Arts in Education

Submitted by ilovepiebesties on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 17:55

the problem:

help the kids with a deformed lip and help them to have a smile

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

this is important to me because last year our whole school helped out at least 20 kids get a new smile

the plan of action:

in our classroom we put a big jar and each day we put in coins/ money for operation smile and set a goal of how many children we want to help

how you can get involved:

start collecting money in a jar and start to make a difference every penny counts

project updates:

Submitted by Kelsey_Elizabeth on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 20:21

the problem:

Lately, there has been a huge decrease in arts funding in schools. As a person who was lucky enough to grow up surround by theatre and art, I can't imagine anyone going through school without those outlets. I chose to start Shakespeare Day to combine both the arts and education to show that not only do students learn through art, but that the arts have truly had an impact on the kids who choose to participate in them.

vital stats:

people impacted:

200

people involved:

why it's important:

I have decided to pursue a career in the theatre, and I can't imagine a school where I am unable to do what I love- theatre and art. I want to show those people trying to cut the arts budgets, that it will do more harm than good. Another huge reason this is important to me is that the inspiration for this project, Mr. John Broza, a Shakespeare expert whom I had the pleasure of working with for just under 4 years, passed away this August. I want his legacy to live on, through arts funding and through Shakespeare Day.

the plan of action:

The biggest thing that needs to happen is for those kids whose lives have been helped by having the arts in schools need to speak out, and Shakespeare Day has really helped bring to light just how many students are affected by the arts. Through cake baking contests, poetry, song and story writing contests, kids can show their creative side, while learning. Shakespeare Day needs to be brought to schools everywhere, and hopefully someday that will be able to happen.

how you can get involved:

Start a Shakespeare Day at your school! Get teachers and students interested in a day combining the arts and learning!

project updates:

Submitted by rihana25 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 18:47

the problem:

Lack of artistic and academic community resources for underprivileged youth.

vital stats:

people impacted:

100

people involved:

why it's important:

Involving arts in education helps youth develop leadership skills.

the plan of action:

Continue management policies of ngoma dance troupe.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by carson_labelle on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 16:17

the problem:

We are trying to solve the lack of art supplies.

vital stats:

people impacted:

400

people involved:

why it's important:

It is important to us, because we all take art and we hate seeing good supplies go bad. We also have very little supplies and we want to change that.

the plan of action:

Our plan of action is to apply for the grant, recieve it, and then buy new art materials for the art classes. We will also do fundraisers and put up posters around the school to donate money.

how you can get involved:

Others can help by getting the word out to our community.

project updates:

1 comment

Kristen Stewart Draws Designs, Not Blood

Submitted by Molly.Horan on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 15:02

Kristen Stewart is leaving her mark on arts education, and it isn't a vampire bite. She's designed a special pair of Vans sneakers to highlight the company's Common Culture contest. High school students have a chance to design there own pair of shoes in order to win $50,000 for their school's art program. That's a lot of pastels.

To take action to save arts education. Sign up for next fall's Make Art Save Art and stress the importance of visual art in schools.

Sources:

Submitted by Rakeemagne on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:29

the problem:

We are trying teach students critical thinking, research, public speaking and collaborative skills. The way to achieve this goal is through teaching the art of debating. Debating is a structured way to argue a point, with strict rules of conduct and sophisticated techniques used to assert, argue, defend and/or refute a position. Debating teaches these all of these skills, in addition to public speaking and the art of the argument. Today's generation of adolescent prospective college students are bombarded with every conceivable distortion of the English language and professional discourse. Their ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, provides admissions officers, professors, and potential employers with the baseline for evaluating their overall skills and abilities. This leads to a number of high stakes situations and opportunities where a student's ability to express their thoughts and feelings could lead to admission into an Ivy League institution, placement in a lucrative internship, or even perhaps their first career.

