Invitation for college students studying arts education
The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative is inviting pre-service teachers to attend the Summit on Arts Education at USM, July 29-31. Please read the details below and if you have any questions contact York Middle School Music Educator Jen Etter at jetter@yorkschools.org or Marshwood Middle School Art Educator Melanie Crowe at melanie.crowe@rsu35.org.
Professional Development Opportunity for Teaching Artists Interested in PK-12
Gretchen Berg, Teaching Artist and Director of Ovations Offstage, presenting a workshop at the Statewide Arts Ed conference
This summer, the New England Summit on Arts Education will take place on the University of Southern Maine Portland campus, July 29-31. The Summit is designed to provide an outstanding collaborative opportunity for educators to dig deep into teaching, learning, and assessment in arts education including student-centered classrooms and proficiency.
The Summit is offered through the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative which was established in 2010 and has been responding to the needs of arts education ever since. The overall focus of the MAAI has been to create an environment in Maine where quality assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to improve teaching and learning, and student achievement in the arts.
During the past three summers MAAI has offered opportunities to PreK-12 visual and performing arts teachers who make a commitment to take on a leadership role beyond the summer work. This year we are broadening the work to include others who make a commitment to educating young people in the arts. Teaching artists are invited to attend the Summit as part of a team or as an individual.
The Summit offers the following:
For detailed information about the New England Summit on Arts Education click here.
Teaching Artists Scholarships Available
The Maine Arts Commission is offering scholarships for a limited number of Teaching Artists to apply to participate in the New England Summit on Arts Education. The application deadline for scholarships is June 9, 2014.
To be eligible for a New England Summit on Arts Education Teaching Artist Scholarship, an artist cannot be employed by a school district as an arts educator.
As a scholarship recipient, teaching artists are required to:
Once the final plan is submitted and approved the teaching artist will be added to the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist Roster and receive a stipend.
Please click here for the scholarship application located near the bottom of the page.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: June 9, 2014
If you have any questions please email the Maine Arts Commission Director of Arts Education Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov or call 207.287.2713.
The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative is guided by the State of Maine Learning Results legislation Chapter 125 for the visual and performing arts which includes these four disciplines: dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.
In 2015, Arts Learning Grant applicants will be encouraged and given extra consideration if partnering with a Teaching Artist who is listed on the Roster.
Aroostook county Music educator Pam Kinsey makes a statement!
The following post was contributed by K-12 music educator Pam Kinsey who teaches in Easton, Maine. Easton is in Aroostook county, about a 20 minute drive east of Presque Isle. There are several arts educators in Maine who teach K-12, many in rural areas. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) makes a commitment to all arts educators in Maine providing professional development opportunities for rural, urban, and everything in between. Pam has served on the MAAI leadership team for 2 years representing Maine Music Educators Association. The leadership team is thrilled that Pam will be attending the New England Summit on Arts Education at USM, July 29, 30, 31 and August 1. This is Pam’s first summer joining the professional development opportunity and we all hope that you can join us as well!
How to write a blog post? I guess you just start to write down your thoughts. Are you part of a small or rural school system? Are you a department of one? What do you think when they say (for professional development days): ‘We are going to work by department” and you think ‘hmmmm….me, myself and I—again. What if you could be part of a team? Perhaps develop curriculum and rubrics, lesson plans and grading strategies with others from your discipline? Tackle standards-based learning outcomes with someone who has the same struggles and celebrations that you encounter on a daily basis? The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) probably has something for you! For many years (over 20!)
I have been a department of one. The neighboring town now has a music department of one and the communities two over from my district each have music departments of one. What a great idea if we could all collaborate to create meaningful instruction that aligns at least with one another as we pore over new curriculum expectations and standards-based outcomes? Often, our populations are transitory and some students travel freely from district to district, depending on a parent’s current situation. I, for one, would love to avoid the gaps that all of this moving can create for students, as well as a seamless flow of curriculum through the grade levels for students that don’t move around. I would like to do this in a group of more than one!
The MAAI is responding to feedback and offering the ‘New England Summit on Arts Education’ this summer, July 29, 30, 31, USM, Portland, and it has opportunities for individuals and teams to work together to problem solve these and other aspects of teaching and learning for our students in the arts. I already have a few choices in mind of other music educators that I can contact and I can only hope that they will share my interest. If not, I know that when I attend I will still find others who share my concerns and attitudes toward wanting to provide the best education in the arts that I can and these people will become part of my learning community. Either way I am sure it will be a win-win opportunity for my students and for me!
For more information on the New England Summit please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/NESummit#. Registration is now open with an early bird discount for those who register by May 30. The Summit is being customized to meet your needs. There is a team discount for those who register with at least from a district. The team strand is not only open to PreK-12 district Visual and Peforming Arts teachers and classroom teachers, but also to administrators, teaching artists, community cultural organizations or institute members, parents, and/or school board members. Check out the link above to learn more.
If you are interested in joining the MAAI as a teacher leader please attend the 3-day Summit and the additional day for teacher leaders only, August 1. If you have questions about the Summit and/or being a teacher leader, please contact Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Harlow Gallery
Contact: Nancy Barron at the Harlow Gallery. 207-622-3813,
kvaa@harlowgallery.org, http://www.harlowgallery.org
Exhibition Dates: March 8-29, 2014
Opening reception: Saturday, March 8, 12-5pm
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday noon to 6pm. Also by chance or by appointment (call 622-3813).
