Look Out Nashville! Here We Come!Hello Americans for the Arts!
The Americans for the Arts National Conference is always an exhilarating event for us at the Arts Council, and this year, it is especially exciting as Debbie Mikula, executive director, and Barb Whitney, program manager, are scheduled to present at the Arts Education and Advocacy Preconference on June 12.
From challenge to opportunity
The session, Case Study: Collective Action in Lansing, Mich. will highlight the community action that occured last year after the Lansing School District dismissed close to 40 arts, music, media and physical education teachers in response to budget cuts. Joining forces with Mitch Robinson, Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education at Michigan State University, College of Music, the team will focus on how Lansing area arts leaders rallied to support the arts in education, turning challenge into an opportunity and garnering community support.
Building on a firm foundation
The invitation to speak at the event builds on a foundation that was put in place last September when the Arts Council supported a community forum hosted by the NAMM Foundation. The forum was webcast live from Lansing’s Everett High School through NAMM’s “SupportMusic.Com” initiative and was an excellent platform for advocating for the arts in education. The forum lead to a WKAR interview with Mark Bashore on Current State where the Arts Council spoke out on the roles of community arts providers and the important role of retaining certified arts specialist in the public schools.
Standing strong
The Arts Council has always taken a strong stance on the importance of arts education and the role that the arts play in student success in the classroom and beyond. We are honored to be speaking at Americans for the Arts as we know how important that the arts are in all aspects of life. Rest assured, we will always advocate for arts and culture, especially in schools where it is so integral to students engaging in their educations.
Visit the Young Creatives page on our website to learn more about the Arts Council’s stance on arts education and read Benefits of an Arts Education. Be sure to watch the NAMM webcast replay here.