ArtsEd Washington eNews
November 2008
Advocacy Tip: Eleven Election Follow-Ups
Gregoire and Dorn Show Support for the Arts
Basic Education Finance Update
Give Your Opinion, Get Free Admission
Student Applications Available for NSO Summer Music Institute
Call for Proposals: It's ArtsTime!
4Culture Increases Funding for
PAL ProgramWelcome and Thanks, New and Renewing Members
PAL Schools Recognized as
OSPI Schools of DistinctionSBE Position #4 Election Ballots Due Nov. 26
Henry Bischofberger Violins Awarded “Best in Western Washington”
ArtsEd WA Regional Advisor Wins WAEA Award
State of the Arts in Highline Schools: "Not Healthy"
Eleven Election Follow-Ups
It’s hard to believe the elections are finally behind us! This is a good time to begin or renew relationships with elected officials, so that when an issue comes up, we know we have informed our decision-makers.
Here are some actions to take this month to ease into those relationships. You don’t have to do all of them – some of them may not apply to your situation – but every action, large or small, makes a difference.
1) Congratulate: Send messages of congratulation to any or all of your legislators who won during this election season: federal congressional delegation, state legislature representatives, and/or local officials in key areas.
2) Thank them for serving.
3) Inform: Include in your congratulatory message a brief piece of information or fact about the importance of arts education for students in the area the official represents.
4) Inform some more: Let the officials know about any federal or state grants that you have received and their impact on constituents.
5) Offer your assistance. For example, offer to arrange school visits for the official, to provide information or testimony when needed, and to arrange for student groups to perform at an event or for student art to display.
6) Spread the news: Encourage your colleagues, friends, and family to congratulate their local officials.
7) Include: Add to your mailing list key state legislators including members of education and appropriations committees and other policy makers.
8) Meet: Schedule a short meeting with your local officials for yourself and a few other advocates to talk about arts education issues for the coming year.
9) Thank them for meeting with you.
10) Ask a new legislator or other official to serve on your advisory board or to speak at your events.
11) Thank elected officials again and again for their service and their support.
Following any or all of these eleven post-election steps will help you lay the foundation for a great year of advocacy.
This Advocacy Tip is provided by the Advocacy Committee of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, of which ArtsEd Washington is a member. Our Executive Director, Una McAlinden, co-chairs the Advocacy Committee.
Click here to download a PDF version of this Advocacy Tip.
ArtsEd Washington's mission is to advance arts education through leadership, partnership, and communication.
We are a non-profit organization that relies on our member support.
Individual membership starts at just $25 / year.
Click here to become a member today!
ArtsEd Washington Staff
Una McAlinden,
Executive Director
Erin Guest, Program Manager
Christine Bateman, Communications & Membership Manager
158 Thomas Street, Suite 16
Seattle, WA 98109
P 206.441.4501
F 206.441.3042
http://www.ArtsEdWashington.org
Dear ArtsEd Washington friends and members,
In tough economic times, we tend to step back and take a look at the big picture of our personal finances. We ask ourselves, “What is most important to me? How I can rearrange my spending priorities to better suit my values?”
When I sat down this year and thought about what is really important to me – what are my top spending priorities – I included my membership with ArtsEd Washington.
Why? Because I believe that, to prevent and resolve major crises like our country’s current economic situation, we need the kind of creative, collaborative problem-solvers that develop in students who receive arts learning.
For the sake of my children’s and my grandchildren’s future, I simply cannot afford to stop supporting ArtsEd Washington with my gift of membership.
Here are just a few of the reasons why I make membership with ArtsEd Washington one of my top priorities:
- My membership allows me to support statewide arts education policies and encourage large-scale, systemic change in our schools.
- My financial support allows ArtsEd Washington to provide professional development for principals and teachers in my district and around Puget Sound through the Principals Arts Leadership program.
- ArtsEd Washington has helped me to become a more effective arts education advocate at the local, state, and national levels. And having my name on the membership roster is a powerful way for ArtsEd Washington to influence the policy-makers with whom they work.
Especially in a challenging time like this, ArtsEd Washington needs you as a member, too. Membership with ArtsEd Washington is the right thing to do, because arts education is the right thing to do!
If you have not renewed your membership with ArtsEd Washington, I encourage you to do so today. If you have been reading ArtsEd WA eNews for a while, and consider it a valuable resource for your work as an arts education practitioner or advocate, please become a member.
Individual membership starts at just $25 per year, and non-profit organizations pay just $50 per year.
If you are already a member, thank you! As you begin planning your year-end gifts, I hope that you will consider making an additional gift to ArtsEd Washington.
