Programs

Arts|Learning transforms learning experiences for children through the arts by:

Strategies to accomplish the Arts|Learning Mission and Vision, with the arts central to every activity, are accomplished through the work of three divisions.

1.    Leadership & Policy Group is an agent for education reform.  Check current thinking and strategies by this Group's Senior Partner, Eric Oddleifson:

2.    Networking & Advocacy Group is a resource center and arts-advocacy umbrella for Massachusetts parents, teachers, administrators, associations of professional arts educators, museums and cultural organizations, higher education, and private education.

3.    Teaching & Learning Group disseminates information on best practices of model programs of teaching in and through the arts.

Learn more about how Arts|Learning realizes its mission through our various programs and services.

Arts Learning Program for Schools

Arts|Learning has created the Arts Learning Program for Schools (ALP) model to support public elementary school efforts to build an instructional focus on learning in and through the arts.  Goals include improvement of student literacy, engagement in learning, and achievement academically, socially, and personally. The model serves schools by addressing and integrating with district Whole-School Improvement Plans, arts and non-arts curricula, school-based priorities, and state/national arts-education standards.

The model is a unique partnership with public and private institutions including Boston Public Schools, Lesley University, independent high schools with strong arts programs and commitments to public-service programming, and the Performance Evaluation Research Group.

The model has two complementary parts:

ALP Program Overview

Read about A|L's Arts & School Reform Programs.

Arts & School Reform Program

Arts|Learning is keenly interested in assisting schools involved with educational reform through transformation to any one of various arts-infused models.

A prime example is the Charles Sumner Elementary School located in Boston.  Arts|Learning has been supporting and advising the school how to provide both (1) sequential arts-focused and (2) arts-integrated learning opportunities for all students to improve achievement levels, especially for English Language Learners and special-needs students.  The program includes partnering with organizations such as Lesley University and VSA Arts of Massachusetts.

The Arts Learning Program (ALP) model is nationally recognized as one of 11 exemplary partnerships by the Arts Education Partnership in Working Partnerships (Feb/2007). The program has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, EdVestors, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Boston Public Schools, and others.

Nominate an Arts Advocate!

The Arts|Learning's Champions of Arts Education Awards honor individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to arts education advocacy and continue to make strides toward the goal of high quality arts education for every student in Massachusetts.

From 1984 through to the present, the Champion of Arts Education Awards have recognized over 175 teachers and arts advocates in our schools and communities for their accomplishments educating students and for supporting arts education.  Arts|Learning continues this tradition of recognizing excellence in arts education programs and advocacy. Nominations may be submitted by any Massachusetts resident and current A|L members.  Self-nominations are encouraged. 

PLEASE NOTE, NOMINATIONS FOR 2010 ARE NOW CLOSED. (VIEW THE 2010 WINNERS) PLEASE USE THE PACKET AND COVER PAGE TEMPLATE LINKED BELOW AS A REFERENCE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS. NEW FORMS WILL BE ISSUED FOR 2011.

Get the 2010 Arts Education Advocacy Packet, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2010; or delivered by March 4, 2010.

For a Cover Pages template that can be directly typed on, please click here.

Kennedy Center Awards for 2010:

School Board Application Steps
School Board Guidelines
School Board Application

Schools of Distinction Guidelines
Schools of Distinction Application

Networking and Advocacy Group

Arts|Learning engages in statewide arts education advocacy in Massachusetts and new England through its Networking and Advocacy Group.  These efforts strive to ensure that the arts are a core component of a well-rounded education for all K-12 students throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

In 2007, the National Arts and Learning Collaborative merged with the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education, leading to the creation of Arts|Leearning and its three divisions.  A leadership team of A|L affiliates and members of the Massachusetts arts teaching workforce lead Arts|Learning's advocacy activities.

Arts|Learning is the Massachusetts affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, a coalition of statewide Alliances working in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to support policies, practices, programs, and partnerships that ensure the arts are an essential part of American K-12 education.

Advocacy Group Mission & Vision

Mission
The mission of the Arts|Learning Networking and Advocacy Group is to educate about, advocate for, and support the importance of lifelong learning in and through the arts by building an alliance and creating a network among individuals, organizations, and institutions.

