WI Arts & Creativity Newsletter

For a second year in a row, we have the amazing opportunity to enjoy the brilliance of our creative friends! The 2024 Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project will launch on October 18 with an amazing group of contributers. None more amazing than Wisconsin Poet Lauereate and Educator Kimberly Blaeser. Kim used the project's theme of "Curiosity" to craft a stunning poem called "Cabinet of Curiosities". Her poem speaks to the natural inquisitiveness and sense of wonder we all possess. In the final stanza she states,

From ancestors’ habits of looking—invention. Eureka!

We mimic gecko feet, cheetah camouflage, honeybee hive.

From visions of bats, kites, and birds came flying machines.

Our magic cabinet of brain alive—we change every moment!

Supernovas seeded the stars, which seeded us—

we come from stardust, why shouldn’t we twinkle?

I LOVE that last line! Curious to read the first two-thirds of the poem? Good! Stay curious...it will all be yours staring October 18th!

Chris

The Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project (WACP) began in 2023 as a collaborative project between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Arts Board created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Arts Board. The project offers FREE music, lesson plans, and materials created by Wisconsin artists and educators to Wisconsin schools, communities, and libraries. The project continues in 2024 with MORE collaborations, connections and opportunities!

Thank you to the project contributors!

• Kimberly Blaeser - Native American Writer, Photographer, Scholar, Wisconsin Poet Laureate
• Andrew Boysen Jr. - Composer and Educator
• Lavanyaa Surendar - Bharathanatyam Dancer/ Curator/ Arts & Cultural Director
• Brad Anthony Bernard - Visual Artist & Educator
• Seonjoo Oh - Korean Origami Artist
• Milwaukee High School of the Arts Theatre Members & Tricia LaCroix & Gus Rich, Theatre & Film Educators
• Matt Wigdahl - Media Artist
• Marcy Russell - Platteville Middle School Music Educator
• Jennifer Dahl - Black River Falls High School Art Educator
• Dustin Anderson - Wisconsin Rapids Area School District Art Educator
• Jeanine Kleman - Wisconsin Rapids Area School District Art Educator
• Chell Parkins - Arnhold Director of Dance Education
• Susan Roepke - New Holstein High School Art & Stage Educator
• UWSP Concert Choir - Matheus Cruz
• UWSP Symphony Orchestra - Andres Moran
• UWSP Wind Ensemble - John Lynch

To learn more and to see a list of our contributing artists and educators, head to our website: https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/2024-wisconsin-arts-celebration-project

The State of Education Address to place in the Rotunda of the State Capitol on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Congratulations to the following musicians for an AMAZING performance!

• Mishkiiziibii Youth Singers and Drum Circle from Ashland, Wisconsin Nate Ante - Educator
• Jane Story, senior from Stevens Point - Violinist performing the "Star-Spangeled Banner"
• Alleanah Hancock-Jammeh - senior at Madison West High School - Vocalist performing "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Below is a brief video highlighting these performances. You can watch the entire event on Wisconsin Eye https://wiseye.org/

In Wisconsin, Traditional Mexican Craft Meets Modernist Painting

Wenceslas Martinez transforms Sandra Jo's paintings into intricate woven masterpieces. The couple started by selling their creations from a chicken coop and have since expanded their reach internationally.

In 1994, artists Sandra Jo and Wenceslao Martinez traveled to Door County, a popular summertime destination for locals and tourists alike that stretches out from eastern Wisconsin into Lake Michigan. They tried to place their works in local galleries, but local art dealers expressed skepticism that the works could sell. Read More Here

The vibrancy of American artistry has grown from the contributions of a rich range of artists with Latin American roots. Oftentimes, the amazing and deeply meaningful contributions of Latino/x artists have transcended barriers of language and genre, inviting others in to experience new perspectives with which to understand the world. Read More Here

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center announced that its Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program ‘remarkably expanded’ to 34 schools in the northeast Wisconsin area as it enters its ninth year.

There are a few first-timers as well, including Gibraltar, Howards Grove, Sheboygan Falls and Valders. Chief Programming Officer Amy Gosz said the expansion proves that the program has grown in both its impact and the amount of talent in the community.

“Through the Center Stage Program, students gain invaluable experiences and forge lasting connections with their peers, enriching their passion for theater and contributing to a more united and supportive community,” Gosz said via a release.

