A Fantastic October
Hope you all had a fantastic Halloween and October! It sure was a busy month for the arts!! Congratulations to ALL for a great month of conferences, events, workshops, and presentations. My work this past month included nearly 30 school visits, conferences in Washington, California, and of course, here in Wisconsin. Many thanks to all who invited me to visit and to those that hosted a visit. I WILL continue to do more visits this school year as I am able. A few photos from my visits are below.
I'm excited for November as we will continue to encourage schools, communities, and libraries to use the free resources found in the Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project (see below). November also includes planning for an in-person Wisconsin Creativity Summit on Aug. 7, 2024 in Madison (more on that soon!) Additionally, my colleagues and I are embarking on an initiative to inspire a transformation from STEM to STEAM in Wisconsin (Did you know that November 6 is National STEM/STEAM Day?).
Wishing you all a wonderful November. Reach out if I can assist you.
Gratefully,
Chris
FREE
Free- Isn't it a bit ironic that very few things in our world are free and at the same time, some of the BEST things are? For example, a walk in the park with someone you love, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or raking a bunch of leaves and jumping in. You really can't put a price on these things and they often exceed our expectations.
I'm excited to share with you something else that is FREE - The Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Arts Board! This project offers you the following FREE resources:
- Grade 2.5-3.0 Concert Band Composition "Like The Wind" by Erika Svanoe (free for one year)
- Grade 2.5-3.0 SATB Choir Composition "Like The Wind" by Erika Svanoe (free for one year)
- Grade 2.5-3.0 String Orchestra Composition "Like The Wind" by Erika Svanoe (free for one year)
- Poem revealing the creative capacity in all of us.
- Detailed teaching plans and resources for Dance, Theatre, Visual Art, Media Art, General Music, and Performance Music.
- Motion Graphic Animation of the poem with the author, Dasha Kelly Hamilton, narrating
Just click HERE or the button below to be transported to these free resources. Many thanks to the Wisconsin Arts Board for supporting this project and making these items FREE. Please use them and then send me examples of your student's projects and performances to share with the state and beyond! I'm confident you will find that these resources will suprass expectations!
Gratefully,
Chris
PS - want to get a quick overview of the project? Watch the video below!
Wisconsin Arts Board Celebration Event
On Thursday, October 19 the Wisconsin Arts Board held a 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Full Compass Systems Headquarters in Madison. Over 200 arts supporters, past and current board members, and consitutients celebrated this institution's wonderful contributions to our state. Congratulations to George Tzougros, Executive Director, the WI Arts Board Team, and all present and past board members!
A Request For Art!
My name is Cleo Krejci, I am a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. I cover education, and I also love art. This fall, we're asking teachers from elementary and middle schools across Wisconsin to send us examples of student artwork from the first half of the school year. Any kind of art will do -- paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. Photos of the artwork will be compiled into a story online and published around winter break. If you want to participate, here are some details:
How to send the artwork:
--Please email a high-quality photo or scan of the student's artwork to CKrejci@gannett.com
--Include the student's name (just the first name is fine), age, school, grade level
--Optional: a brief description of the work (what was the class assignment? does it have a title?)
What's the deadline?
--Friday, Nov. 17 is the deadline.
Other info:
--Please get parent permission!
--You can also reach out to Cleo with any questions at CKrejci@gannett.com or 612-227-5914.
Congratulations 2023 Wisconsin Music Educators Association Award Recipients
Richard G. Gaarder Award
Adam LuMaye – UW-Milwaukee
Cassidy DeWitt – UW-River Falls
Distinguished Administrator Award
Joshua Fiege – Prescott
Community Service Award
Fiona Nicolaisen – Milwaukee
Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music (Presented by WSMA & WMEA)
Shawn Gudmunsen – St. Croix Falls
Distinguished School Board Member Award
Chuck Draxler – Glenwood City
Barbara Herzog – Oshkosh
Music Industry Award
Todd & DeDe Heid – Appleton
Melvin F. Pontious Creative Sparks in Music Education Award
Northwoods Marching Band
Benjamin Burish – DC Everest Junior High
Joseph Finnegan – DC Everest High School
Austin Kappel – Antigo High School
Forrest Mann – Northland Pines High School
Bethany Puffer – Three Lakes High School
William Richter – Lakeland Union High School
Typer Schuster – Mosinee High School
Elli Wilk – Merrill High School
Congratulations 2023 Wisconsin Arts Educators Association Award Recipients
Tasha Newton, Art Educator of the Year
Black River Falls High School, James A. Schwalbach Award
Kelly Kokko-Ludemann, Elementary Art Educator of the Year
Marty Yohn, Middle Level Art Educator of the Year
Danielle Arneson, Secondary Art Educator of the Year
Susan Buss, Private Schools Art Educator of the Year
Kim Cosier, HIgher Ed Art Educator of the Year
Lynn Molenda, Retired Art Educator of the Year
Alli Chase, Concerned Citizen of the Year
Julie Palkowski, Distinguished Service Award
Shannon Cousino, President's Award
Hundreds celebrate life of long-time DeForest drama teacher
Beloved English and drama instructor with the DeForest Area School District Jan Williams was honored Saturday. The 70-year-old passed away last week after over 33 years of teaching. Hundreds of former students, colleagues, and loved ones congregated at DeForest Area High School’s Performing Arts Center for Williams’ celebration of life. People shared laughs and tears with one another, remembering the cherished educator.