Free and open to the public
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Young at Art: celebrating artists in grades K-8
“Ipcar Cat” mixed media by Kristin of Windsor Elementary School, submitted by her art teacher Genevieve Keller
The public is invited to Young at Art, our 11th annual exhibition of children’s artwork, when area students in grades K -8 have their work on display in the professional setting of the Harlow Gallery at 160 Water Street in Hallowell. Each year the gallery invites art teachers from elementary and middle schools from throughout the greater Augusta area to select their best student art to be featured in this community-wide celebration of talented young artists. Schools serving the following communities are participating: Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Readfield, Richmond, Monmouth, Palermo and Windsor.
The exhibition, on view March 8-29, 2014, is free and open to the public. Hours at the Harlow Gallery are Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 6pm.
The public is invited to the opening reception on Saturday, March 8 between 12-5pm. Light refreshments available. Please join us in celebrating the youngest artists in our community — families with children especially encouraged to attend. Artists and their families and friends are requested to attend according to the following schedule to avoid overcrowding:
12 – 2pm – artists in kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade
2-4 pm – artists in 3rd, 4th & 5th grade
3-5 pm – artists in 6th, 7th & 8th grade
New this year! The Harlow Gallery’s annual showcase of high school artists, Higher Forms of Art is being presented in partnership with the University of Maine at Augusta, in the spirit of connecting and celebrating art, artists and community. The show will take place at the Gannett Building gallery at 331 Water Street in downtown Augusta from March 14 to April 5, 2014 with an opening reception on Friday, March 14 from 5-7pm. FMI – http://harlowgallery.org/higher-forms-of-art-at-umas-gannett-gallery/
Also new this year and in partnership with University of Maine at Augusta, the Harlow Gallery, working with project organizer Russell Kahn of Camden Hills Regional High School, will present the first annual Maine Statewide High School Ceramic Arts Show in the Gannett building gallery at 331 Water Street in downtown Augusta April 9-26, 2014, with an reception the evening of Wednesday April 9, 5-7pm. FMI – http://harlowgallery.org/high-school-ceramic-arts-show/
Young at Art is being supported by Scrummy Afters Candy Shoppe and Augusta Schools PTAs. All three student art shows have been made possible generous support of our Season Sponsors: The Bank of Maine, Capitol Dental Care, Dead River Co., Great Gatherings, the City of Hallowell, Mr. Brooks Harlow, Jr., the Jennings Family, Kennebec Savings Bank and the Vallee Brothers. Please thank our sponsors for supporting the arts for all ages.
MAAI
Phase 4 of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) will include extended professional development. More information will be available at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/NESummit# as it becomes available. You’re invited to attend….
New England Summit on Arts Education
July 29, 30, 31, August 1, 2014
USM, Portland
$300 for 3 days, day 4 is optional for those interested in being a teacher leader for additional cost
Cost includes access to arts education learning, continental breakfast, lunch & snacks
Contact hours, CEUs, or Graduate credit available
The New England Summit on Arts Education will provide an outstanding opportunity for educators to dig deep into teaching, learning, and assessment in arts education. Please join educators from Maine and beyond for this fabulous 3-day professional development opportunity.
The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) was established in 2011 and has been responding to the needs of arts education ever since. The overall focus of the MAAI has been to create an environment in Maine where assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to improve teaching and learning, and student achievement in the arts.
MAAI has provided professional development during the last three summers to Maine arts educators who wish to take on a leadership role and create a workshop to present to arts teachers across the state. The initiative has been building capacity by training arts educators on the “what” and “how” of arts assessment and finding the balance of formative and summative assessment, so they can provide the leadership in Maine through professional development opportunities.
During the next phase of the MAAI the goals will expand in response to teacher feedback and is offering a 3 or 4-day summit. The summit is designed to meet the needs of teachers and the workshops will be on such important topics as proficiency, standards-based, student-centered, leadership, advocacy, creativity, 21st century skills and much more.
There will be multiple opportunities for networking as we broaden our knowledge in arts education. The Summit is a perfect opportunity for those who want to learn the core principles or advance further into the Arts Assessment field.
Participants will be able to choose one of three strands based on experience.
Strand # 1 – Developing Teacher Leader This strand is designed primarily for teachers (teaching artists or arts educators) who have not already been involved in the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative and would like more of a foundation in arts assessment, and connections with teaching and learning. This strand is also for teachers in Maine who would like to become a Teacher Leader for the MAAI. The 4th day is required to become a Teacher Leader.
Strand 1 is open to any participant (from Maine or beyond).
Strand #2 – Arts Assessment Team. This strand is designed for a team to arrive with ideas that will be developed into an arts education plan to be implemented when returning to school/district. The work accomplished during the summit could be similar to Strand #1 or #3 but will be customized to the team’s needs, individualizing your team plan. Consider possibilities when forming your team. K-12 district VPA teachers, classroom teacher, an administrator, a teaching artist, community cultural organization or institute member, parent, and/or school board member.
Strand 2 is open to any team (from Maine and other states, at least 2 participants per team)
Strand # 3 – Arts Assessment in Practice Strand. This strand is designed for the individual who is ready to dig deeper into arts assessment, and connections with teaching and learning. Benchmarking, proficiency, fine tuning that perfect lesson or unit, networking with others who are in a similar place.
Strand 3 is open to anyone returning as a Teacher Leader, graduates of arts assessment courses, and anyone who feels they are ready to dig deeper into arts assessment.
Comments from Maine Arts Assessment Summer Institute participants:
Comment about the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative from a Teacher Leader:
me arts ed 