Read More Here

Appleton’s Mile of Music festival features artists and musicians from all around.

The music education team is doing its part by inspiring the younger generation with workshops at the event.

What You Need To Know

• Mile of Music has been going for 11 years
• Over 80,000 people have attended the four-day event
• Children played gamelan instruments on Sunday as a part of educational workshops
• The children were taught how to play the instruments and learn rhythm

Read More Here

Send your local arts news to Chris Gleason - christopher.gleason@dpi.wi.gov

Looking to turn the skills and abilities you learned from performing arts activities into a lifelong career? The National Federation of High Schools has built these careers pages to help bridge the gap for students looking to use their gifts after graduation!

The U.S. Department of Education is issuing a 2024-25 Back-to-School call across the United States and its territories for student performing artists who are currently enrolled in institutions of elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education or accredited trade schools, who exemplify resilience, diversity, and excellence and are interested in showcasing their talent, virtually or in-person, at internal and external Department-hosted events.

The Department is seeking student performances such as, but not limited to, bands/marching bands, color guards, soloists, choirs, dancers, poets/spoken word artists, National Anthem singers, and theatrical performers. Specific talent is needed to support National Hispanic Heritage Month (September), National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October), National Native American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November), and the following Special Emphasis Observances implemented by Presidential Proclamation, Executive Orders (White House Initiatives) and Public Law.

The Wisconsin Science Festival will return for the 2024 season, with this year focusing on agriculture and its interconnectedness with Wisconsin's economy, society, well-being and future.

Event officials said the festival, set for Oct. 14-20, will host more than 200 unique events in over 45 counties across Wisconsin. All ages and interests are welcome to attend and engage with science through demonstrations, performances, nature hikes, pub talks and hands-on exhibitions.

The festival said its popular "Science in a Bag" project will once again be available at participating library locations state-wide. The take-home kit will include activities for ages K-12 and feature science and research happening in Wisconsin.

Learn More Here

Introduce Big Band Music with Essentially Ellington from Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz Educators check out Essentially Ellington (EE) from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Essentially Ellington (EE) is a program for high school jazz bands that is at no cost to your or your school. EE aims to elevate musicianship, broaden perspectives, and inspire performance. Band directors receive resources for the study and performance of big band music.

Any high school or college-aged jazz ensemble can join the EE network to receive printed or instant downloads of ten big band charts, rehearsal guides, and professional feedback of student performances of the charts, along with much more!

Calling all artists between the ages of 6 and 17…the NASAO International Aviation Art Contest is now underway! The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, in partnership with the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), invites students to create a work of art that celebrates the adventures and excitement of the world of flight. This year’s theme is ‘Women with Wings.’ Entries will be judged on the creative use of the theme in relation to the aviation world. WisDOT strongly encourages participants to make a clear connection to the theme in their artwork or to provide a short statement with the submission, if preferred. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 7, 2025. Judging for the state competition is in early February. Rules for the contest are on the brochure attached, the NASAO website and the Bureau of Aeronautics website or questions can be directed to me. For your convenience, the address to mail entries is listed on the front of the brochure in the white box as well as my email signature at the bottom of this email. A link has been provided to the WisDot BOA website below.

The top three entries in each age group will advance to the national competition and receive an award certificate along with the following awards:

• ​1st Place: $100 gift card for aviation or art supplies or an airplane ride for the winner and a guest
• 2nd Place: $75 gift card for aviation or art supplies
• 3rd Place: $50 gift card for aviation or art supplies​

Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2025 Aviation Art Contest - "Women with Wings" (wisconsindot.gov)

The Wisconsin Arts Exchange Project website found here: https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/wisconsin-arts-exchange This resource will connect arts educators with non-profit and state arts organizations that have opportunities to extend, enhance, and enrich arts learning. Participating arts organizations will create brief videos that introduce their organization and the opportunities that exist for arts education and kids. Below are four new entries to this project!

How has your community played a role in 250 years of the American Experiment? The Smithsonian Institution is now accepting applications to join Cohort 2 of the Smithsonian Institution’s Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange Program as a Virtual Exchange Facilitator. In this program, participants learn how to collaboratively design and lead place-based investigations with students to better understand the stories emanating from one's community. Students will share and reflect with others in another corner of the country in order to celebrate the commonalities and the differences of their communities, modeling and practicing civic engagement and civil discourse.

