IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, March 26, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived here on the IEA blog.

------------------------------
OPERA ON THE BIG SCREEN
------------------------------

LIVE OPERA MOVIES AT THE MET
Joann Klimkiewicz, Hartford (CT) Courant, 3/21/08
“The crowd hums, then hushes as the signature chandeliers of the Metropolitan Opera House rise to the ceiling. Lights dimmed, a conductor with wild white hair takes the podium. A hearty stretch of applause, and then the audience settles down and settles in for the near four-hour operatic affair ahead … They're eased into in a pair of reclining movie theater seats in a packed auditorium at their local Regal Cinemas, watching a live broadcast performance of the contemporary opera "Peter Grimes." The air smells of hot butter, and every once in a while is heard the noisy crinkle of candy wrappers … This is the Met's "Live in HD" series, one of several digital endeavors the company embarked on last year to dust off its stale image. Transmitted around the world in real time, the high-definition broadcasts aim to reinvigorate a centuries-old art form and extend its reach to newer, broader audiences. The company is also broadcasting on Sirius Satellite Radio, posting live audio streams on its website and offering digital downloads of opera recordings on Rhapsody's online music service. In the midst of its second season, early signs point to a success even the company hadn't anticipated.”
Read more>>


----------------------------------
ARTS EDUCATION
----------------------------------

A PUSH TO BRING BACK ARTS IN SCHOOLS
Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/25/08
“Someone finally is taking on the job of returning arts education to Philadelphia children. The William Penn Foundation convened [120 arts] leaders to begin what promises to be one of the most important initiatives in the city's history. It will be an expensive and possibly politically fraught process. But there seems to be an acknowledgment that the little fixes (better marketing, cheaper seats, more populist repertoire) are no longer working. The time has come to think long term, difficult as it may be. No one knows what form the solution will take, but the process is going forward confidently with a series of workshops and discussions. William Penn hopes to have a blueprint for a program within six to nine months. Presumably, though it hasn't said so, the foundation will also put its money behind the idea. Whether it comes in the size of one of its usual grants, or on the extraordinary scale of its 1996 gift to Fairmount Park ($26.4 million), remains to be seen.”
Read more>>

ARTS-THEMED SCHOOLS BENEFIT STUDENTS, RAISE QUESTIONS
Halley Bondy, Backstage.com, 3/19/08
“Bronx Theatre [High School] is one of 15 arts-themed public schools in New York that have opened since 2003 and is part of the city's New Century High Schools Initiative, which converts large failing schools into smaller schools with themes ranging from the arts to finance to aeronautics. It is also part of a national trend. The Coalition of Essential Schools, a nonprofit school reform organization in Oakland, Calif., has affiliated performing-arts schools in New York and Massachusetts. The Animo Film & Theater Arts Charter High School was opened in Los Angeles in 2006 by Green Dot Public Schools … In 1998, a study conducted in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Justice found significant decreases in crime among at-risk, low-income students who were involved with arts programs. These students also showed an ‘increased ability to work on tasks from start to finish, which is vital for both educational and vocational success,’ according to the study, the YouthARTS Development Project.”
Read more>>


----------------------------------
ARTS EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
----------------------------------

ARTS EDUCATION: TAKING STOCK OF THE FUTURE
Barbard Auditorium, U.S. Department of Education, 6/24/08
Arts Education Partnership
“This one-day symposium will engage participants in an interactive discussion of major advances in arts education that have occurred since the Arts Education Partnership was founded and in recommending areas of focus and actions needed to advance the field in the future.”
Learn more>>


------------------------------
SPECIAL CALENDAR EVENTS
------------------------------

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), 3/08
"We know that Theatre and Drama are essential in the lives of students year round, but March is a great time to celebrate and increase public awareness of the important impact of Theatre In Our Schools."
Learn more>>

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
Music Educators' National Conference (MENC), 3/08
Visit MENC's Web site to learn more about how to celebrate and advocate for strong music education programs in March and throughout the year. This year's theme is "Music Touches Lives."
For more information>>

MARCH FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Douglas Gould & Co./Keep Arts in Schools, 3/08
Visit this site for advocacy tools and gain inspiration from how other communities are marking the occasion.
Learn more>>

21ST ANNUAL ARTS ADVOCACY DAY
Americans for the Arts, 3/31 – 4/1/08, Washington, DC
“The 21st annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts. LEARN how to lobby Congress. NETWORK with other attendees from your state and across the country. BE HEARD by your members of Congress when you visit them to make the case for the arts and arts education.” Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, is a featured speaker.
Learn more>>

