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The Iowa Department of Education is holding a K-12 art contest to reimagine Iowa's education license plate.
The contest is open now, and student artwork is due to their teachers by December 1. Student submissions should meet the following minimum requirements:
- The details of the artwork are discernible from a distance
- The artwork features bold colors which complement the existing plate colors (skyline, grass, border, etc.); colors are otherwise unlimited
- The artwork features bold imagery and well-defined shapes
- The image is, or can be resized to, 2.875" wide x 3" tall.
- The artwork is appropriately balanced
- The details of the artwork adhere to scale and proportion
- The artwork is unique
- The artwork is original (NO COPYRIGHTED IMAGERY)
- The artwork symbolically evokes teaching and/or education
- The accompanying CONSENT AND RELEASE form has been completed and signed by the student (and parent, if the student is under 18 at the time of submission)
Teachers of art and graphic design will then select and submit up to ten artworks for blind adjudication by a panel of art teachers from around the state. If you are interested in serving as an adjudicator, please email kris.versteegt@iowa.gov.
Please visit this link for more information and the contest's submission documents.
I would like to thank Liz Bloomberg (Waukee), Allison Krook (Ankeny), Allison Mastroddi (Ames), and Morgan Singleton (Clarke) for their assistance in designing this opportunity.
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The U.S. Department of Education has a Student Performing Arts Initiative and maintains an ongoing repository of student performing arts talent which may be matched to specific events that amplify the mission and initiatives of the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The USDOE has received many talent submissions and would like to ensure that all states and territories are represented.
As such, the USDOE is issuing a 2024-25 Back-to-School call across the United States and its territories for student performing artists who are currently enrolled in institutions of elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education or accredited trade schools, who exemplify resilience, diversity, and excellence and are interested in showcasing their talent, virtually or in-person, at internal and external USDOE-hosted events.
The USDOE is seeking student performances including but not limited to bands/marching bands, color guards, soloists, choirs, dancers, poets/spoken word artists, National Anthem singers, and theatrical performers.
The USDOE is also seeking specific talent to support National Hispanic Heritage Month (September), National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October), National Native American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November), as well as several other Special Emphasis Observances.
For additional information that includes Frequently Asked Questions, submission instructions, and other related guidance, please visit https://cvent.me/8wn9ZE, Related questions and requests for reasonable accommodation to complete submissions can be directed to studentart@ed.gov
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As fine arts specialists, we know that artistic behavior is creative, performative, responsive, and connective. We also know that creating a truly original artwork—in any artistic discipline—is incredibly time consuming.
One thing we often overlook is self-directed exploration and imaginative play with materials. This is creativity too. Instead, most fine arts teachers jump to the “right way” right away—the right way to play a hand drum, the right way to use a marker—and with good reason: using materials incorrectly can damage them, and materials are expensive.
When you allow students to explore the materials that they are using, their improvisations are empowered and informed, and their compositions improve as a result. This is true whether the students are creating original dance, media art, music, theatre art, or visual art. To that end, have you ever considered having a collection of materials that are intended for this work?
To get started, you could simply keep materials (e.g., bent mallets, shedding paintbrushes, etc.) that you would otherwise discard, and direct them to be used for exploration. Or, you could ask your parent group to fund extra durable (and extra pricy) materials to be reserved for this purpose. Finally, explicitly teach students what not to do with the materials but leave what to do otherwise open for interpretation.
This December, ornaments created by students at Ruthven-Ayrshire CSD will be displayed, among others, at President’s Park, D.C. In sum, the display is likely to include more than 2,000 ornaments from students around the United States and territories as well as from schools managed by the Bureau of Indian Education and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Each ornament will celebrate a student’s individual artistic expression, choice of media, and their unique perspective on what is special about the place they call home.
Iowa’s contribution to the display will be coordinated by Ashley Ellenwood, the art teacher at Ruthven-Ayrshire CSD.
The Iowa Association of Alternative Education (IAAE) hosts a website in which students enrolled in alternative education can submit their visual art, writing, music, or films for an adjudicated contest before each of their April conferences. If you serve students in alternative education, you may direct them to iowaaltedmandala.weebly.com for more information, examples, and/or to submit their work.
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The Iowa Communication Association will be holding their annual conference on September 27-28 on DMACC’s Urban Campus. Attendees can expect sessions designed to explore adapting our teaching and learning to stay relevant through the evolution of the communication field. Possible panel topics include adapting communication strategies to changing audience preferences and societal trends, exploring how emerging technologies influence communication channels and content, and navigating the tension between staying relevant and maintaining ethical standards. Visit iowacommunication.org for registration information.
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The Art Educators of Iowa, in conjunction with the Art Educators of Minnesota, will hold their annual professional development conference on September 27-28 at North Iowa Community College in Mason City. The conference will feature keynote speakers Joe Fusaro and Akwi Nji, a focus on presenting artwork and connecting artwork to its personal and sociocultural historical context, an opportunity to visit twenty artist studios, and so much more.
Join the Iowa High School Speech Association at the Gateway Hotel in Ames on October 11-12 for IHSSA + YOU: REACH FOR THE STARS! The annual convention will offer a cosmic collection of workshops, sessions, and a galaxy of speech, theatre, and debate connections. The two-day event is a supercluster of best practices and spheres that offer an abundance of light and stellar direction for speech participation and student success. UNI credit is available. For additional information contact the ihssa.org website or reach out to stacy@ihssa.org.
This November, the American Orff Schulwerk Association will hold its annual national conference at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. If you are interested in research-based strategies, engaging student creativity, and experiencing high-quality performance groups, this conference is for you. Registration and information are available at aosa.org.
On November 15-16, Iowa Thespians will host nearly 1,000 Iowa high school theatre students at the University of Northern Iowa to celebrate the 2024 Iowa Thespian Festival. During the festival, students from around the state will have several opportunities to perform, learn about, and watch incredible theatre. Registration for participating schools is now open. To learn more, visit iowathespians.org
The Iowa Music Educators Association will hold their annual professional development conference November 21-23 at Iowa State Center in Ames. This conference features more than 60 sessions addressing all levels of music education from early childhood through higher education. Attendees will choose from tracks including choral, instrumental (band/orchestra), general music, technology, new teacher/collegiate, innovative music education, and best practices. Visit iamea.org for registration information and session schedule.
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On Saturday, November 23, the Iowa High School Music Association and Iowa Music Educators Association—co-sponsors of the event—will hold the annual Iowa All-State Music Festival Concert at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. The concert will feature Dr. Rebecca Phillips of Colorado State University conducting the All-State Band, Dr. Jeffery Ames of Belmont University conducting the All-State Chorus, and Ms. Kayoko Dan of Sam Houston State University conducting the All-State Orchestra. Watch ihsma.org for ticketing information.
Kris VerSteegt, PhD
Education Program Consultant, Fine Arts
Bureau of Learner Strategies and Supports
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-371-0410
kris.versteegt@iowa.gov
https://educate.iowa.gov
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