Dear ArtsEd Washington Friends and Members,

I can’t believe it’s June. If it weren’t for the two soon-to-be-toddlers dancing in my living room even as I write this, I’d be tempted to say that we can’t possibly have passed another school year. But my growing boys tell me that indeed time has passed since last spring.

While I’ve been changing diapers and learning to child-proof every part of my house (and I do mean every), ArtsEdWashington has also been pretty dang busy. Even a glimpse at a highlight reel from the past year leaves me stunned. Really, truly stunned. And mighty impressed, I might add. A few stats for you:

• 16%--that’s how much MORE revenue we raised
• 30%--that’s how much we’ve INCREASED our subscription base to our eNews
• 150%--that’s how much our staff has EXPANDED to include two crucial part-time positions in Programs and Communications

And, my friends, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’re a small organization with a big mission, and this kind of expansion is exhausting, exhilarating, and a bit of a roller coaster ride. It can be hard to maintain stamina.

That’s where you come in. We can’t do it without your support. Sure, sure, that means your cash (membership starts at just $25 and you can join online at http://www.ArtsEdWashington.org!). But even more importantly, it means your voice and your energy and your passion.

Together we can make a difference for all students in Washington State and provide the kind of quality arts education that teaches children creative and critical thinking skills, empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving.

I can see that there are some un-child-proofed parts of my house that Finn and Uly are about to discover. So, I’ll close with this:

Please renew your membership today. We need you. Give us a jolt of your energy and commitment. Visit http://www.ArtsEdWashington.org and become a member -- or consider a second gift -- to support the advancement of arts education for the children -- the future -- of Washington.

And if you wanted to recruit all your friends and colleagues, too, we certainly wouldn’t stop you.

Have a great and energizing summer. I know I will.

Andrea Allen,
ArtsEd Washington Board President

P.S. The play I wrote that I told you about in February went great. It turned into a musical including the catchy little tune “No Boys: Keep Your Pants On”—about parents, rules, and teenagers. (I think I see my future.) We had numerous parents tell us that the play served as a funny and pleasant way to engage with their teenagers about all sorts of tough issues. Now that is the power of art.

Dear ArtsEd Washington Colleagues,

Summer is almost here and this will be a very exciting summer and fall in Washington State! This is a perfect time for you to get acquainted with candidates running for election on the local, state and national level. This year, the Governor and all 98 of the House seats and 24 of the Senate seats are up for election. Legislators’ schedules are usually full, so make appointments now and start establishing relationships with them. Try to attend candidate forums. Let them know how you feel about arts education for Washington schools and in your district. If you do this over the summer and fall, it will be much easier to ask them for support on specific issues during the 2009 legislative session.

New this year! The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold I-872 will result in Washington State’s first Top 2 Primary. For the August 19 primary, Washington voters will not have to pick a party and will be able to choose among all candidates for each office. In each race, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the General Election. This applies to elections for partisan office, such as U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, the State Legislature, Governor and partisan county offices. You can find useful information at http://www.vote.wa.gov or http://www.washingtonvotes.org.

After the Washington primary, WSAA will send a survey on arts-related issues to the state legislative candidates, and the results will be posted on the WSAA website so you can see where your legislators stand. Thank you for your continued response to our “action alerts.” Your support is vital and we will continue to collaborate with ArtsEd WA to keep you abreast of important situations.

Best regards,

Mary Langholz, WSAA Executive Director
mary@wsartsalliance.com

SIGN UP FOR ACTION ALERTS!  WSAA Action Alerts give you the tools to contact your legislators from your office or home, on issues that you care about, in a timely fashion. Sign up today: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/wa/mlm/signup/

The Washington State Arts Alliance is the statewide advocacy organization that works to promote public funding, legislation and policy favorable to the arts. Visit their website at http://www.wsartsalliance.com/ for more information.

Signs of Progress Are Evident Despite Budget Cuts
The Dana Foundation Website, May 22, 2008
With all the reports of budget cuts that eliminate arts classes across the nation, writes Janet Eilber, "It’s enough to make you think that all of the incremental but important achievement of the last few years has been undone, and that in the time it takes to say “subprime mortgage crisis,” arts education advocacy efforts are back to square one. But supporters of arts learning can take heart. There are subtle signs of progress." Read the article here.

Guitar Heroes
Teacher Magazine (AP), May 21, 2008
Teachers in a New Mexico reservation town are taking up guitar as a way to enhance instruction. Read the article here.

NASAA Presents New Tool Kit For Arts Advocates
The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has created a Research-Based Communication Tool Kit, a comprehensive document that brings together several components that advocates can use at state and local levels. Each component is research-based, drawing on careful reviews and analyses of research literature that confirm, explain, and clarify the role of the arts in various significant policy contexts. The sample materials in the Tool Kit, prepared by a working committee of State Arts Agency Arts Education Managers, are meant to be "boilerplate" so that arts advocates can adapt them to their contexts and needs, quickly creating targeted, personalized advocacy messages.

Click here to access a compendium of research reports, news, and information impacting arts education at the local, state, and national levels in one central location. Click here to support this free community service.

Professional Development & School Outreach Opportunities

Summer 2008 Art Studio and Art History Courses
Various Dates in June, July, & August / Frye Art Museum
Looking for a creative outlet this summer? Need continuing-education credits or clock hours? The Frye Art Mueum's collections and exhibitions provide unique environments that will inspire your creativity. Professional artists in our art studio classes give individual attention and lead lively explorations of original works of art in the galleries. Classes include printmaking, painting, mixed-media, color theory, and more.

Art history courses offer adults and educators a comprehensive understanding for viewing and teaching the upcoming Frye exhibitions, Empire and Napoleon on the Nile: Soldiers, Artists, and the Rediscovery of Egypt, and the Tacoma Art Museum’s exhibition, Oasis: Western Dreams of the Ottoman Empire from the Dahesh Museum of Art.

Online registration, class descriptions, instructor biographies, and schedules are available at http://www.fryemuseum.org. To register by phone, call (206) 622-9250, ext. 200. Early registration is recommended as some classes fill quickly and others may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.

Professional development and school outreach opportunities offered by our member organizations are posted on our website. Visit the Professional Development Calendar and Tools for Schools Calendar to explore the options and plan your school year. Click here to support this free community service.

Funding & Awards Information

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Our subscribers include educators, school administrators, families, cultural organizations, and others who believe that the arts are essential for building strong communities--beginning with our children. If you are interested in sponsoring an eNews, please contact Christine Bateman, Communications & Membership Manager, at christine@artsedwashington.org