<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div>Arts Education Newsletter<br>Issue No. 4 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A publication of the Michigan Youth Arts Leadership Roundtable <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>October 2009 <br>In this issue <br>MYA and Michigan Creates! <br>The expansion of efforts to create a broad coalition to influence arts education policy in the state <br><br>MCACA Coming Together <br>NASAA recap; The Kennedy Center's Any Given Child initiative; The Perpich Center for Arts Education; Michigan Humanities Council's 2009-2010 Poetry Out Loud program <br>MDE Lessons of Effective Instruction <br>New videos posted on the MDE website showcase lessons in visual arts and music <br><br>ArtServe's Art & Cultural Groups <br>Regional meetings in October to discuss 2010 elections and regional arts tie-ins <br><br>National News <br>Art Education Blog-a-Thon; Gates Foundation grants to states <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br>Michigan Youth Arts logoMichigan Creates! <br>School is back in session but throughout Michigan, thousands of students are not receiving equal access to arts education, or any arts education at all. As the organizations that comprise the Michigan Youth Arts Association met in August of this year, they created a unifying arts education policy agenda across disciplines. This agenda is in the midst of action planning and will launch in January of 2010 with endorsements from the statewide arts education organizations. <br><br>As we strengthen this coalition, we invite other arts education organizations and businesses to provide input and be a part of this process that will move arts education forward and ensure the education of the whole child in Michigan. Please contact Kim Dabbs , Executive Director of Michigan Youth Arts, if you are interested in being part of this larger dialog of Arts Education in our state. Together, we can ensure quality arts education for all students in Michigan. <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br><br>MCACAMichigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs <br>Coming Together <br> <br>In early September I traveled to Fargo, ND, for the National Assembly of State Art Agencies (NASAA) Professional Development Institute for state art education managers. This close group of peers meets annually to freshen up on the latest teaching artist practices, research findings, funding initiatives and much more. However, the mood at this year's PDI was noticeably dour. Many - if not most - states have undergone double-digit percentage cuts to their arts budgets, and a few - including Michigan - have come close to elimination. By the time this newsletter reaches your inbox, state government should have reached a decision about MCACA's FY 2010 budget and the same, perhaps even tougher fight begins for FY 2011 funding. Legislators and the governor's office need to continue hearing from teachers, parents, school boards and community leaders, as we head into this important election year. <br> <br>On a positive note, I learned about some exciting national developments. Check out the Kennedy Center's new initiative, Any Given Child , (202) 416-8806. Kennedy Center staff members would work with community leaders and school administrators in a Community Team to develop a long-range plan for arts education that is tailor-made for their school district. I would be happy to help bring potential partners together and facilitate applying for this program. <br> <br>Also check out website resources of the Perpich Center for Arts Education , one of the main presenters/hosts of the PDI. The Perpich Center is a model organization that brings the three key players (schools, community arts organizations and teaching artists) together to strengthen effective, comprehensive arts education in Minnesota. <br> <br>Back home, the 2009-2010 Poetry Out Loud program applications are now available from the Michigan Humanities Council (deadline November 16, 2009). This is an exciting national poetry recitation competition for high school students. By encouraging youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Applications are also being accepted for the MHC's Arts & Humanities Touring Program to bring teaching artists and performers to your school or community. <br><br><br>Carolyn Damstra <br><a href="mailto:damstrac@michigan.gov">damstrac@michigan.gov</a> <br>(517) 241-3968 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br>Michigan Department of EducationMichigan Department of Education posts Lessons of Effective Instruction Videos for Professional Development <br><br>The Curriculum and Instruction Unit in the Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation has posted a series of videotaped Lessons of Effective Instruction and related documents to the Michigan Department of Education website. <br><br>The Lessons of Effective Instruction were developed by and feature Michigan teachers engaged with teaching and learning in their own elementary, middle and high school classrooms. These lessons were designed for use by teachers, schools, or districts, individually or in groups, to model, problem-solve, and spark reflection and professional learning. Each lesson is accompanied by a PDF document with questions that will generate reflection and discussion. <br><br>The lessons incorporate Fred Newmann's widely accepted Standards for Teaching and Learning (higher-order thinking, deep knowledge, substantive conversation, and connections to the world beyond the classroom) and meet Standards, Benchmarks, and Grade Level/Course Content Expectations and Guidelines. <br><br>The videotaped lessons include two high school arts lessons (music and visual arts) that are aligned to the Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Credit Guidelines. Additional arts lessons in outline form will be posted in the coming months. <br><br>To access these lessons and bookmark them for future use, visit the MDE website . <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br>Artserve LogoArts & Cultural Groups Gearing Up for 2010 Election <br>October Statewide Meetings to Analyze Regional Issues <br><br>ArtServe Michigan will be conducting four regional meetings around the state next month in October. All four meetings will focus on the upcoming 2010 elections while analyzing the regional issues which are currently most affecting the state's arts and cultural sector during these trying economic times. <br> <br>Michigan's 2010 election year is sure to change the face of the state's political landscape dramatically. With term limits preventing Governor Granholm, Attorney General Cox, Secretary of State Land and many other legislative leaders from running for a third term, groups across Michigan like the state's arts and cultural sector, have an unprecedented opportunity to reintroduce themselves and their priorities to a fresh new crop of leaders that will be elected into office next year. <br> <br>ArtServe Michigan plans to utilize next month's round of regional meetings to share important information regarding relevant public policy initiatives, upcoming professional development opportunities and other news related to Michigan's arts and cultural communities. In-depth discussions with constituents and community stakeholders will be facilitated at the regional meetings, focusing on the critical issues affecting the state's battered arts and cultural organizations and programs including leadership, resources and advocacy. <br> <br>Governor Granholm will be developing her 2010-11 budget this fall and will likely try to zero out the state's arts and cultural program funding once again as she did earlier this year in her state budget recommendations. After proposing a $6.1 million cut to the state's arts budget, Governor Granholm recently issued Executive Order No. 2009-36 abolishing the State Department of History, Arts and Libraries, placing the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) within the Michigan Strategic Fund under the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). ArtServe Michigan believes that this recent move of MCACA into MEDC, along with the Governor's $6.1 million budget slash, are short-sighted gains that significantly hurt Michigan's future path to success and economic recovery. <br> <br>Mike Latvis, ArtServe Michigan's Director of Public Policy, will be on site at many of next month's regional meetings to lead the discussions in person. Latvis plans to take the outcomes from these regional meeting discussions and produce four analysis documents which will provide a "bird's eye view" of the most important issues facing Michigan's arts and cultural communities, along with strategies to support the thousands of concerned citizens across the state who are ready to take coordinated action on behalf of arts, culture, arts education and creativity in Michigan. <br> <br>To register for the regional meeting closest to you, use our online registration form . For more information on ArtServe's regional meetings, contact Simon Perazza, ArtServe Michigan's Director of Constituent Relations, by email at <a href="mailto:simon@artservemichigan.org">simon@artservemichigan.org</a> or by phone at (517) 980-1839. <br> <br>ArtServe Michigan's October Regional Meeting Dates and Locations <br>Thursday Oct. 15th, 1-4PM, Midland Center for the Arts , Midland, MI <br><br>Tuesday Oct. 20th, 1-4PM, Marquette Arts and Culture Office , Marquette, MI <br> <br>Tuesday Oct. 27th, 9AM-12PM, Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids , Grand Rapids, MI <br> <br>Wednesday Oct. 28th, 1-4PM, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center , Birmingham, MI <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br>National News <br><br>National Arts Education BLOG-A-THON <br>Last week, 30 arts education experts from around the country blogged daily on Americans for the Arts' new arts education blog and webpage . <br><br>The authors discussed steps each reader can take to ensure the children in their family, schools or community have access to a great arts education. <br><br>Bloggers included members of the Arts Education Council of Americans for the Arts; Lucia Brawley, activist, actress, and writer for the Huffington Post; emerging leaders Jenna Lee and Kim Willey, both of Washington, DC; Mike Blakeslee from MENC; state advocacy leaders; state department of education staff; teaching artists; local program experts; and, other folks from all over the country. Read below for the full list. <br><br>There's still an opportunity to weigh in with comments, offer your own opinions and present yourself as an expert for readers around the country. <br><br>Arts Education Salon Bloggers, September 21-25, 2009 <br>Arnold Aprill, Lucia Brawley, Donna Collins, Rob Davidson, Gary DeVault, Maureen Dwyer, David Flatley, Merryl Goldberg, Lisa Hoitsma, Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Anne Katz, Jenna Lee, Jessica Mele, Marcia Neel, MacEwen Patterson, Laura Reeder, Patti Saraniero, Victoria Saunders, Andrea Temkin, Steven Tennen, Lynn Tuttle, Kim Wille <br><br>Gates Foundation Offers Help to States That Meet Reform Criteria <br>As reported by the California Alliance for Arts Education <br>Education Week reports that The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which provided funding to help 15 states prepare Race to the Top applications, is now offering assistance to the remaining states, if they meet education reform criteria that mirror those of the Obama administration.<br></div></div><br></body></html>