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why it's important:

Formalized debate training will afford students abilities that will propel them though high school and college. Students need to become excellent researchers, analyzers of text, writers and public speakers. It is our mission to lay the foundation for each individual student to be placed on the path to becoming the best at research, analysis, writing and public speaking. This is the difference between student loans and scholarships; this is the difference between having the competence to find a job and the know-how to begin a career. Students will be asked to complete homework assignments that involve reading comprehension and researching information. Students will engage in debate against one another as individuals and in groups, as teams. All of these activities and assignments will cultivate the following proficiencies, essential to the academic, personal and professional development of each student: (1) analytical approach to study, (2) critical thinking, (3) public speaking, (4) writing essentials and (5) topical research technique.

the plan of action:

The major step to be taken to teach debating to Camden City high school students would be the creation of a program that would do just that: the Great Debaters Leadership Academy. The Great Debaters Leadership Academy, through intense writing and debate training will galvanize a student's ability to communicate, conduct research, synthesize information, and display good decision-making aptitude in order to prepare them for those moments when their words will shape their destiny. The next step would be to draft a curriculum centered on debating; all activities will be based on the art of debating. In each session/lesson, students will participate in debate on current world events i.e. politics, economics, popular culture, sports and etc. Students will begin with a brief assessment in order to determine their skill set and then be divided into teams of three according to assessment results. Throughout the course of the academy, teams will be assigned a different topic in each session to debate against their peers. Each team will receive their objectives, study materials and study questions prior to the session in order to prepare. Formal debates will take place each session, unless changed at the discretion of the instructor. Students will not receive grades on their performance, but rather they will be assessed and measured to track improvement over the course of the academy. In order to accomplish this, we would need all of the following materials/resources:
• Participants from various schools in the Camden City School District
• Venue to host the academy and house our debating activities
• Financial resources to pay for lunch costs for our student participants
• Educational materials, i.e. books, pens, pencils, journals, personality assessments and handouts to help facilitate participant learning
• Access to technological resources, i.e. lcd projector, laptop, screen, microphone, and speakers

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by daiser14 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 16:22

the problem:

The midwest has been referred to by some as an artistic desert. Kansas City has fantastic schools, museums, and community programs dedicated to the arts and I want for this hidden gem to gain more exposure. There is a growing artist community in Kansas City and the Crossroads District has been hosting a First Friday event for years that has helped artists around the area exhibit their work as well as aid their professional development as artists. I have just become an Exhibitions Manager for a gallery in the Crossroads called Plenum Space. While the space has done a decent job of showing local artists and promoting the local arts, I would like to expand our range of artists. I would like for this space to show both a mix of local, regional, and nationally located artists. This will not only allow for the local art community to see what's going on elsewhere, but also for people of other areas of the country to experience what wonderful things are happening here in the heart of America, Kansas City.

vital stats:

people impacted:

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why it's important:

One might think that by bring in outside artists, it would take away potential for exposure from the local artists. I believe that by bringing artist from other areas of the country, the community will be able to experience a different region's culture and gain more knowledge about what is happening in contemporary art on a wider spectrum. This not only will benefit the viewers who visit the gallery space, it will also benefit the local artists. They, too, will have the opportunity to witness the new trends happening outside of Kansas City and be able to adapt quicker to the always evolving world of art. It is imperative for a community to evolve and move forward, and I want to be able to assist my local community in doing so by expanding their cultural awareness within the arts.

the plan of action:

The Plenum Space is an established gallery, but not many First Friday goers know about this space. If granted any amount of grant dollars I would use them towards marketing. The gallery does not have a sign. It had an A-frame style sign that we use to chalk the new exhibiting artist's name on to so that people know to come into our space, but it got broken, and is now not able to stand up on its own. Part of the grant dollars would be used to make a new sign to put out from of our gallery, as well as making a sign to hang above the door in order to present our space in a more professional and distinguished manner. Also, I would use grant dollars to design and print other forms of marketing such as flyers for each month's artist and business cards for the gallery to hand out to people interested in future exhibitions. That would help grow the gallery's presence within the local area, which will in turn spread awareness throughout the community, then into other communities around the region. I have traveled around the country the past few years as an art student and have made many networks and connections. I have been able to stay connected to most of them and reach out to them and offer this space for them to exhibit in is a wonderful way for me to give back what they have each given me, and will be one way in which I will begin to bring outside artists to Kansas City.

how you can get involved:

Artists are always moving around the country looking for new opportunities to create their work, and I want my local community of artists to have such an amazing experience that they will refer other artists they meet along their journeys to show at the Plenum Space Gallery. I am dedicated to giving the artists that show at my space the best possible chance for new exposure as I can, and with their word and with my new marketing strategies I will be able to bring in outside artists. By helping others and leaving a good impression, they will help me spread awareness of Plenum Space.

