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Advocacy Chair - Matt Psomadakis -
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NEW Resolution just for the ARTS
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 275, legislation designating the second week of September as "Arts in Education Week." Authored and introduced by California Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), this resolution is the first Congressional expression of support celebrating all the disciplines comprising arts education.
The resolution seeks to support the attributes of arts education that are recognized as instrumental to developing a well-rounded education such as creativity, imagination, and cross-cultural understanding. H.Con.Res. 275 also highlights the critical link between those skills and preparing our children for gaining a competitive edge in the global economy. This is a very positive showing of support for arts education and comes at a key time when Congress is making plans to overhaul federal education policy.
ADVOCACY OUTREACH - A Contest!!!
Create a video on “Why Arts Matters” and be recognized for your creativeness in Time Square.
For complete details go to:
http://www.artsactionfund.org/videos/entry/why-arts-matter
Matt says...
1. Contact, or better yet, have your students contact the following with words of encouragement:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Governor Beverly Perdue
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
Senator Richard Burr,
217 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3306
Senator Kay Hagan
B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3301
Become familiar with your state level and local government officials.
One 27 cent stamp can do wonders. My students have already sent Sasha and Malia Obama artwork postcards. I asked parents to donate 27 cent stamps hoping for enough for every child in my school to send one piece of original artwork….that’s 825 students. I already have over 2000 stamps and the note went home 3 weeks ago.
2. Be seen! The best advocate for you as an art teacher is to become a mainstay in the public arena and to be involved in the arts scene in your school and community. You are indispensible. Make everyone aware of that fact.
3. Talk to your students' parents. Make them aware of your impact on education. Invite them into your classroom.
4. Display artwork everywhere you can find the room and time to display it.
5. Write an editorial for your local newspaper.
6. Read Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future and then SHARE it!
7. Peruse the following websites:
www.artinaction.org
www.vue.org
www.kidzart.org
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org
www.aep-arts.org
www.getty.edu/education
http://www.keepartsinschools.org/
http://arts.endow.gov/
http://www.icaf.org/
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/art/arts_advocacy/index.php
http://www.artsnc.org/whoarewe/index.shtml
8. Consider the following quote:
"Art in all its distinct forms defines, in many ways, those qualities that are at the heart of education reform — creativity, perseverance, a sense of standards, and above all, a striving for excellence."
Richard W. Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education under President William Clinton
9. Nurture your own creative spirit.
10. Watch Barack Obama's speech on the December 7th edition of Meet the Press concerning the arts at the following link:
http://www.artsactionfund.org/artsvote/audio_video/obama12_08.asp
You may access the video through the typical Internet search methods or you may visit the Americans for the Arts Action Fund site at:
www.artsactionfund.org
Sign up for email alerts form this site. This organization is a powerful advocate for the artist as well as the art educator.
Karen Wells from Arts North Carolina, Inc. is the North Carolina State Captain
RESOURCES
You can find your Legislature at http://www.ncleg.net
Arts North Carolina - a prominate advocacy organization in the state http://www.artsnc.org/index.shtml has many events planned throughout the year. Below are a few on their calendar
- Arts Day 2010 - May 18 and 19 - Raleigh
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Winston-Salem: November 10, 2009
Asheville: December 3, 2009
Fayetteville: March 2, 2010
Charlotte: March 17-18, 2010
Elizabeth City: March 22-23, 2010
Cherokee: April 14, 2010
Raleigh: April 16, 2010
Fayetteville: April 22, 2010
Greenville: April 26, 2010
High Point: April 28, 2010
Greensboro: April 28, 2010
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