Read all the research, news, and policy in our arts education RECAP for October 2020.
Research
Creativity Is Not a Soft Skill — It Is a Must-Have Mindset for the 21st Century. How Teachers Can Nurture It in Their Students “Creativity comprises the behavior, actions and interpretations of how we relate to and experience the world. It is a habit, and one we can exercise. It is not a soft skill, so it’s time to stop thinking about creativity as nice to have and start remembering that creativity is essential.” The 74
New Research Report Reflects Importance of Arts Education “The 2018-2019 Partnering Arts, Communities, and Education PACE Project Report reflects a collection of data on student growth and shows that, through arts integration, students are gaining knowledge, skills, and understanding in the arts and in literacy skills. This research demonstrates that the arts create important pathways to learning for students and that learning through the arts produces long-lasting, positive impacts.” WBIW
Equity
Workshop: Why Race? A racial equity learning journey “Racial equity is the center point for the CAC’s equity journey. in this 90-minute workshop, we invite our creative communities across the state to share, listen, reflect, and iterate together on racial equity commitments.” California Arts Council
As Budget Cuts Loom, Sustaining the Arts is Among K-12 Challenges “Schools and districts may also want to consider linking arts with other academic areas unlikely to face cuts to ensure arts education remains available to students. The shift from STEM to STEAM, which integrates the arts into science, technology, engineering and mathematics, looks at the way creative thinking can impact these other disciplines.” Education Dive
Calls-to-Action
Grants for Individual Artists of all Disciplines for Creative Endeavors “Arts & Culture Association (IACA) Mini-Grants generally average $250, and are intended to assist with such things as: art supplies, recording studio time, exhibits, performances, project related expenses, etc.” The deadline is October 23, 2020. California Arts Council
Disaster Relief Resources for California Artists & Communities “The California Arts Council maintains this webpage dedicated to resources for Californians who have been affected by recent natural disasters in our state.” California Arts Council
Advocacy
Engaging with Your School Board in the 2020 General Election “The majority of K-12 students are not old enough to vote, but the results of local and national elections heavily affect our educations. This election, we’re contributing to historic youth voter turnout by emphasizing the races that have the most immediate impact on students’ lives: school boards.” Student Voice
Local Advocacy Webinar Series There are several webinars coming up including “Importance of Local Advocacy in School Board Races” on October 14 and Rural Arts Education Strategies on October 22. California Alliance for Arts Education
What Can Arts Education Do for the Young? Let Us Count the Ways Check out these graphics, plans, and talking points made possible by Americans for the Arts that can help you grow as an art advocate. American Theatre
Policy
Integrating the Arts to Ensure All Students Can Engage in Learning “Research shows that students benefit from the opportunity to engage in the arts every day. However, the critical need for equity-centered, trauma-informed care and social and emotional learning experiences places high demands on teachers. These demands, coupled with the stress of providing remote teaching and learning, require new strategies for engaging all students. The arts can act as both a catalyst for engagement and a path for learning across disciplines.” EdNote
Arts Curriculum for the Actual Arts Economy “The fundamental responsibility to ready students for a sustainable arts career remains unchanged. But are the arts curricula of colleges and universities embedded with the skills students will actually need?” Inside Higher Ed
With Help from NY Times’ 1619 Project, Newark Students Grapple with Legacy of Slavery “Newark’s adoption of the 1619 materials is part of a larger effort to reevaluate and revamp the curriculum used in schools. This spring, the district selected new English, math, social studies, and science textbooks, opting for those that celebrate the cultures of Newark’s students, who are mainly black and Hispanic.” Chalkbeat
