In Today’s News

NCCAS Releases Update on State Arts Standards Adoption

February 16, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) has released a report entitled “The Status of Arts Standards Revisions in the United States since 2014.” The report is the result of an analysis of states who have revised their standards since the publication of the National Core Arts Standards in June 2014.

The National Core Arts Standards for dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts, were created in a transparent inclusive process engaging over 130 arts educators as writers and 6,000 reviewers. These PreK-12 grade-by-grade standards were written to guide educators seeking to provide quality arts education for America’s students, define artistic literacy, and support 21st century skills and college and career readiness.

Commencing in January 2015, NCCAS member organization Americans for the Arts, in partnership with the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, began conducting the research culminating in this report. With the assistance of other NCCAS member organizations, Americans for the Arts interviewed and collected information from more than 270 individuals and organizations from across the nation, including state department of education arts curriculum directors, state arts agencies, and several other public sector partners with expertise in state arts standards revisions.

Jane Best, executive director of the Arts Education Partnership said of the report, “It is affirming to see so many states reviewing, revisiting, and renewing arts education standards. This is a meaningful step to ensuring that all children have exposure to the arts as part of a well-rounded education.”

The report may be downloaded from the resources section of the National Coalition for Core Arts standards interactive home at http://www.nationalartsstandards.org/content/resources.

The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards is an alliance of national arts and arts education organizations dedicated to ensuring quality standards-based arts opportunities for all students. Members include the American Alliance for Theatre in Education; Americans for the Arts; Educational Theatre Association; National Art Education Association; National Association for Music Education; National Dance Education Association; NCCAS Media Arts Committee; and Young Audiences Arts for Learning.

Contact: Cory Wilkerson
Tel: 800-587-6814
Email: projectmanager@seadae.org

So Long Dahlov!

Maine treasure

“I find it hard to explain my art, but then it doesn’t really need explanation. It may seem mysterious or challenging, but all you need to do is to open your heart to the joy and excitement of a new visual experience, to accept a new vision of a world full of the unusual, a world of the creative imagination.”
~ Dahlov Ipcar

Nov 12, 1917 – Feb 10, 2017 painter, illustrator, author

Maine has lost a treasure! For me, Dahlov epitomized the meaning of, “Love what you do, do what you love” creating every day, even painting on the morning she passed away at age 99. I was fortunate to meet Dahlov Ipcar at a Maine Art Education Association spring conference many years ago. I believe it was held at USM Gorham. Anyone remember attending that conference? Dahlov provided the key note and she was brilliant. I remember feeling like we were having a regular personal conversation, exchanging ideas, and discussing life.

From the Portland Press Herald…
In an interview with the Portland Press Herald last fall, Ipcar said she was prepared to die at age 80, but after that milestone she decided she wanted to see the year 2000. Since then, it was “lots of rich cream and milk and butter and eggs and red meat.”
Ipcar had a sharp wit, and was fond of telling people who asked about her age, “I hope I die before I run out of vermilion.”

Take a look at this video that was made when she was 97 years old.

https://vimeo.com/85082665