----------------------------------
GRANTS, AWARDS, AND CONTESTS
----------------------------------

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Partners in Arts Education
Deadline: 5/23/08
Grant Award: Up to $20,000
“The goal of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Grant Program is to enhance arts learning in K­–12 Public Schools (PS) by supporting exemplary Community School of the Arts (CSA)/PS partnerships which serve large numbers of public school students during the school day or extended day, exemplify best practices in creating and sustaining effective partnerships, provide pedagogically-sound arts education experiences, prioritize student learning and achievement in the arts, and address national, state, and/or local arts education standards.” See Web site for list of eligible communities.
Learn more>>

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS ESSAY CONTEST
American Alliance of Theatre Education
Open to K-12 Students
Deadline: 3/31/08 ****coming soon!***
“AATE is holding its second annual Theatre in our Schools Essay Contest as part of a nationwide search for powerful stories about the positive impact of theatre on the lives of students.” View topics by grade on the AATE Web site.
Learn more>>

AMERICAN STARS OF TEACHING
An Initiative of the U.S. Department of Education
Deadline: 3/31/08 ***coming soon***
Award: Recognition to one teacher per state and the District of Columbia
“American Stars recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers will be highlighted as representatives of the thousands of teachers who are making a difference in the classroom. The next group of American Stars of Teaching will be identified in each state and the District of Columbia and will represent all grade levels and disciplines. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education will again be visiting the classes of each American Star to congratulate them on their success.”
Learn more>>

ING UNSUNG HEROESING
Deadline: 4/30/08
Awards: $2,000 - $25,000
“Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. For more than 10 years, and with $2.8 million in awarded grants, ING Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. The program’s “alumni” have inspired success in the classroom and impacted countless numbers of students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.”
Apply online>>

# # #

IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, March 26, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived on the IEA blog at http://edartsinstitute.blogspot.com.

------------------------------
OPERA ON THE BIG SCREEN
------------------------------

LIVE OPERA MOVIES AT THE MET
Joann Klimkiewicz, Hartford (CT) Courant, 3/21/08
“The crowd hums, then hushes as the signature chandeliers of the Metropolitan Opera House rise to the ceiling. Lights dimmed, a conductor with wild white hair takes the podium. A hearty stretch of applause, and then the audience settles down and settles in for the near four-hour operatic affair ahead … They're eased into in a pair of reclining movie theater seats in a packed auditorium at their local Regal Cinemas, watching a live broadcast performance of the contemporary opera "Peter Grimes." The air smells of hot butter, and every once in a while is heard the noisy crinkle of candy wrappers … This is the Met's "Live in HD" series, one of several digital endeavors the company embarked on last year to dust off its stale image. Transmitted around the world in real time, the high-definition broadcasts aim to reinvigorate a centuries-old art form and extend its reach to newer, broader audiences. The company is also broadcasting on Sirius Satellite Radio, posting live audio streams on its website and offering digital downloads of opera recordings on Rhapsody's online music service. In the midst of its second season, early signs point to a success even the company hadn't anticipated.”
Read more: http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-metopera0321.artmar21,0,7718567.story


----------------------------------
ARTS EDUCATION
----------------------------------

A PUSH TO BRING BACK ARTS IN SCHOOLS
Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/25/08
“Someone finally is taking on the job of returning arts education to Philadelphia children. The William Penn Foundation convened [120 arts] leaders to begin what promises to be one of the most important initiatives in the city's history. It will be an expensive and possibly politically fraught process. But there seems to be an acknowledgment that the little fixes (better marketing, cheaper seats, more populist repertoire) are no longer working. The time has come to think long term, difficult as it may be. No one knows what form the solution will take, but the process is going forward confidently with a series of workshops and discussions. William Penn hopes to have a blueprint for a program within six to nine months. Presumably, though it hasn't said so, the foundation will also put its money behind the idea. Whether it comes in the size of one of its usual grants, or on the extraordinary scale of its 1996 gift to Fairmount Park ($26.4 million), remains to be seen.”
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20080325_A_push_to_bring_back_arts_in_schools.html