Click here to visit our Membership page, where you can download the membership form (don’t forget to include your check!). Or, click on the “Join ArtsEd Washington” button to pay online via Paypal.
If your big picture includes arts education, then I encourage you to join me in making membership with ArtsEd Washington one of your top giving priorities this year. Our work is not done until every student in Washington receives access to arts learning in every year of their K-12 education. Please support this work with your time, your voice, and your membership.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Sandner,
Board President
Reelected Governor and Newly Elected Superintendent Support the Arts
Governor Christine Gregoire secured a second term from the voters this month. Governor Gregoire has been consistently reviewed as good for education, and was endorsed by many organizations in the state that have PACs (political action committees). From the perspective of arts in education, Gov. Gregoire appointed and chaired the Washington Learns Task Force, which espoused, as one its five overarching guidelines for education reform, the need to bring creativity into the classroom. We hope that this support for arts in education will continue as the legislature looks at a new funding structure for basic education.
Newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn recently told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that he believes the arts can help reduce the high school dropout rate and give students a good and valuable education.
(Source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/386767_ospi07.html )
Dorn will replace Dr. Terry Bergeson as Superintendent. We applaud Dr. Bergeson’s many years of service to Washington’s students, and her strong commitment to and support of arts in a complete education. Much has been accomplished under her leadership to advance arts education for every student. We are confident that the new Superintendent will continue this work to ensure a complete education for every Washington student.
Basic Education Funding Update
Last month, we sent you an Action Alert about several public meetings to present the Basic Education Finance funding proposal, What It Takes for Kids, co-authored by State Senator Rodney Tom and State Representatives Ross Hunter, Skip Priest, Fred Jarrett, Pat Sullivan, and Glenn Anderson.
You can read a proposal overview or the full proposal online at http://whatittakesforkids.com/?page_id=13 . Rep. Hunter will present the proposal once more in Seattle on Monday, December 1. Visit http://whatittakesforkids.com/?page_id=23 for more information.
As the deadline for the Task Force report and recommendations approaches with the year end, other proposals have also been put forward. See the full list at the Joint Task Force’s official site (http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF), where a summary comparison of all submitted proposals has also been posted (http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/joint/bef/BEFSummaryProposal.pdf).
We strongly urge school and district administrators to review these options and examine them for the infrastructure needs to support arts teaching and learning. There are a few more opportunities to present feedback to the Task Force. Your input is critical to this process.
Please consider attending one of the Joint Task Force meetings in Olympia to show your support for arts education:
- November 24-26 (Senate Conf. Rm. A-B-C, Cherberg Building)
- December 8-9 (Senate Conf. Rm. A-B-C, Cherberg Building)
For more information, please visit the Joint Task Force’s official site (http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF).
Give Your Opinion, Get Free Admission!
ArtsEd Washington has partnered with ArtsFund and researcher Chris Goodheart to conduct a study of programs and partnerships between King and Pierce County arts organizations and K-12 public schools.
The research question is: What strategies would strengthen the relationship between arts organizations and K-12 schools in support of student learning?
If you are an educator or school administrator, please consider attending one of the following roundtable discussions to share your thoughts and perspectives on this unique relationship.
As a special thanks for attending, you will receive a one-day complimentary admission to the Seattle Art Museum, currently featuring S'abadeb—The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art and Artists, and Edward Hopper’s Women.
Please RSVP to una@artsedwashington.org or call (206) 441-4501.
Tuesday, December 9, 9-10.30 a.m.
Parkwood Elementary School, Shoreline
1815 North 155th, Shoreline, Washington 98133
Click here for the Google Map
Wednesday, December 10, 9.30-11 a.m.
Redmond Elementary School, Redmond
16800 NE 80th St, Redmond, WA 98052
Click here for the Google Map
Thursday , December 11, 9.30-11 a.m.
Helen B. Stafford Elementary School, Tacoma
1615 S 92nd St, Tacoma, WA
Click here for the Google Map
Applications Now Available for NSO
Summer Music Institute
The Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) 2009 Summer Music Institute is a 4-week summer music program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, for student instrumentalists.
The program is designed for student musicians, ages 15-20, who are seriously considering orchestral music as a career.
The fellowship includes private lessons from an NSO member; master classes and seminars; participation in the NSO SMI Orchestra; performance opportunities in Washington, D.C.; most travel and lodging costs; and more.
One musician from most states will be selected to participate on scholarship for the 2009 Summer Music Institute.
To apply, please download an application at http://www.artsedwashington.com/Programs/NSO.html and submit it to ArtsEd Washington, along with a solo recording and letter of recommendation, by Friday, January 9, 2009.