Eight Inducted Into National Academy of Design
The National Academy of Design recently announced the upcoming induction of eight new architects and artists. Elected by current National Academy members in recognition of their contributions to contemporary art and architecture, the class of 2023 Academicians includes:
- Alice Adams (Visual Arts)
- Sanford Biggers (Visual Arts)
- Willie Cole (Visual Arts)
- Torkwase Dyson (Visual Arts)
- Richard Gluckman (Architecture)
- Carlos Jiménez (Architecture)
- Mel Kendrick (Visual Arts)
- Sarah Oppenheimer (Visual Arts)
Artificial Intelligence and Arts Ed
During AEP’s August quarterly partnership meeting, we discussed the positives, challenges and questions revolving around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the arts and how to use AI as a tool in art-making and teaching. During the presentation, questions were raised about how to use AI as an art-making medium and threading the line between artist appropriation and personal creative thinking.
This Teacher Won a Grammy and Saved a Life
Pamela Dawson, the choir teacher at DeSoto High School outside Dallas for the last 17 years, sees formal music education as secondary to the life lessons and healing that students get from her classes. The educator believes that her approach is what won her this year’s Grammy Music Educator Award. In the spring of 2022, Dawson received an email informing her that she’d been nominated for the annual award. It wasn’t her first nomination—she was a top-ten finalist in 2020—and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through with the Grammy nomination process again. But she did. And the rest, as they say, is history. Hear what that experience was like, and how she’s using the award to continue to benefit her students.
Calumet County "STEAMfest" mixes fun and education for kids
On Thursday, Chilton Middle School hosted its third annual "STEAMfest" featuring interactive stations designed to teach kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Slinger High School student wins 2024 Wisconsin State Park Sticker Design Contest
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Slinger High School sophomore Samantha Williams is the winner of the 2024 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission sticker design contest.
More than 30 Wisconsin high schools competed in State Marching Band Championships
More than 30 Wisconsin high school bands competed in the Wisconsin School Music Association State Marching Band Championships at UW-Whitewater on Saturday. Additional coverage on NBC 15.
NDEO Seeks K-12 Dance Teachers
Interested in furthering your instructional capacity, serving each unique student's needs, and leveraging the arts in your school for greater impact? National Dance Education Organization and Connected Arts Network are seeking 150 K-12 dance teachers to participate in a Professional Learning Community. Participating dance teachers will focus on professional learning in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion; social emotional learning; and teacher leadership through an arts education lens.
Applications are due Monday, Oct. 16.
The Voya Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education by providing educators resources to fund classroom projects. The maximum award is $25,000, and the deadline is April 30.
The Target Field Trip Grants Program was designed to help teachers bring learning to life for students and enhance classroom studies. The grants can be used to cover the cost of transportation, entry fees, supplies, and classroom resource materials so that teachers may continue using the valuable experiential learning gained from math and science, language, social studies and arts-focused field trips. The maximum award is $700.
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation provides musical instruments and instrument repairs to existing K-12 school music programs that have no other source of financing to purchase additional musical instruments and materials. Applications are by invitation only.
Fender Music Foundation grants are awarded to music academies, schools, local music programs, and national music programs across America, particularly in-school music classes in which the students make music; after-school music programs that are not run by a school; and music therapy programs, in which the participants make the music. The foundation provides musical instruments and/or equipment, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The National Endowment for the Arts’ Art Works Grants support the creation of art that increases public engagement and promotes lifelong learning in the arts by strengthening communities. The maximum award is $100,000, and deadlines are in February, May, and July.
Theatre Lesson Example from WI Arts Celebration Project by Educator, Ron Parker
THEATRE ACTIVITY 4–”Act It Out”
For this game, divide the students into eight groups. Each group will be assigned one stanza of Hamiltion’s poem, “Like the Wind.” Begin by reading the poem together. Then give each group their assigned stanza. Tell them their goal is to act out their stanza using their bodies, voices, and movement to communicate what they believe the poet is expressing. Take time to answer any questions about specific lines or meanings of words that students may have. Then have them separate to different areas of the playing space to brainstorm and rehearse. While this time is arbitrary, 10 minutes should suffice.
