Mark your calendars for Monday, October 9, 2000, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. All teachers, principals and superintendents interested in learning more about the importance of arts in education, writing a grant application or lending a voice to a peer group session, will be interested in attending the Arkansas Arts Council's ArtLinks 2000: Looking at the Big Picture. This year's conference is dedicated to a detailed examination of how the arts in Arkansas work together with the Arkansas Arts Council. Peer group sessions and a wide range of professional workshops will be featured from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. including the Governor's Arts Awards Luncheon, with a closing reception following the conference.
Teachers will receive eight hours of professional development credit for attending. Sessions of particular interest include:
PER GROUP MEETING: ARTS IN EDUCATION APPLICANTS
Teachers will learn more about arts in education concepts from directors of Arkansas' cultural and community organizations, artists and other teachers as they meet to discuss common issues, identify challenges and share information about their participation in the Arkansas Arts Council's AIE grant program.
WRITING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL
Teachers will learn the basics of submitting a grant proposal to the Arkansas Arts Council. Materials will cover guidelines, application forms and successful grant-writing skills. An overview and example of a successful grant application and arts program will also be presented by the executive director of one of the Arts Council's participating organizations.
USING THE ARTS TO TEACH CORE CURRICULUM
Teachers will learn about the Arts & Science Center of SE Arkansas' development and implementation of a recent Summer Institute for Teachers that focused on teaching Grades 4-6 core science curriculum through the arts. Participation in this session will enhance an understanding of using the arts as a teaching tool, and may inspire some to seek out other such professional development opportunities in the arts. The Center will share some of the lesson plans developed in conjunction with in Institute which were based on expected student outcomes for the Arkansas science standards.
"So You're on the Roster, Now What?
Teachers will be interested in participating with artists and sponsoring organizations new to the Arkansas AIE program as they ask questions and discuss issues pertinent to our program. Expert panelists guiding this useful session will be Mary Brock, Executive Director of the Arts & Science Center of SE Arkansas, Jo Patterson, AIE roster artist, and Donna Wallace, AIE Director for the Batesville Area Arts Council. All three have extensive experience with the Arkansas program.
Other sessions will include workshops on documenting a program, use of volunteers and getting rid of stress and personal clutter.
Cost: Full conference including sessions/workshops, awards luncheon and closing reception is $60.00.
To request a registration form, contact Cynthia Haas at the Arkansas Arts Council at 501-324-9769 or cynthia@dah.state.ar.us. Deadline for registration is Thursday, October 5, 2000 at 4:30 p.m.