[DOE-Arts] [SpamFilter_ADV?] Arts Newsletter #7

Tue May 1 12:42:19 EDT 2007

ARTS NEWSLETTER #7- 1 MAY 2007
GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at  
the Department of Education
HAPPY MAY!!!

ARTS NEWS
v    I had a wonderful visit to USM during your spring vacation week  
touring the art, music and theatre facility.  I had lunch with the  
Dean and Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and  
several of the arts professors.  We had an interesting conversation  
around arts education topics.  I look forward to working with them.

v    I enjoyed a visit to Washington County for two days where I  
visited with 12 arts teachers at an after school meeting and two  
school districts arts programs.  Once again I saw wonderful  
instruction taking place.

BUDGET SEASON
As you know school districts are in the process of putting together  
budgets.  I often hear the statement: “the arts are not in the EPS  
formula”.  Attached is the link to Title 20-A, Chapter 606-B:  
Essential programs and services which is where you can find  
“Essential programs and services are those educational resources  
that are identified in this chapter for all students to meet the  
standards in the 8 content standard subject areas of the system of  
learning results established in chapter 222”. http:// 
janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec15671.html  Please  
feel free to print this out and distribute to help folks understand.   
Thank you!

SUGGESTION

At this time of year when many of you are having student performances  
and art exhibits, I strongly suggest that you invite each of your  
district’s administrators, school board members, and legislators to  
attend.  It is a wonderful way to include them in “seeing and  
hearing” a part of what happens in the visual and performing arts  
education programs.  And by all means, invite them to your classroom  
and give them a taste of the important work you do.

WINE, CHEESE AND CHOCOLATE
This Friday, May 4th, Maine Alliance for Arts Education is sponsoring  
their third annual Maine Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Extravaganza.  It  
will be held at One Longfellow Square in Portland from 5:00 pm until  
8:00 pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other arts folks  
while supporting the important work of the Maine Alliance.  For  
tickets contact Elizabeth at MAAE, 232-2203 or  
ewatson at maineartseducation.org

ARTS NEWSLETTER

Thirty-five MORE people are receiving this arts newsletter than had  
been two weeks ago.  The number jumped from 363 to 398.  At this rate  
I am certain to exceed my goal of 400 by June 1st.  Thank you to  
those of you who checked with colleagues and sent me email addresses  
to help increase the number.  If you know of anyone who wishes to  
receive the newsletter, please email me argy.nestor at maine.gov

ARTS CONFERENCE-Oct. 5,6, 2007
A state-wide arts conference sponsored by our professional arts  
organizations, Maine Alliance for Arts Education, Maine Arts  
Commission, Maine Music Educators Association, Maine Art Education  
Association, Maine Drama Council, Dance Education in Maine Schools  
and Very Special Arts in partnership with the Department of Education  
will take place at the Samoset in Rockport.  THANK YOU for letting us  
know your plans.  We have about 200 arts educators tentatively  
planning to attend.  We are working on the details (including a  
budget and keynote speaker) and will keep you informed in the next  
month.   You will have plenty of time to register when the  
information becomes available.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
If you are interested, please check out the following two websites  
for grant opportunities http://www.paper-clip.com/edu-funds/
http://www.grantsalert.com/grants.cfm?id=4&gid=4348

WONDERFUL WEBSITES
This link is for a website I have used for about 10 years.  It is  
filled with great resources and it is updated and changed  
periodically.  I hope you find it useful! http://www.free.ed.gov/

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
v   Offered this summer from the Dept of Art at UM.  Five more  
students are needed to run the Sculptural Fibers course taught by  
Andy Mauery.  This is a wonderful opportunity to check out the  
possibilities in fibers, and expand your 3D offerings (low-cost, low  
tech and perfect for the classroom) but haven't had the time for a  
workshop!  This course can be taken at the 400 level, so it is  
possible that you could include it in your graduate program.  Or at  
the 200 level, it might be appropriate for some of your senior or  
advanced students who want to get a good start on college.  For more  
information, you can contact Andy at andy.mauery at umit.maine.edu or by  
calling 581-3249

v    The Maine Humanities Council is offering an interdisciplinary  
institute for Maine teachers to strengthen teaching about East Asia.   
For more information please read the attachment about this wonderful  
opportunity.

Argy’s Arts Blog
A new topic has been added to the blog: What do YOU do to promote  
your visual and/or performing arts programs to insure that they will  
continue to grow?  If you are interested in adding your ideas or to  
reading others, please go to the Arts education blog at http:// 
mearts.edublogs.org/

NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The National Teacher of the Year has just been announced and she is a  
music educator from Washington state.  This is great news for the  
field.  You can read more about Andrea Peterson in the attached article.

IN THE NEWS
Illinois arts program named country's best.  Illinois' Niles Township  
High School District offers the best arts education in the country  
and offers a model that should be broadly implemented, Kennedy Center  
for the Performing Arts officials say. A fine-arts director helps  
integrate arts across the curriculum, studying art mosaics in  
geometry class and honoring arts students alongside athletes.  Read  
more about it by clicking on the first line “Illinois…

QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER
You cannot solve the problem with the same kind of thinking that  
created the problem.
Albert Einstein

Make it a great day,
Argy

Argy Nestor
Visual and Performing Arts Specialist
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
624-6825
fax: 624-6821
argy.nestor at maine.gov

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