Vision
A|L envisions a society which embraces the arts as an essential component of all aspects of living: culture, family life, work and leisure.

This vision is embodied in the following principles, which assert that the arts play a central role in the development of human potential, community life and society:

  • The arts are core academic curricular subjects which are skill-based, sequential, multi-cultural, interdisciplinary and rigorous.
  • Quality arts instruction and programming is planned and executed by arts specialists in collaboration with artist/teachers, classroom teachers and community arts and cultural institutions.
  • Successful arts programs have parity with other academic subjects and are supported in regards to funding, philosophy, and policy making.
  • The arts are essential vehicles of communication, reflecting and recording cross-cultural and cross-generational understanding through knowledge of civilizations past and present.
  • The arts play a central role in teaching higher-order thinking and creative problem-solving skills, providing models of interdisciplinary exploration and multiple intelligences learning.
  • An essential component of arts learning includes authentic assessment (portfolios, videos, performances, exhibits, auditions, visiting judges and critics, competitions, and contests) which complements traditional norm- referenced and paper-and-pencil tests.
  • The arts nurture, enrich and improve the quality of life, encouraging life-long learning.

Advocacy Priorities & Accomplishments

The Advocacy Leadership Team has identified these priorities for the 2009-10 year.

  • Host the Massachusetts Arts Education Leadership Symposium (to be held in  Pittsfield, MA, April, 2010) to bring arts leaders from across the state together to learn about national arts advocacy initiatives, research, and tools to support arts in education programs in schools and communities.
  • Present at Superintendent, School Committee, and Principals conferences to relay the important message about the role of the Arts in 21st Century Skills and development of the whole child.
  • Convene a summit of Arts Education Professional Education Association leaders.
  • Convene a summit of leaders from various local community parent support groups for the arts
  • Enhance web site with advocacy resources and online community building opportunities.
  • Create a 10-minute documentary film showing the results of significant arts education research occurring in the New England Region to be used as a powerful arts advocacy tool.
  • Recognize excellence in arts education advocacy at the Champions of Arts Education Advocacy Awards Ceremony, May 2010, Massachusetts Statehouse.

The Arts|Learning Advocacy Group has accomplished the following advocacy activities in 2007-09:

Networking and Advocacy Leadership Team


The Arts|Learning Advocacy Group is led by a Leadership Team of individuals from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that represent the arts-teaching workforce.  This includes K-12 art educators and administrators, teaching artists, arts education and cultural organization representatives, those in higher education and research, legislators, business leaders, and funders.

Advocacy Leadership Symposium

In partnership with Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Team, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, and New Bedford Public Schools.

On October 28, 2008, more than 100 arts advocates from across the state gathered at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford to:

  • learn about national arts-advocacy initiatives and the latest arts-education research,
  • receive updates on statewide arts and education initiatives,
  • learn about and share new and well-tested strategies to develop support for arts education in schools and communities including the Kennedy Center's Community Arts Audit and MAEC's Arts Leadership Advocacy Toolkit, and
  • develop advocacy action plans and forge strategic alliances to accomplish them.

Keynote speaker Karen L. Erickson, long-time Professional Teaching Artist with the Kennedy Center's professional development programs including Changing Education Through the Arts (C.E.T.A.), alongside MAEC Leadership Team members, led the day's activities.

Read a summary of the symposium.

Become a Arts|Learning Advocacy Member

Let Arts|Learning's advocacy group work for you to support arts in education programs in schools and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New England.

Annual membership includes:

Learn more about benefits and levels of membership.

Programs

Arts|Learning offers a variety of advocacy-oriented programs including recognition awards, professional development trainings and events, and opportunities for students. Please click onto an area of interest on the panel to the left.

Kennedy Center's Community Arts Audit

Kennedy Center's Community Arts Audit

In 2006, the Arts|Learning Advocacy Group (formerly the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education--MAAE) and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) participated in the Partnership Project to assist several school districts (Attleboro, Bridgewater-Raynham, Fitchburg, and New Bedford) in conducting the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) Community Audit for Arts Education.

The primary goal of the audit process was to give these communities the tools to meet their needs to develop active community support for arts education.

