Conferences Underway

Super day at MICA

Kate Smith, Kara Plank from the South Berwick Lantern Fest, Argy Nestor

Yesterday was full of excitement at USM. Three opportunities were under way as part of the Pre Maine International Conference on the Arts.

The 2018 Maine State Teacher of the Year, Kaitlin Young, provided an engaging keynote at the Arts Education Pre-Conference: At the HEART of Arts Education and seeds of inspiration. Participants created action steps for their work at the school and/or community level. The day started with art, dance, and music making. Lindsay Pinchbeck took the lead on creating lanterns used in ceremony’s around the world. Kate Smith led Jambo Rafiki, an African song with dance created by Nancy Salmon.

Kate Smith, Central School Music Educator (South Berwick), received the Carol Trimble Award for her contribution to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative! Congratulations Kate!

Others participated in the Rural Arts Development Pre-Conference. This Pre-Conference provided hands-on advice, models to emulate and a space to have conversations to address the unique needs of living in the most rural state in the nation.

The day culminated with amazing performances and a Keynote Speaker Maryo Gard Ewell on Rural Community Development in and Through the Arts.

This is the third MICA – the first was held at the University of Maine, Orono, the second in Lewiston, 2016. We’re happy to be on the USM campus.

MICA continues TODAY at USM, Portland campus, Abromson Center! If you have not registered it’s not too late, arrive at the Portland campus at 7:30 to register!

 

John Morris and Nancy Salmon dancing in the processional.