Professional and informal educators from any discipline who work with students age 13-18 are invited to apply. Once selected, the cohort will attend a 3-day training in Washington, D.C. to design their six-week exchange project that will take place in spring 2025. Facilitators will receive a stipend of $1,500 as well as CEU credits issued by the Smithsonian. All travel expenses will be covered. The deadline to apply for Cohort 2 is Friday, October 4, 2024.

The Green Bay Packers are inviting Wisconsin middle school students to develop service projects that directly impact their school, neighborhood or community as part of the Character Playbook Community Impact Project. The program is in its fifth year.

Student groups, under the guidance of a Wisconsin school or nonprofit organization, are invited to create and execute a service project that is specific to their school, neighborhood or surrounding community. Once proposals have been submitted, a narrowed pool of applicants will have the opportunity to present the group's project idea to select Green Bay Packers and Character Playbook representatives. Read More Here

Plugged In Band Program’s Peace Tracks is a virtual exchange program for high school students from Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, and the United States.

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Participants are grouped into multinational bands with each band composing, performing, recording, and producing an original song and music video about issues their generation or culture is facing and the positive change they want to create in the world.

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Participants develop skills in communication, cross-cultural collaboration, songwriting, video editing, and creating, recording, and mixing music.

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Each Peace Tracks session culminates in a live-streamed concert featuring the bands’ songs and music videos.

Learn More Here

The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, an initiative of the NEA in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, is now accepting submissions for the 2024-25 program, an opportunity for high school students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be a part of a musical theater production. Students will have access to the Writing is ReWriting Resource Center, workshops, and constructive critique opportunities to cultivate their songwriting skills throughout the submission window, which ends January 31, 2025. More details and information on how to register at namt.org/challenge. Read the full announcement »

Schools and Organizations Invited to Host Their Own Poetry Out Loud Competition

The 2024-2025 school year marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud®, an arts education program and dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students that lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud takes place in all 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Schools and organizations are encouraged to contact their Poetry Out Loud state coordinator to get involved in this year’s competition.

Learn More

The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to living individuals on the basis of nominations from the public including members of the jazz community. The NEA encourages nominations of a diverse and broad range of individuals who have been significant to the field of jazz through vocal and instrumental performance, creative leadership, mentorship, and education. Successful nominees will demonstrate significant contributions to the art form through their body of work in the field of jazz.

Deadline: Thursday, October 31, 2024

More information »

The NAEA School for Art Leaders at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is accepting applications for its class of 2025! This program provides a transformative experience for art educators that both inspires and prepares them to become active leaders of positive change in the field of art education. The program's seven different leadership models provide a strong basis for the content of the work with individual and group exercises woven throughout the experience.

Applications are due Oct. 4.

• The National Museum of the American Latino has released resources to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Use these great virtual exhibits all year round to introduce students to a variety of intersectional Latino/a/e artists and changemakers!
• The State Education Association Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) has released a new resource for K-12 arts educators. The Customized Arts Learning (CAL) toolkit supports personalized learning in arts education and can help support culturally responsive instructional practices in arts education, with various activities and resources.
• Eric Curts with Control/Alt/Achieve shared an idea for new year connection with digital tools. Learn your New Students with Google Slides provides a Google Slide template to work on with students to support knowing your students and what they would like to share about themselves!
• To promote a healthy relationship with technology for your students this year in art class, consider weaving in digital citizenship competencies such as digital storytelling and forming community agreements using ISTE’s free digital citizenship lessons for grades K-12.
• Explore and experiment with your new groups of students with a fun lesson from the Hirshhorn Museum - Paint with No Rules!

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persisted during a pandemic that was devastating to the arts. The following 10 reasons show why an investment in artists, creative workers, and arts organizations is vital to the nation’s post-pandemic recovery. Read More Here

Wallace Foundation recently interviewed youth arts expert Erica Halverson about what makes the arts a powerful learning tool for students. In the interview, Halverson explains:

"When we are teaching somebody in a discipline, basically what we are doing is teaching them how to represent their understanding within the terms of the discipline: an equation, a haiku, a watercolor. And the arts are just super-duper good at it, because that's what art making is—making ideas visible or knowable. Artists and teaching artists understand that's what they're doing when they engage newcomers in an art-making space."

