Arts in Education Week 2016

September 11-17, 2016 is National Arts in Education Week! It’s a week to celebrate and promote all the benefits we know come from Arts Education. As Congress states in its official proclamation:

"Arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate and express ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom."

One of the many joys of being associated with increasing access to arts education is witnessing the results when people connect with the life-changing power of creativity. Talk about a day-brightener when you open an email to read,

“This COMPAS residency provides an authentic voice for students to share. They struggle in middle school believing that they have something worth saying. Their work with spoken word artist Frank Sentwali proved to them that they truly are empowered.” – Southview Middle School

That’s what arts education does: empowers people through their own creativity.

We are excited about a new Creative Classroom program this school year that breaks down walls between art and other areas of study. Over 1300 public school students across Minnesota will connect with COMPAS actors and playwrights to create theater pieces that address a topic that is meaningful to their community*. Five schools chose to explore the many cultures in their school; one will learn about Native American cultures; and another will take on an environmental issue.

We know these programs will prepare students to be innovative thinkers and give them a new way to communicate complex ideas. We can’t wait to see how engaging in creating theater – not just observing someone else doing it – helps students’ gain skills they can build on and use their entire life.

Celebrate #ArtsEdWeek by sharing this post; tagging us on social media and letting us know what you have accomplished #BecauseOfArtsEd; or booking a COMPAS program.

You can also nominate a school to win our art supply giveaway!

We're once again taking nominations for schools interested in receiving a batch of new and gently used arts supplies donated by COMPAS artists and staff! The donation will be a mix of items from all disciplines.

Nominate a school on our Facebook page by adding a comment to a post. Be sure to include the name of the school you are nominating. We'll put all the names in a bowl, and draw one at random. COMPAS can provide delivery to schools in the Greater Metro Area. Schools outside that area should be prepared to provide their own supply transportation.

Deadline is September 30, 2016!

* This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

By COMPAS staff member Joan Linck