I’ve long believed that we’re better together—it’s in this spirit that I am excited to announce a professional learning opportunity with the Migrant Education Program (MEP).  My colleague, Ceair St.Onge writes beautifully about our upcoming Art of Belonging Conference,

As educators, we are aware that belonging and identity are crucial to one’s life satisfaction, happiness, mental and physical health, and even longevity.  A sense of belonging also gives us purpose and meaning . . . The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to provide educators, administrators, advocates, and other staff an opportunity to reimagine how they serve migratory students and their families in Washington state.  

Join us August 17 & 18 at the Yakima Convention and Event Center for workshops and keynote addresses about successful educational practices and how to bring the arts into the classroom. Registration is supported by the federally funded MEP with no charge to participants. Free clock hours. Register here.

The conference organizing team includes: OSPI’s Migrant Education Program  and Art Education along with Migrant Student Data Recruitment & Support office, ESD105 ESD,
 ESD123, NWESD 189, NCESD 171,  ArtsWA, Pacific NW Ballet, Seattle Public Schools, WA Art Education Association, WA Music Educators Association, and WA Thespians. 

Enjoy summer and I hope to see you in Yakima!

Janet Hayakawa, Associate Director 
The Arts - Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Janet.Hayakawa@k12.wa.us
Cell/Text: 360-764-6157

Artwork— by Becky Broyles, Co-President, WA Art Education Association.

BIPOC Mental Health Awarness

To further the work of Bebe Moore Campbell (author and teacher), the Mental Health America (MHA) provides resources and tools to connect with community and advocate for more community-led and mentally healthy spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The 2023 theme is Culture, Community, And Connection.

Artwork—“Hope” by S. Holliday, photograph, Superintendent’s High School Art Show, 2016

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching & Learning

This 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Education Technology defines artificial intelligence (AI) and offers insights and policy recommendations about its use in the classroom. It promotes “understanding what these emerging technologies can do to advance educational goals—while evaluating and limiting key risks.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Art Education

The title of this article by Nikhil Ghodke says it all, Balancing the Promise and Peril of AI in Art Education. What is the impact of artificial intelligence on human creativity, innovation and art making? What are the ethical boundaries and responsibilities? Link to the article here.

Arts Integration Resources 

The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM founded in 2013 provides free online resources including podcasts, lessons, videos, guidebooks, articles and toolkits that support the integration of various arts with content from other disciplines.

Connect Visual Arts to Good Thinking

In Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Art Education (2007), the authors set out to systematically investigate what it is that visual arts teachers in arts-based high schools teach in their classes, and how these classes are organized. This resulted in a framework, Studio Habits of Mind.  See the Studio Thinking website for more information, tools and resources.

Out of School Time Arts 

Don’t Dictate, Collaborate: Achieving Equity in Arts Education is a research brief by Virgina Vitzthum (Wallace Foundation) that looks at out-of-school time (OST) arts programs as important to addressing educational inequity through “hands-on learning, creative self-expression and play, as well as community-based care practices.” This Wallace Foundation brief is based on Building arts education policy using the tools of out-of-schooltime youth arts organizations by Erica Halverson, Kailea Saplan, & Caitlin K. Martin.

John Legend in Concert

See John Legend perform in a solo concert in Basel, Switzerland. Legend is an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) award winner, the first African American man to receive this exceptional honor.

Read About Dance 

Linda Murray is the Jerome Robbins Dance Division Curator at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. She shares her recommendations for books about dance. Check them out here.

Place Music at the Center of Learning 

Dedicated to supporting cultural diversity, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings presents a new initiative that provides music collections, lesson plans and more to bring a multidisciplinary approach to classroom instruction. Organized by an interactive map, find music experiences from the Smithsonian Folkways’ Network of Music Educators.

Visit Artist Tauba Auerbach

Watch Tauba Auerbach work in their studio creating spontaneous drawings with a “knit structure.” This short video demonstrates a wisdom embedded in techniques and procedures of making art.

OSPI Resources 

Universal Design for Learning & The Arts – background information, videos, tips and tools

Arts Collection on the Washington Open Educational Resources (OER) Hub—standards-aligned lesson plans and resources.

WA Youth Arts Leadership—Deadline July 16

Washington Youth Arts Leadership (WAYAL) Program is a yearly cohort of youth and young adults (ages 16-19) from across Washington State. Young artists in the program explore arts and arts administration careers with mentors in the field. Applications are open now.

Conference Aug 17 & 18 -- REGISTER NOW!

OSPI’s Migrant and Arts Education Programs are working together to offer the “Art of Belonging” Conference for educators, administrators, advocates and other staff at the Yakima Convention Center. The ultimate goal of this professional development is to reimagine how we serve migratory students and their families. Click here for more information and to register. All interested educators are encouraged to participate. Thanks to Title I, Part C, there is no charge for conference registration. Clock hours available.

Call for Student Designers

High school student designers and creatives are invited to apply to be considered for High Fashion High, a teenage fashion show at this Fall’s Bumbershoot (September 2 -3). Workshops and mentorships will help student designers improve their skills and learn more about the art and fashion industry.

Contact highfashionhighbubmershoot@gmail.com with questions, and click here to apply.

Call for Student Performing Artists

The U.S. Department of Education is issuing a “call” across the United States and its territories for student performing artists who are currently enrolled in elementary, secondary, or post-secondary schools 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 Department-hosted events.  Student performances can be, but are not limited to, bands/marching bands, color guards, soloists, choirs, dancers, poets/spoken word artists, and theatrical performers. Learn more and start a submission here.

Arts for All—Join the Movement!

OSPI, the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), Inspire Washington,  Arts Ed Washington and the Creative Advantage have formed the Arts for All (A4A) Coalition to ensure that all PreK-12 students in Washington State have access to quality arts learning.  A4A seeks to achieve this by developing statewide arts leadership, collecting and analyzing arts education data, and supporting educators and teaching artists through professional learning opportunities. Sign up to stay informed.

  Save these Dates!

• “Art of Belonging” Migrant and Arts Education Conference at the Yakima Convention Center, Aug 17-18. Register here.
• WA State Elementary Music Professional Development Calendar organized by the Washington Music Educators Association