IEA Newsletter for Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Welcome to the Institute for Education and the Arts' newsletter for Wednesday, April 9, 2008. The newsletter is published each Wednesday to the IEA listserv and archived here on the IEA blog.

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ART AND WAR
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BALLET AMID THE BULLETS IN IRAQ
Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times, 4/1/08
"In a city full of bloodshed, the Baghdad School of Music and Ballet is an oasis, instilling in its young charges a love of music and dance in the midst of war. ‘I feel happy when I come here,’ 11-year-old Lisam says as she catches her breath between leaps and twirls in another of the school's studios. Through the worst of the violence, Iraq's only performing arts school never stopped putting on shows and sending its teachers and students on cultural exchanges abroad. But the school, one of the few places left in Baghdad where children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds learn together, cannot shield the students from the horrors beyond its heavily guarded gates."
Read more>>


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WEBINAR
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TEACHING ARTISTS AS ADVOCATES
Thursday, 4/10/08, 3pm EST ***THIS WEEK!***
Free
RSVP to dnachbar@douglasgould.com
”Join us in April for the very first in a series of arts learning Webinars. ‘Teaching Artists as Advocates’ will feature field experts from Alameda County, CA and Minneapolis, MN who will share first-hand accounts of arts learning and community engagement. They will also offer advice on what teaching artists can do to effect change. ‘Teaching Artists as Advocates will focus on how teaching artists promote arts learning in public schools. Our presenters will provide real-time examples and talk about how arts learning in public schools has affected students, teachers, parents and themselves. Have questions on how or why? Presenters will be available to answer your questions live!”
Learn more>>


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CONFERENCE
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AMERICAN EVOLUTION: ARTS IN THE NEW CIVIC LIFE
June 20 – 22, 2008
Advance Registration Deadline: 4/18/08 ***COMING SOON***
Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life
”At this convention, Americans for the Arts will come together to share strategies for leading creative communities. We'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first percent-for-art ordinance in the city that created it. We'll visit traditions in arts education that date back to the founding of the country and continue on the cutting edge. We'll also fast-forward to a new vision of civic leadership being crafted daily by the collaborative spirit of Philadelphia's artists, arts administrators, business innovators, and elected leaders. Civic life is evolving in all of our communities and the arts are at the center. In this year of democratic decision-making, join more than 1,000 of your colleagues to laugh, listen, learn, and lead in the place where it all began -- and is happening again.”
Learn more>>


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DEREGULATION AND THE ARTS
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AN ARTFUL APPROACH TO REVITALIZATION
Clint Bolick, Goldwater Institute, 3/17/08
”The City of Phoenix decided a vibrant arts district would be a nifty idea to revitalize its downtown core. Too often, cities are tempted to achieve such a goal by taxpayer subsidies, eminent domain, tax hikes, or draconian zoning requirements. Instead, Phoenix decided to try a different approach --deregulation.”
Read more>>


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ARTS AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
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ARTS EDUCATION DOWN SINCE NCLB
Keith Jones, WHSV.com, 3/3/08
”A new study conducted by the Center on Education Policy shows that art education has declined almost 35 percent in schools since No Child Left Behind was implemented in 2001. Here's at look at how that Act has affected schools in the Valley. Dr. Donald Ford, Superintendent of Harrisonburg City Schools, says the opposite. The art program at his schools is thriving. However, they have squeezed down minutes for academic time. Ford says they'll even discuss extending the school day by 25 to 30 minutes to accommodate subjects like art, music and physical education. Dr. Robin Crowder, Superintendent of Waynesboro City Schools, says they've started doing just that. They now offer "zero period" classes, which occur after the school day and accommodate the subjects that students may not be able to fit into their regular schedules. He says such classes include choral music, drama, art, and even photography. In Augusta County, School Board member David Shiflett says not only has NCLB led to a decline in the arts, but also in vocational education. He says many students learn by doing and just aren't good test takers. ‘What happens to these students is very simple. They have trouble in some of their classes … They have to take remediation classes in order to pass the No Child Left Behind test. Well, when that happens, then they cannot take the electives that they would like to take.”
Read more>>


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GRANTS, AWARDS, AND CONTESTS
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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>>

ING UNSUNG HEROES
ING
Deadline: 4/30/08 ***coming soon***
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>>

GRANTS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
Music is Revolution Foundation
Deadline: 3 times annually: January 15, April 15, and October 15 ***coming soon***
Awards: Mini-grants up to $500
"The Music Is Revolution Foundation administers a mini-grant program for Music Is Revolution activities designed by teachers to implement, support, and/or improve their ability to provide
quality music education for their students. Mini-grants up to $500 are available to teachers for music education activities of all types. Only projects that clearly contain a music education focus . . . will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to include activities that expose students to genres and styles of music not likely to be experienced as a part of their normal daily lives ... Funds may be used for supplies, materials, equipment, transportation for a field trip, and/or to bring a performer or musical group to the school. Funds may not be used to pay for personnel, to replace state or local school funds, or for celebration food and drinks."
Learn more>>