Project objectives included:

  1. Building a network of support for arts education in Massachusetts,
  2. Providing a model for district reform,
  3. Developing detailed 5-year strategic plans for placing arts education at the core of the curriculum in each participating district, and
  4. Shaping a strategy for implementation of the plans and create community arts education advisory committees in each community to help implement the plan.

Results for audit districts and communities has included:

  • Strengthened networks of support for arts education;
  • Deeper engagement of school administrators and the broader community in a data-driven examination of the state of arts education;
  • Better informed advisory committee members and administrators on arts education challenges and successes;
  • More focused attention on arts education programming and resources in schools by community members, including students and parents.

Learn about A|L's Arts Education Leadership Toolkit.

2. Organize Your People

Identify a group of stakeholders who should be at the table to set and frame advocacy goals. Consider who should be part of this core group and make sure that they represent your constituency. Consider forming an advisory board with this core group.

Hold a focus group or a series of informal interviews with members of this group to refine your goals. Analyze your situation to get at the heart of your issue and to gain an understanding about relevant current and past circumstances.

Do your homework!

Determine who your allies who can support your case and are help you enact change such as:

  • Parents: Booster Club and PTO/PTA Presidents
  • Local Businesses: Chamber of Commerce, Arts-related businesses
  • Local Elected Officials: Mayor, City Councilors
  • State and Federal Elected Officials: Representatives, Senators
  • School Committee Members
  • Superintendent
  • School Administrators: Principals, Fine Arts Director, Arts Coordinator
  • Teachers: Arts, General, Retired
  • Students
  • Arts Organizations Leadership
  • Artists/Performers
  • Higher Education Representatives
  • Print and Broadcast Media
  • Community/Civic Groups
  • Religious Leaders
  • Youth Organizations

Assess the strengths of the group and decide who should join you.
Create a Network of Support

Organize a core group of decision makers and select a coordinator.
KCAAEN Leadership Kit

Recruit other members with various talents.
Volunteer Information Form
Sample Discussion Questions

Define and Delegate Tasks.

Tips for Running a Good Volunteer Meeting

Assess who has the power to help you.
Target Decision Makers List

Find others who can help you (Browse our Links)

Note: Steps 2 and 3 may be happening simultaneously or in cycles until you get ready to implement your plan.

Also: It is important to Organize your Message with a core group of people prior to recruiting a large base of volunteers.

 

Publications & E-News

Arts|Learning provides a variety of communications and research publications to offer up-to-date resources and information for constituents in support of arts in education.

Resources include Arts & Learning Review, Arts Ed E--News and E-Alerts, research including several books for purchase, and an Arts in Education library.

Arts|Learning's Arts & Learning Review

Arts|Learning publishes the Arts & Learning Review, an annual arts in education journal that is working to bridge the gap between national initiatives and directives, policy, resources, and local practices by highlighting local and national efforts.

Borrowed from the Education Commission of the States Initiative on Arts in Education, the Arts & Learning Review seeks to raise awareness of the many benefits of student involvement in the arts, to develop better state level research, to equip constituents with tools to analyze and interpret information about the status of arts education in schools, and to support leadership in developing policies and practices to improve educational outcomes through the arts.

Past Issues:

Arts & Learning Review, Winter 2008

Arts & Learning Review, Winter 2007

Arts & Learning Review, Winter 2006

Arts & Learning Review, Winter 2004

E-News & E-Alerts

Arts|Learning distributes e-news and e-alerts with local and national arts education resources and information such as professional development, funding opportunities, policy information, curriculum resources, and more.

View our Archive

Research

With support from Arts|Learning, Professor Jessica Hoffman Davis of Harvard Graduate School of Education's Arts in Education Program conducted research on the commonalities and unique characteristics of schools that focus on learning in the arts.

• Passion & Industry: Schools that Focus on the Arts, Harvard University

To order the report, click here.

Read more about the Passion & Industry work in Jessica Hoffmann Davis's book, Framing Education as Art:  The Octopus Has a Good Day. 

Purchase a discounted copy of Why Our Schools Need the Arts, Davis' most recent publication. The book discusses what the arts uniquely provide to students, includes useful resources for advocates, and weaves personal narrative throughout to bring the topic to life.

Arts in Education Library

Arts|Learning houses articles on the efficacy of education through the arts, such as those listed below. These arts education articles and many more are available at New Horizons for Learning.