ARTS-THEMED SCHOOLS BENEFIT STUDENTS, RAISE QUESTIONS
Halley Bondy, Backstage.com, 3/19/08
“Bronx Theatre [High School] is one of 15 arts-themed public schools in New York that have opened since 2003 and is part of the city's New Century High Schools Initiative, which converts large failing schools into smaller schools with themes ranging from the arts to finance to aeronautics. It is also part of a national trend. The Coalition of Essential Schools, a nonprofit school reform organization in Oakland, Calif., has affiliated performing-arts schools in New York and Massachusetts. The Animo Film & Theater Arts Charter High School was opened in Los Angeles in 2006 by Green Dot Public Schools … In 1998, a study conducted in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Justice found significant decreases in crime among at-risk, low-income students who were involved with arts programs. These students also showed an ‘increased ability to work on tasks from start to finish, which is vital for both educational and vocational success,’ according to the study, the YouthARTS Development Project.”
Learn more: http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003727915

----------------------------------
ARTS EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
----------------------------------

ARTS EDUCATION: TAKING STOCK OF THE FUTURE
Barbard Auditorium, U.S. Department of Education, 6/24/08
Arts Education Partnership
“This one-day symposium will engage participants in an interactive discussion of major advances in arts education that have occurred since the Arts Education Partnership was founded and in recommending areas of focus and actions needed to advance the field in the future.”
Learn more: http://www.aep-arts.org/forums/savethedate_june2008.pdf?PHPSESSID=66b28271c9534ad163402c5b5fa9978c

------------------------------
SPECIAL CALENDAR EVENTS
------------------------------

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), 3/08
"We know that Theatre and Drama are essential in the lives of students year round, but March is a great time to celebrate and increase public awareness of the important impact of Theatre In Our Schools."
Learn more: http://www.aate.com/tios.asp

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
Music Educators' National Conference (MENC), 3/08
Visit MENC's Web site to learn more about how to celebrate and advocate for strong music education programs in March and throughout the year. This year's theme is "Music Touches Lives."
For more information: http://www.menc.org/guides/miosm/MIOSMFront.html

MARCH FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Douglas Gould & Co./Keep Arts in Schools, 3/08
Visit this site for advocacy tools and gain inspiration from how other communities are marking the occasion.
Learn more: http://www.keepartsinschools.org/Advocacy_Day/index.php

21ST ANNUAL ARTS ADVOCACY DAY
Americans for the Arts, 3/31 – 4/1/08, Washington, DC
“The 21st annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts. LEARN how to lobby Congress. NETWORK with other attendees from your state and across the country. BE HEARD by your members of Congress when you visit them to make the case for the arts and arts education.” Dan Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, is a featured speaker.
Learn more: http://www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp


----------------------------------
GRANTS, AWARDS, AND CONTESTS
----------------------------------

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Partners in Arts Education
Deadline: 5/23/08
Grant Award: Up to $20,000
“The goal of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts/MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Grant Program is to enhance arts learning in K­–12 Public Schools (PS) by supporting exemplary Community School of the Arts (CSA)/PS partnerships which serve large numbers of public school students during the school day or extended day, exemplify best practices in creating and sustaining effective partnerships, provide pedagogically-sound arts education experiences, prioritize student learning and achievement in the arts, and address national, state, and/or local arts education standards.” See Web site for list of eligible communities.
Learn more: http://www.nationalguild.org/programs/partners.htm

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS ESSAY CONTEST
American Alliance of Theatre Education
Open to K-12 Students
Deadline: 3/31/08 ****coming soon!***
“AATE is holding its second annual Theatre in our Schools Essay Contest as part of a nationwide search for powerful stories about the positive impact of theatre on the lives of students.” View topics by grade on the AATE Web site.
Learn more: http://www.aate.com/TIOSEssayContest.html

AMERICAN STARS OF TEACHING
An Initiative of the U.S. Department of Education
Deadline: 3/31/08 ***coming soon***
Award: Recognition to one teacher per state and the District of Columbia
“American Stars recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies, and making a difference in the lives of their students. These teachers will be highlighted as representatives of the thousands of teachers who are making a difference in the classroom. The next group of American Stars of Teaching will be identified in each state and the District of Columbia and will represent all grade levels and disciplines. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education will again be visiting the classes of each American Star to congratulate them on their success.”
Learn more: https://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp

ING UNSUNG HEROES
ING
Deadline: 4/30/08
Awards: $2,000 - $25,000
“Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. For more than 10 years, and with $2.8 million in awarded grants, ING Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. The program’s “alumni” have inspired success in the classroom and impacted countless numbers of students. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.”
Apply online: http://www.ing-usa.com/us/aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/unsungheroes/index.htm

# # #

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----------------------------------------
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IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, March 12, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived here on the IEA blog.

