arts are not dessert

In a well-balanced educational diet, the arts are not dessert. Stories from the arts education field curated by The Center for Arts Education.  

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Lin-Manuel Miranda: “Arts Education…Saved My Life” | 98.7WFMT

Lin-Manuel Miranda has impacted many lives through his Pulitzer Prize-winning work Hamilton: An American Musical. Recently, Miranda revealed how the arts have impacted him, saying that arts education, “saved my life.” The …

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Can testing save arts education?

KINGSTON, N.H. — It sounded like an ordinary assignment for a visual arts class: Teacher Karen Ladd asked her freshmen at Sanborn Regional High School to research an artist, create a piece of ar

“The push to find the best way to test the arts is coming from arts educators themselves in many instances. They hope to foster not only student improvement, but also a sense that the arts are as valuable to curriculum and society as such long-tested subjects as math and reading.” 

Agree? Disagree?

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How to Teach Your Children to Care about Art

Over the past decade, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has found strong evidence showing that art can have a positive effect on young children (infants through eight-year-olds). A December 2015 NEA literature review conducted by program analyst Melissa Menzer, for example, found connections between the arts—including music, theater, visual arts, and literature—and social and emotional skills such as “helping, caring, and sharing activities.”

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In China, Some Schools Are Playing With More Creativity, Less Cramming

Local governments are allowing schools to experiment with new teaching methods. Educators hope to develop self-motivated, critical thinkers.

China is bringing innovative methodology in the classroom to motivate and engage kids in their learning. 

“Zhang Liang’s inspiration to go into education came from what he witnessed during the devastating Sichuan earthquake of 2008, which killed nearly 70,000 people.“He noticed that mental strength and resilience were often a matter of life and death, and became determined to put humanity and humanism back into education, in order to prepare students for life's challenges.”

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Florida District Expands Arts in Schools

The future third-graders attending Super Summer Academy classes at Reynolds Lane Elementary didn't seem to notice they were learning about the environment, nutrition and math in their art and music classes.

“They thought they were just dancing to a video about food, practicing singing Joni Mitchell’s song about paving paradise for parking lots, and drawing symmetric honeybee portraits.”

“There was an issue of inequity prior to this initiative,” Vitti said. The amount of instruction provided in our elementary schools was not adequate and varied widely across the district … Some students did not have access to music or art at some elementary schools and some middle schools did not offer either one.”

“Students also become more motivated and engaged in school through participation in arts courses. Many students who might struggle in other academic courses find success through the arts and develop the personal pride, discipline and perseverance necessary to succeed in all academic areas.”

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Four Reasons to Keep Your Kid Engaged in Art This Summer by Robin Winningham http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/health-family/moms/article86812002.html 

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Goodbye 'Core Subjects,' Hello 'Well-Rounded Education'

ESSA elevates arts, social studies, music, and other key subjects, but educators will have to work with lawmakers to ensure that the NCLB era is truly over.

Read this great piece about the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replacing the much maligned No Child Left Behind (NCLB) This is great news for arts education across the country.

Secretary of Education John King declares, “ that while literacy and math skills were “necessary for success in college and in life…they’re not by themselves sufficient. A more well-rounded education is critical for a safe, supportive and enjoyable learning environment.” and this includes, by law, the ARTS!

But the battle for equity in arts education continues...

“But Educators need to inform themselves on the opportunities within ESSA. Otherwise, changes will come about under ESSA, just maybe not what is best for all students”.

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In a world of fear and loathing, we need art more than ever

Attempts to downgrade the importance of art in education are plain wrong. Creativity is transforming lives, and always will

From Great Britain; “...just as there seems to be a surge in loathing, squabbling, fear and treachery, and we need the arts more than ever.” “...choosing arts will give them the strength to wade through the ever-increasing ordure that the world will be throwing at them.”

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Students learn the heartbeat of music, math

A class for children uses music to teach mathematics at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint.

Without math there would be no music! Combining arts education and math to the community. Read on!

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'Subway Sleepers' are the stars of an upcoming photo exhibit by Brooklyn Heights artist Linda Kessler | Brooklyn Daily Eagle

'Subway Sleepers' are the stars of an upcoming photo exhibit by Brooklyn Heights artist Linda Kessler

Catch this while you can-”Subway Sleepers” exhibition runs from June 23 - June 26 Downstairs Gallery at La Mama, 66 E. 4th St. in the East Village.

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White House Turnaround Arts Talent Show

The White House

Please check out The Turnaround Arts Talent Show in the White House. Very inspiring! We are glad to know this program will continue after this administration is gone. They are moving it to the Kennedy Center.

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An Artist's Perspective: Arts Education Must Be Protected

According to Johns Hopkins researchers, in a study entitled "Neuroeducation: Learning, Art & the Brain" students with arts education excel at a greater rate

As a teenager, arts educators taught me about a world beyond my block, where open thought, creativity, and work ethic would give me a good life. By guiding me and opening up the natural creativity that every kid has, they helped me prosper and find self-worth."

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Stars Reflect on Arts Education Programs That Shaped Their Success

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Not just for kids: art facilitates learning and reinforces critical thinking skills at all stages of life

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Brooklyn Museum Puts Artwork From Its Critics on Display

Artists have said that the museum plays a role in gentrification; some of their work is now included in a show of political art.

Arts Are Not Dessert-in education or in life. Read about how local artists have inspired the Brooklyn Museum to think in a new way about a matter close to home.

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The Importance of Art in Child Development

In recent years, school curricula in the United States have shifted heavily toward common core subjects of reading and math, but what about the arts? Although some may regard art education as a lux...