to become part of an exciting new project. They are championing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2010, through a global collaborative video screening. Partners across the world will host screenings of the video installation Motion Disabled, a work by internationally renowned artist Simon Mckeown. The screening's audience members are asked to interact through social media outlets such as Facebook and YouTube to raise awareness. To learn more about how you can help or to request a partnership package please contact december3@vsarts.org . Deadline to submit your partnership application is Wednesday, October 13, 2010. |
For more information on the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative, Please visit our website by clicking here.
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| On behalf of the DC Collaborative we look forward to working with you and we hope you have a great fall!
DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative
1835 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
p. (202) 204-7750
f. (202) 204-7803 |
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