Children who undertake musical education have significantly higher levels of cognitive capacity, specifically in their language acquisition and numerical problem-solving skills. They also continue in education for longer, reverse the cognitive issues related to disadvantage and earn and contribute more on average across their lifetime.” Read More Here

Parents sometimes ask: what’s the point of drama class? Many want their children to choose elective subjects, especially in Year 12, that parents think will help them get into university and establish a career.

This is despite the fact work possibilities are wide open for the average 17 year-old, who is likely to have a range of jobs and careers over their lifetime.

So why study drama? As scholars who have researched drama and learning for 30 years, it’s clear studying drama can enhance your teenager’s present and contribute to their future. Drama teaches skills for life, learning and employability.

Read More Here

Alliance for Wisconsin Theatre Education Conference – Madison College, September 20, 2024

Wisconsin Dance Council Conference – CAL Arts Center, Reedsburg, October 12, 2024

Wisconsin Art Education Association Conference – Black River Falls MS, October 23-25, 2024

Wisconsin State Music Conference – Monona Terrace, Madison, October 23-26, 2024

FREE Coffee Chat and Lunch-n-Learn: Join the Maker Educator Team, Jeff Evancho and Peter Wardrip for a free, virtual Coffee Chat or Lunch-n-Learn to learn more about the Maker Educator Leadership Certificate Program!

Are you ready to transform your teaching practice and lead the way in maker-based learning? We’re excited to invite you to join our Maker Educator Leadership Certificate Program, designed to equip educators like you with the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact in your classroom and beyond!

This opportunity for individuals is an eight-month free leadership development experience designed for leaders of color across the nation. Read More Here

Join us on the UW–Madison campus for a day of music education

Designed for students in grades 9–12, Mini Music Clinics in choir, band and orchestra offer an enriching and fast-paced program focused on musical growth and connection — all in a single day! You’ll enhance your music education through large- and small-group instruction from UW–Madison Mead Witter School of Music faculty and graduate students and collaborate with your musically inspired peers.

Each clinic offers one full day of music on the UW–Madison campus, including rehearsals, performance classes, lunch and dinner and culminates in a final concert. In addition to making music, students learn from campus partners about opportunities to pursue music as majors and non-majors.

CLINIC OPTIONS

Band Clinic—November 9, 2024
Register by November 1
Guest Conductor: Julie Giroux

Orchestra Clinic—February 9, 2025
Register by January 31

Choir Clinic—February 15, 2025
Register by February 7

Limited scholarship support is available.
Register for Mini Music Clinics

A conversation with 2024 NEA Heritage Fellow Bril Barrett, a Chicago tap dancer and educator. Barrett discusses his early exposure to the arts through his grandmother’s encouragement, which led him to fall in love with tap dance at a young age. He recounts his journey from learning under Carlton Smith at a community center to meeting his mentor Ayrie “Mr. Taps” King, who introduced him to the improvisational and jazz aspects of tap and the rich history of the art form. Listen to the Podcast

Registration is open for the 2025 National Arts Integration and STEAM Conference! This conference is the largest two-day conference dedicated to the latest strategies for arts integration and STEAM in K-12 classrooms, schools and districts. With inspiring keynotes, educational breakouts, innovative product and service demos, hands-on workshops, along with unique networking and entertainment experiences, it’s a can’t-miss event for anyone looking to elevate their professional growth.

• Wisconsin Dance Council Conference – CAL Arts Center, Reedsburg, October 12, 2024
• Wisconsin Art Education Association Conference – Black River Falls MS, October 23-25, 2024
• Wisconsin State Music Conference – Monona Terrace, Madison, October 23-26, 2024
• 2024 Arts Schools Network Annual Conference | Arts Schools Network, Oct. 24–25, Washington, D.C.
• 2024 Adding Voices Conference | Adding Voices, Nov. 8–10, Philadelphia, PA
• 2025 National Arts Integration and STEAM Conference | The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM, July 8-9, 2025, Baltimore, MD

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Arts & Creativity Education Consultant

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.

Disclaimer: Links to third-party websites do not constitute an endorsement by DPI of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of the sites.

Email: christopher.gleason@dpi.wi.gov
Website: https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts
Location: 201 W. Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53707
Phone: 608-264-9554