Five state finalists from Washington will be forwarded to the Kennedy Center for consideration. 2009 Summer Music Institute scholarship recipients will be notified by March 6, 2009.
For more information about the 2009 Summer Music Institute, please visit http://www.artsedwashington.com/Programs/NSO.html.
Applications may be mailed to:
ArtsEd Washington | 158 Thomas Street, Suite 16 | Seattle, WA 98109
Call for Proposals: It’s ArtsTime!
ArtsTime is a biennial statewide arts education conference that will be held March 20-21, 2009, at Foster High School in Tukwila, Washington. Hundreds of artists, arts professionals, administrators, principals, and classroom teachers from every part of Washington State will come together for this gala two-day event filled with workshops, presentations, performances and a trade show.
You are invited to submit a proposal to present a concurrent session at the 2009 ArtsTime Conference. Our theme this year is “Inspiring Imagination! Creativity, Innovation, Compassion.” Come and help us provide leadership, advocacy, and professional development so that educators can prepare all children for the future “imagine” nation; develop innovators for the workforce of tomorrow; and create lifelong learners with heart.
Please visit http://www.artstime.org to download the proposal application.
ArtsTime is sponsored by ArtsEd Washington, the Dance Educators Association of Washington (DEAW), VSA Arts of Washington (VSAW), the Washington Alliance for Theatre Education (WATE), the Washington Art Education Association (WAEA) and the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA), in cooperation with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Tukwila Arts Commission.
4Culture Increases Funding for PAL Program
4Culture’s Arts Cultural Education Funding Program recently announced a $30,000 funding award to ArtsEd Washington, building upon our five-year partnership in support of the Principals' Arts Leadership (PAL) program. 4Culture is the cultural services agency for King County.
Twenty King County schools representing six King County school districts participate in the PAL program. The $30,000 4Culture award will allow us to continue to broaden the participation of King County schools in the PAL program, and strengthen the potential for greater sustainability of arts education in the future.
Charlie Rathbun, Arts Program Manager with 4Culture, adds that “Throughout its five year development, this program has been entirely responsive to the needs of the principals themselves. It has been designed for, by, and about them. With new state-wide graduation requirements in the arts for all K-12 students, the timing could not be better.”
For more information about 4Culture, please visit http://www.4culture.org. For more information about the PAL program, please visit http://www.artsedwashington.com/Programs/PALI.html.
Welcome and Thanks, New and Renewing Members
ArtsEd Washington welcomes our new members, and we offer continued thanks to those who recently renewed.
Individuals: Manuel Cawaling, Krista Carreiro, AnnRené Joseph, Jean-Marie Kent, Anya Rudnick, Lisa Crubaugh, and Mary Jane Fraser
Organizations & Businesses: The Henry Art Gallery, Vashon Allied Arts, Arts Impact, Washington State PTA, Seattle Theatre Group, UW World Series, Henry Bischofberger Violins, ArtWorks, Mind’s Eye Events, Lincoln Theatre, Captureed Creativity, The Whole Picture
Schools: Wolfle Elementary, Breidablik Elementary, Helen Stafford Elementary, Suquamish Elementary, Dickinson Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, Armin Jahr Elementary, Redmond Elementary, Broadview-Thomson Elementary, Maple Elementary, Juanita Elementary, Cherry Valley Elementary, Stillwater Elementary, Carnation Elementary, Eagle Rock Multi-Age Program, Evergreen Elementary, Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary
PAL Schools Recognized as 2008 OSPI Schools of Distinction
ArtsEd Washington proudly congratulates the four elementary schools in our Principals’ Arts Leadership (PAL) program that were recently designated as 2008 OSPI Schools of Distinction:
Southwood Elementary, Enumclaw
Henry David Thoreau Elementary, Lake Washington
Cle Elum-Roslyn Elementary, Cle Elum-Roslyn
East Port Orchard Elementary, South Kitsap
This award recognizes and celebrates outstanding improvement in student academic growth. Award-winning school principals received a trophy and banner to display at their school, and were celebrated in an award ceremony with State Superintendent Dr. Terry Bergeson and other education leaders.
SBE Position #4 Election Ballots Due Nov. 26
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is currently conducting an election for Position #4 on the State Board of Education. The position is elected by school board members in Western Washington.
Ballots are due back to OSPI no later than Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Lifetime ArtsEd Washington Member Linda Lamb is the incumbent candidate; she was part of the unanimous SBE support for the CORE 24 proposal, which includes an increase to two credits for the arts.