project updates:

2 comments

Submitted by Reubnick on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 20:48

the problem:

Milwaukee has notoriously never been much of a hub at all when it comes to film and television production, and this is particularly disheartening when one considers how hard is has tried and all the people who were part of those efforts. In fact, Milwaukee has a thriving community of independent film-makers to say the least, and one of the best cable-access channels in the nation...but this, however, does not change the fact that there is little incentive or financial sense in others from around the country joining them. This is very problematic and disparaging for all parties. It is safe to say that there is a bit of a history of attempts with unhappy endings to attract filmmakers. Governor Doyle had instituted a film tax credit system that seemed promising but was abused by the film "Public Enemies" and discontinued, being deemed a rather abysmal failure. This took much of the wind out of the sails. As far as television, there is little history to recount.

We are troubled largely by Chicago having the monopoly in the Midwest. The powers that be seemingly assume Chicago is all that is needed and an alternative is unnecessary.

Boy, do I disagree. It is my opinion that all that is missing is a heart for Milwaukee film.

That is why I would like to establish a rather low-risk motion-picture and distribution company called "Reubnick Enterprises," near the heart of the city itself, on the Riverwalk plaza. I want to establish this company in this location and slowly build it from the inside out, starting with a few independent movies or experimental serial shows for networks like Adult Swim of IFC and growing from there. Through the process, Reubnick Enterprises could transform Milwaukee into a considerably more film-friendly location and lure more and more business as the years go by, eventually making Milwaukee perhaps not the premiere film city in the Midwest, but the more independent and Bohemian alternative that is less shiny and more centered around producing the best of art and making the tools and facilities to do so accessible for struggling film-makers from or around here.

And just think about the economic boon...

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved:

why it's important:

I love the city of Milwaukee with my entire body and soul. It was where I was born and it's where my heart will always be. I know I am not the only one. I am one of hundreds of local filmmakers. But we struggle.

I don't want us to struggle anymore. I don't want disillusioned English teachers or college students who can't pay tuition to struggle anymore either. I want THEM to get jobs in film too. This state is at present in some rather dire straights thanks to a very flagrant government and an out-of-touch Governor who will make no efforts to bring film to this state. With no help from our Governor, we the filmmakers need to take the initiative ourselves. It is possible, but we need something to get the ball rolling. In the long-run, this is good not only for the filmmakers but for everybody else. The ripple affect would channel all sorts of money into the city, and the tourism and out-of-state purchases and lodging fees would be nothing but a shot in the arm to our struggling economy.

the plan of action:

There is one place I know in my heart this could work, and that is the building that houses the Rock Bottom Brewery at the Riverwalk Plaza in Milwaukee's Third Ward. The exact location is:

740 N Plankinton Ave # 1 Milwaukee, WI 53203-2403

This location is perfect. Above the Rock Bottom restaurant are utterly vacant entire floors, and enough to build a flourishing production company and still have ample room. A simple three stories might even be enough to get things going in the right direction.

The investment in this project is about as simple as paying the rent and paying a skeleton crew of employees, and finding clients, getting greenlit for a few shows, or funding the first few movies to be made under the Reubnick Enterprises banner. From there, things only will grow.

how you can get involved:

Believe in the project and participate and support.

project updates:

Submitted by happierinx on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 19:45

the problem:

We are trying to promote more awareness of art in the community and advocate its importance in both the education and cultural enrichment of young minds.

vital stats:

people impacted:

500

people involved:

why it's important:

This issue is important to us because children should experience the benefits of art at a young age in order to develop a better understanding of the world around them.

the plan of action:

We plan to paint a mural depicting various fairytale characters and stories and incorporate the message of the importance of art throughout it

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

Submitted by omgd55 on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:33

the problem:

to solve people that are on the street with no food homes or clothes.

vital stats:

people impacted:

100

people involved:

why it's important:

because there people just like and deserve to be treated better.

the plan of action:

give clothes food and try to give shelter to the homeless and helpless.

how you can get involved:

n/a

project updates:

1 comment