Depending on the size of the groups, the teacher may elect to be the one to read the poem while it is acted out or each group may designate a reader or readers to expressively vocalize the stanza while the other members of the group perform their actions.
Best Communities for Music Education Award
The NAMM Foundation is inviting school districts and individual schools to apply for a Best Communities for Music Education award. Now in its 25th year, the award offers national recognition and visibility for school music programs and honors the efforts of educators, administrators, students and community music education champions who share in the common goal to ensure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education.
Applications are due Jan. 31.
Supporting Learning Through the Arts: An Interview With Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten
The U.S. Department of Education released a new blogpost from Deputy Secretary, Cindy Marten in celebration of National Arts in Education Week. In the post, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten states:
"Arts education and ensuring students receive a well-rounded education must remain a priority as we move forward. We know it—from a theoretical to research to practical lens— broad learning experiences that include arts education foster creativity, enhance critical thinking skills, and support students’ college and career readiness. By nurturing artistic talents and interests, we help students discover their potential, build self-confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them."
NEA Chair Meets With Biden Administration Regarding Arts and Culture
On Tuesday, October 17, the NEA and White House Domestic Policy Council co-hosted a convening with federal agency heads, congressional members, and arts and culture leaders on the role of arts and humanities in strengthening our nation and the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach to arts and culture.
As part of the meeting, NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson discussed current federal opportunities for the arts, including the administration’s focus on equity and justice, climate, the urgent need to repair our democracy, and challenges facing the arts sector in the wake of the pandemic.
Administration officials across sectors, including health, transportation, infrastructure, and education, discussed ways the arts and culture contribute to goals such as equitable community engagement, social connectedness, mental health, and climate resilience, in rural and urban settings. Participants discussed ideas to strengthen the intersections of the arts and other sectors while continuing to build clear pathways for artists and arts organizations.
This meeting will help inform an upcoming summit on January 30, 2024, available through a livestream, called “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities.”
NAVIGATE: MAKING EMOTIONS VISIBLE
Sometimes, you just feel stuck. Educator and author-illustrator
Julia Mills reads her book, I Am Stuck, a story that shows adults and kids alike that there are ways to navigate through the emotional ups-and-downs. Then work through two creative exercises with Julia as she uses her senses to get 'unstuck' and make emotions visible.
✦ November 2, 2023 | 7PM EST
BUILD: OUTSIDE THE BOX
It's one of our favorite months of the year, STEM/STEAM Month! Bestselling author-illustrator Kim Smith shares her picture book, Boxitects, a story about an innovative young girl who uses STEAM to build extraordinary things out of ordinary materials like cardboard. Then create with Kim as she illustrates what teamwork looks like and shows how viewers can create their own corrugated cardboard designs!
✦ November 28, 2023 | 7PM EST
Cross-Exposure: Arts and Social Justice
Join the Association of Arts Administration Educators on Friday, Nov. 3 for Cross-Exposure Series: Arts & Social Justice. This week's presenters are Dr. Wanda Knight and Quanice Floyd. You can learn about the entire Cross-Exposure Series here.
We CAN Make a Difference in Student Learning!
The Connected Arts Networks (CAN) is a 5-year grant initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to create nationwide virtual Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with educators in visual and media arts, dance, music and theatre. The purpose of CAN is to build a sustainable model of professional learning for arts educators to strengthen their pedagogy, instruction and leadership skills to better serve students. Read More Here
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.
Here is a great book review found on Dan Pink's newsletter called "The Pink Report". I've added this book to my list!
Dan states,
"When we search for the secrets of success, we often look in dark corners. Work all the time. Try to be perfect. Battle to beat others.
That’s a mistake, says Wharton professor Adam Grant. The evidence points to a different, and far brighter, set of factors that can help us succeed. Develop good character. Become an information sponge. Pursue imperfection. It’s all in his terrific new book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.
1-sentence summary:
The true measure of your potential is not the peak you’ve reached—it’s how far you’ve climbed to get there.
1 important quotation:
“If our cognitive skills are what separate us from animals, our character skills are what elevate us above machines.” (p. 22)
1 surprising fact:
You can predict how much money people earn in their twenties from the amount of experience their kindergarten teacher had. The more experienced kindergarten teachers didn’t give kids a lasting edge in cognitive skills for reading and math—what they instilled in kids were the character skills to be proactive, prosocial, disciplined, and determined.
1 key takeaway:
Put yourself in the ring before you feel ready. You don’t need to build confidence before you take the leap— your confidence grows through taking the leap."
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Chris Gleason
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
This publication and previous issues are available from: Division of Academic Excellence> Teaching and Learning Team> Arts and Creativity. https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/newsletter
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or ability.
Email: christopher.gleason@dpi.wi.gov
Website: https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts
Location: 125 South Webster Street, Madison, WI, USA
Phone: 608-264-9554