--------------------------------
REPORT
--------------------------------

LEARNING, ARTS AND THE BRAIN
Dana Foundation, 3/08
"Learning, Arts, and the Brain, a study three years in the making, is the result of research by cognitive neuroscientists from seven leading universities across the United States. Researchers grappled with a fundamental question: Are smart people drawn to the arts or does arts training make people smarter? For the first time, coordinated, multi-university scientific research brings us closer to answering that question. Learning, Arts, and the Brain advances our understanding of the effects of music, dance, and drama education on other types of learning. Children motivated in the arts develop attention skills and strategies for memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas."
Learn more and download the report>>
Read the related Education Week article>>


--------------------------------------------------
ARTS EDUCATION OFFERINGS IN NEW YORK CITY
--------------------------------------------------

CITY SCHOOLS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH STATE RULE ON ARTS CLASSES
Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 3/7/08
"Only 4 percent of the city’s elementary schools meet the state’s requirement for arts education, according to the results of a city survey Mayor Michael M. Bloomberg announced on Thursday. But the mayor said that the city was making progress, noting that 98 percent of elementary schools have some instruction in either dance, music, theater or visual arts ... Advocates for the arts in public education immediately attacked the city’s efforts. 'In our City of New York, the arts capital of the world, the majority of our elementary and middle school students do not appear to meet what are the most minimal state requirements,' said Richard Kessler, the executive director of the Center for Arts Education. Several advocates said that the roughly $150,000 in private donations spent on the survey would have been better spent on arts programs. The state requires that elementary school students receive education in dance, music, theater and visual arts every year. The survey showed that fewer than 30 percent of middle schools met the requirement of providing two half-unit art classes between seventh and eighth grades."
Read more>>


-----------------------------
DONATED INSTRUMENTS
-----------------------------

MIDDLE SCHOOL EMITS SQUEAKS AND BLEATS AFTER READERS DONATE INSTRUMENTS, CASH
Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel, 3/6/08
View video and read about how an earlier Sentinel story resulted in over 100 instruments and $11,000 in cash donations has invigorated a Florida middle school's music program.
Learn more>>


-----------------------------------------
A NEW ARTS EDUCATION TRAINING MODEL
-----------------------------------------

THE ARTS ARE A FORCE THAT DRIVES ANY AND ALL LEARNING
Opinion Piece by Michael L. Hardman and Raymond Tymas-Jones, Salt Lake Tribune, 3/1/08
”We contend that the arts are the very breath of discovery, a force that drives any and all learning, and that without their influence the educational process would be nothing more than the accumulation of facts and their mindless regurgitation. As a powerful learning tool, the synergy of art and education is a true phenomenon, one that we need to nurture, promote, and ensure that all current and future educators are able to experience. While standardized tests certainly have a strong role to play in school accountability, alone they simply cannot detect or measure the full range of learning we want to encourage in young people … In an ever-changing world where proactive thinking and pre-emptive problem solving has turned into an art form itself, the need for the arts as an integral part of public education is more critical now than ever before. At the University of Utah, we have developed a rare and unique partnership that will change all that -- a collaborative endeavor with common goals, pooled resources and shared spaces. This arts and education partnership, which begins in fall 2008 … will prepare teachers to use an integrated curriculum model that teaches children to explore multiple subjects simultaneously; integrate traditionally distinct content subjects, such as art and science, and apply them thematically; and collaborate with arts specialists working in schools to teach fine arts content.”
Read more>>


------------------------------
SPECIAL CALENDAR EVENTS
------------------------------

BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK
Dana Foundation, 3/10 - 3/16/08
Visit Dana's site to view brain-related research, play brain-stimulating puzzles, view an international calendar of events, and find resources.
Learn more>>

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), 3/08
"We know that Theatre and Drama are essential in the lives of students year round, but March is a great time to celebrate and increase public awareness of the important impact of Theatre In Our Schools."
Learn more>>

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
Music Educators' National Conference (MENC), 3/08
Visit MENC's Web site to learn more about how to celebrate and advocate for strong music education programs in March and throughout the year. This year's theme is "Music Touches Lives."
For more information>>

MARCH FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Douglas Gould & Co./Keep Arts in Schools
Visit this site for advocacy tools and gain inspiration from how other communities are marking the occasion.
Learn more>>


----------------------------------
GRANTS, AWARDS, AND CONTESTS
----------------------------------

GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES
Deadline for nominations: 4/30/08
The prize “honors outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Their leadership and courage make them true heroes—and inspirations to us all. Each year, the Barron Prize selects ten winners nationwide. Half of the winners have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.”
Learn more>>

# # #

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, March 5, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived here on the IEA blog.