Events

Creating Leaders for Arts Advocacy:  The Arts, The Common Core Curriculum, and 21st-Century Skills
October 15, 2010, Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, Massachusetts
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Partners:  Arts|Learning, Administrators in Music Education, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Young Audiences of Massachusetts

Register for this Event
Event program, including bios of our guest presenters.

This Symposium will focus on developing leadership capacity within towns and cities between like-minded citizens who support the arts and arts education, including local cultural council members, parents, arts educators, school policy makers, and practicing artists. 

Costs:

 


Arts|Learning in the 21st Century:  Advocacy, Innovation, Creativity.
and
24th Annual Champion of Arts Education Awards

May 26, 2010, Massachusetts Statehouse, Boston 

View the 2010 Award Winners

Minds in Motion--Enhanced Thinking Through the Arts (Please note that this course is currently over enrolled, and the registration and waitlist are completely closed).

Join 5 renowned educators for a remarkable two-day course demonstrating how the Arts are taught through Critical and Creative Thinking, and how Thinking is enhanced through the Arts. A variety of hands-on activities will provide applications to various subjects in the curricula and is designed for elementary and secondary teachers who seek unique teaching strategies. The emphasis will be how to help teachers and students stretch their imaginations to integrate the Arts and Creative Thinking into all aspects of teaching and learning.

Leaders:

When: Saturday April 10, 2010, 9am to 4pm; Saturday May 8, 2010, 9am to 4pm
Where: Walnut Hill School, Natick, Mass.
Cost: $75, which includes cost of One Credit from Cambridge College, and buffet lunch at each course session. Make check out to Arts|Learning.
Registration: Complete the attached form and send by March 20, 2010 in care of:
Arts|Learning at Walnut Hill, 12 Highland St., Natick, MA 01760 Registration is now completely closed
Textbooks: 2 short texts will be needed for the course; participants should order these and read them prior to Session 1. Titles will be sent when registration is received; both are available on Amazon.com. 

OTHER PAST Arts|Learning NALC AND MAEC EVENTS:

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THE ARTS SYMPOSIUM
AND ANNUAL "CHAMPION OF THE ARTS" ADVOCACY AWARDS

Held on May 27, 2009, at the Masachusetts Statehouse

Arts|Learning's Advocacy Group is pleased to announce an extraordinarily successful 2009 School Leadership Symposium and Awards Ceremony at the Gardiner Auditorium of the Massachusetts Statehouse, Boston, May 27, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM. 

The School Leadership Symposium featured nationally respected arts researchers Lisa Donovan, Nadine Gaab, Martin Gardiner, Catherine Moritz, Gottfried Schlaug, Jenny Thomson, and Shirley Veenema.  They discussed their current research of the inter-relationship of the arts and learning on whole-child development, academic and artistic achievement, and 21st-century skills.  The Symposium also featured a live demonstration of a Kodály second-grade music class from the Peabody School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, under the direction of Wendy Silverberg; a panel of three urban school principals--Susan O'Neil, Bill Henderson, and Joellen Scannell--discussing the impact of the arts on their schools, students, and learning; and performances and visual arts exhibits.

Arts|Learning's Champion of Arts Education Advocacy Awards honored 15 individuals and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of students across Massachusetts, including educators, politicians, businesses, cultural institutions, students, and administrators. Many Massachusetts state legislators were in attendance to offer their constituents citations for their accomplishments in the arts and arts advocacy.


Arts|Learning convened the annual Massachusetts Arts Education Partnership (MAEP) Institute with partners Lesley University, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and VSA arts of Massachusetts.

Read about the 2008 MAEP Institute, "Making the Case for Arts Education: Research, Advocacy and Policy," which included state and national presenters Barbara Shepherd, director of National Partnerships at the Kennedy Center, and Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville.

The 2007 MAEP Institute focused on Massachusetts arts education partnership programs that have received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Education, and the National Association of State Arts Agencies. Keynote speaker Dick Deasy, executive director of the Arts Education Partnership grounded the discussion with a national perspective that included research and exemplary models.

Arts|Learning has convened past symposia independently and in partnership withother organizations and institutions such as Harvard University, Arts Schools Network, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education (now part of Arts|Learning).