Learn more about the Position #4 candidates at http://www.wssda.org/wssda/WebForms/En-Us/Events/sbevoterguide/sbeguideindex.asp.
Henry Bischofberger Violins Awarded “Best in Western Washington”
ArtsEd Washington business member and sponsor Henry Bischofberger Violins was recently awarded the “Best Musical Instrument Store in Western Washington” by KING5’s Evening Magazine.
Henry Bischofberger is a third generation violin maker. He brings over 35 years of experience to his new shop on the Eastside of Lake Washington. Congratulations, Henry and Debbie!
http://best.king5.com/henry-bischofberger-violins/biz/139962?page=1
ArtsEd WA Regional Advisor Wins WAEA Award
ArtsEd Washington congratulates our Regional Advisor and ESD 105 Arts Education Coordinator Aurelio Garcia, recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award from the Washington Art Educator Association.
Additional winners include:
Distinguished Service Award: Lynn Melby, Lee Dagut (ESD 123), and Ted Neth (ESD 123)
Art Educator of the Year: Gale Riley, King’s High School, Seattle Public Schools
Elementary Art Educator of the Year: Jennifer Blackstone, Hilltop Elementary School, Edmonds SD
Middle Level Art Educator of the Year: Linda St. Claire, Lakeside Middle School , Nine Mile Falls SD
Secondary Art Educator of the Year: Mike McClun, Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee Public Schools
State of the Arts in Highline Schools: “Not Healthy”
In this op-ed piece published on October 20 in the Highline Times, music educator and jazz artist Sandra Locklear laments the state of arts education in the Highline School District, offers a detailed outline of gains made by the district arts coordinator until the position was eliminated in 2003, and encourages fellow community members to speak up in support of arts education.
http://www.highlinetimes.com/articles/2008/10/20/interact/columnists/column03.txt
Washington State Arts Commission Update
by Lisa Jaret, Arts in Education Program Manager
In a few weeks, WSAC will launch our second statewide survey to K-12 principals to help us assess the state of arts education in our state. This survey is part of our Arts Education Research Initiative (AERI), an ongoing project designed to address two parallel needs: students across the state need more and better arts education, and policy-makers, funders, and arts education providers need more and better data to support good decision-making around arts education resources and programs.
This survey will be sent to K-12 principals through the Association of Washington State Principals (AWSP). If you are a principal, please keep your eyes out for more information coming to you from AWSP, and encourage your colleagues to participate. If you are a teacher, parent, teaching artist, arts education advocate: Please consider forwarding this message to the principal(s) you work with. We need a strong response rate to ensure an accurate picture of arts education across the state.
Results of the research will be published and shared with stakeholders and the general public next year, and I’m pleased that ArtsEd Washington will be a key partner in our dissemination and follow-up efforts.
If you would like any additional information about the AERI project, please contact me at (360) 586-2418 or lisaj@arts.wa.gov.
OSPI - The Arts Update
by AnnRené Joseph, Arts Program Supervisor
Arts Education is alive and well in Washington State. We currently have the systemic structure in place for all students K-12 in all 295 school districts to receive arts instruction that is rigorous, aligned to state standards and research based! We have professional development galore to support arts educators, parents and advocates in this vision.
Join us at the OSPI January Conference in Seattle, January 7-9, 2009, at the Seattle Convention Center for tons of sessions on The Arts!
Learn more at about what is happening at the OSPI to make MORE ARTS happen by visiting our website: http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculumInstruct/Arts. You can also contact me at (360) 725-6365 or annrene.joseph@k12.wa.us.
Washington State Arts Alliance Update
by Mary Langholz, Executive Director
Arts Advocacy Day 2009 in Olympia is just around the corner. This year it will be held a bit earlier on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, to avoid bill cut-off day, so mark your calendars now.
We especially would love for teachers to attend and share the importance of arts education in our state schools. Let your area Arts Day team captain know that you are able to participate. For a list of the statewide area captains, e-mail Tracy Schreiber at staff@wsartsalliance.com.
The 17th Washington Cultural Congress will be held at Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, just outside Leavenworth, on April 27-29, 2009. Once again, get these dates on your calendar and start planning to attend this important convening of 200 statewide arts and arts education leaders and participants.
Be present with your colleagues in helpful peer-to-peer networking workshops and discover together how the arts can play a part in thes challenging economic times. Cultural Congress registration will be available soon on the WSAA/F website: http://www.wsartsalliance.com.
Please note the new address for the Washington State Arts Alliance and Foundation: 1204 Minor Street, Seattle, WA 98101. Our phone number remains the same at 206.448.1909.
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