--------------------------------
CREATIVITY INDEX FOR SCHOOLS
--------------------------------

CREATIVE THINKING IN THE CLASSROOM
Editorial by Dan Hunter and Dan Bosley, Boston Globe, 2/23/08
”All the third-graders at Chase Street School in Somerset were on the floor under their desks - painting. They had been studying the Renaissance and the works of Michelangelo. And now the children were painting their own vision, Michelangelo-style. Years from now, will they remember the facts of the Renaissance, facts that can be measured by a standardized test? Or will they remember how it felt to be in Michelangelo's skin and the challenge of articulating their individual vision? They are likely to remember the art of creativity, something that is not measured on today's standardized tests. Standardized tests use individual student performances to provide one measure of school achievement. This is valuable. But, because the tests are the only public measure of school success, schools have an incentive to "teach to the test" and to educate children to be test takers. Is this all children need to learn? Are we adequately preparing them for the future? … We have proposed a bill that creates a new measure of accountability for schools in Massachusetts. With the Creative Challenge Index, a commission - comprising legislators, and business and community leaders working with the Department of Education and education leaders - would establish an index to measure how many opportunities schools provide for students to engage in the practice of creative work - taking a project from inspiration to revision to fruition.”
Read more>>

------------------------------------------------------------
MANDATING THE CONTINUATION OF ARTS COURSES
--------------------------------------------------

AZ HOUSE PANEL OKS PE AND ARTS SCHOOL BILL
Howard Fischer, Arizona Daily Star/Capitol Media Services, 2/21/08
”State lawmakers Wednesday moved to ensure schools don't cut electives like PE and the arts to offset increased math and science requirements. With only a single dissenting vote, the House Committee on K-12 Education approved legislation to bar schools from cutting music, art and physical education programs as they're being forced to provide more academics … The committee's move came over the objection of several school officials and their representatives [who] said these decisions are best left to locally elected school boards. But state School Superintendent Tom Horne, who is pushing the measure, said there's nothing wrong with the state setting minimum standards. HB 2557, however, does not set standards or even mandate schools that don't currently offer these programs add them to the curriculum. Instead, it simply ensures those that do have the programs don't drop them.”
Read more>>

-----------------------------
VALUE OF IMAGINATIVE PLAY
-----------------------------

CREATIVE PLAY MAKES FOR KIDS IN CONTROL
Alex Spiegel, National Public Radio, 2/28/08
“For most of human history, children played by roaming near or far in packs large and small. Younger children were supervised by older children and engaged in freewheeling imaginative play. But, while all that play might have looked a lot like time spent doing nothing much at all, it actually helped build a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of elements, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. But perhaps the most important is self-regulation — the ability for kids to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline … Poor executive function is associated with high dropout rates, drug use and crime. In fact, good executive function is a better predictor of success in school than a child's IQ. Unfortunately, play has changed dramatically during the past half-century, and according to many psychological researchers, the play that kids engage in today does not help them build executive function skills. Kids spend more time in front of televisions and video games. When they aren't in front of a screen, they often spend their time in leagues and lessons — activities parents invest in because they believe that they will help their children to excel and achieve.”
Read more and listen to the story>>


-----------------------
ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS
-----------------------

THEATRE IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), 3/08
"We know that Theatre and Drama are essential in the lives of students year round, but March is a great time to celebrate and increase public awareness of the important impact of Theatre In Our Schools."
Learn more>>

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH
Music Educators' National Conference (MENC), 3/08
Visit MENC's Web site to learn more about how to celebrate and advocate for strong music education programs in March and throughout the year. This year's theme is "Music Touches Lives."
For more information>>

MARCH FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Douglas Gould & Co./Keep Arts in Schools
Visit this site for advocacy tools and gain inspiration from how other communities are marking the occasion.
Learn more>>


----------------------------------
GRANTS, AWARDS, AND CONTESTS
----------------------------------

DO SOMETHING PLUM YOUTH GRANTS
Do Someting
Maximum Award: $500
Deadline: Weekly
"This grant is available to U.S. or Canadian citizens, 25 or under, who want to further the growth and success of their existing community action project. The grant money needs to be used to fund a community action project. This is not an educational scholarship."
Learn more>>

# # #