National Art League instructor Rhoda Lowinger continually stresses the importance of art in a child’s education. “Many parents don’t realize the overall impact art education has on child development, allowing gains in math, reading and science, as well as increasing cognitive ability and critical reasoning skills,” Lowinger said at a ceremony this month displaying students work. Parents whose children are enrolled at the cultural center know this all to well. They have enrolled their children in many different classes offered to enhance the education their children receive.

Read more about what Rhoda Lowinger and the National Art League offer in classes in this article published in Douglastown Patch by Patrick Conti:

the-little-einsteins-of-art-

For those of you interested in connecting with art education resources, art programs, artists, art support and more, click on the below link to 50 Art Education Blogs.

top-50-art-education-blogs

In speaches made regarding the education of our children in the United States our programs are often compared to those in Finland, Singapore and Canada.  Here is what Education Secretary Arne Duncan had to say August 25th. 

“Today, there are many different approaches to strengthening the teaching profession — both here in America and in countries that are outperforming us such as Finland and Singapore.Our competitors in other parts of the world recognize that the roles of teachers are changing. Today, they are expected to prepare knowledge workers, not factory workers, and to help every child succeed, not just the [ones who are] easy to teach.”

In the “Answer Sheet”  posted on Washingtonpost.com, Sean Slade, Director of Healthly School Communities, provides the reader with comments made by leadership in these countries.

Follow the  link to this interesting article on what these countries think of Art Education and its importance to a child’s development.

Answer Sheet

What are your thoughts?

“The Salaam Baalak Trust—an organization founded by the proceeds of Mira Nair’s 1988 film on street children, Salaam Bombay—gives rise to a whole generation of photographers, musicians, dancers, thespians and puppeteers.” This trust believes in art education as a means to provide these children with a potential livelihood. Many students don’t arrive at the schools until they are 12 or so without any educational disciplines. By introducing them to art education plus music, dancing and photography Salaam Baalak is enabling them to address a future.

Please click below to read about this interesting program and how it came to be –  posted by Anindita Ghose for livemint.com:

Art as a Lifeline

Businesses are beginning to realize that having artistic processes as part of executive or MBA programs enables better creative thinking. As an artist starts with a blank canvas business students are being taught to look at opportunities with the same open mind through a variety of art curriculums.

Read Matt Symond’s article posted on Forbes.com addressing this concept…something we have known for years!

Teaching Business Leadership through Art

Dosomething.org’s Make Art. Save Art. got some art publicity recently. Angela Kinsey and Ellie Kemper, stars from “The Office”,  have donated art to the campaign sponsored by HP and AMD.

As mentioned in an earlier post this campaign wants to use artists and students to spread the message  that arts are important to American schools. 

Read more about what Angela and Ellie are doing in support of this campaign

Office Stars and Make Art Save Art

To read more about Dosomething.org, Make Art. Save Art and sponsors HP and AMD click below

Dosomething.org

Think how dull life would be without art or music. Granted, math and science are important but the other part of the brain needs stimulation. Art and music teach children “freedom of expression.” It spurs their curiosity and potentially can help them discover other creative forms.

See what else Paul Rance has to say regarding the importance of art and music in a child’s development in his article featured in Helium.

http://www.helium.com/Why are Art and Music Important

The Neighborhood Big Draw takes place Saturday October 9th. This fun event is a wonderful activity to get neighbors together-drawing (also a great way to get children interested in art),  promote community and learn more about where you live. There will be a large one in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, in Roswell, New Mexico, city-wide in Nashville, in the River district in Asheville, North Carolina, Monterey, California and a handful of other spots.  Get your community involved to add to this list!

Go to the below link to get the details and get started in organizing your “big draw”.

http://www.drawingamerica.org

Also, available at the site is an eBook that helps you plan and organize your own event.

As mentioned in a prior post, this week is Arts in Education Week. At the Art and Culture Center in Hollywood Arts in Education is celebrated everyday. Through a variety of programs the Center reaches many children who otherwise might not have the opportunity to participate in visual and performing arts. The Center runs  programs in three downtown Hollywood facilities, summer camps and through video conferencing sessions connected with  Broward Education Communication Network (BECON).

As written in the Hollywood Gazette read about this successful program which reaches numerous children, supporting the belief that participating in an arts curriculum helps academically.

Art and Culture Center celebrates Arts in Education Week

Did you know that the United States House of Representatives has declared the week of September 12-18, 2010 as National Arts in Education Week?

With this declaration, the House is recognizing  that arts education, including the disciplines of dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.

This is the first time the U.S. legislature has formally recognized the intrinsic value of all art forms in education.

Maria Van Laanen, vice president of communication and external relations for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wisconsin, believes the announcement comes at a crucial time as students return to the classroom. 

In a press release posted on BroadwayWorld.com this week, Van Laanen says, “One of the really interesting things this resolution does is recognize trends that educators already know, that arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline and alternative ways to communicate. All of these traits support academic success and help students grow as individuals and as members of our community.”

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center supports this key element in a child’s development through its many programs.

To read more regarding National Arts Week and Fox Cities Performing Arts Center please follow the below link:

National Arts Week