February 2007 Newsletter

SMARTS: BRING BACK THE ARTS

CALIFORNIA STATE PTA ONLINE NEWSLETTER

February 2007

SMARTS is California State PTAs program to encourage arts education. The California State PTA wants to create advocates for quality arts education at every school in California. We hope you will spread the word about the benefits of arts education. Please e-mail this newsletter to PTA district, council and unit members.

In this issue:

1) Advocacy for the Arts

Get Started Now: Celebrate Arts Education Month in March 2007!
The Insiderâ€™s Guide to Arts Education Planning

2) Interactive Websites for Parents, Teachers, and Students

Surrounded by Beauty
The Science of Music
Drop Me Off in Harlem

3) Announcements

Strategic Recommendations for Maximizing New Arts Funding
Grade by Grade Guide to Building Visual Arts Lessons
Arts Education Grants
Picturing America

1) Advocacy for the Arts

Get Started Now: Celebrate Arts Education Month in March 2007!
The California State PTA and California Alliance for Arts Education are jointly sponsoring a statewide campaign to bring elected officials into our schools to witness the power of learning in the arts. Please help remind our legislators about the importance of supporting arts funding in the State budget.

Get Started Now: Prior to the event

Determine a date and specific activities you will include in your elected officialâ€™s visit. Target dates are Fridays in March 2007: March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.
Mail an invitation to your elected officials at least 4-6 weeks in advance to request a visit.
Follow up with a phone call one week following the mailing of the invitation.
Confirm the date that your elected official will visit
Follow up with your elected official one week in advance of their visit

Click here to get sample letters and resources to make your event a success!

The Insiderâ€™s Guide to Arts Education Planning
This guide grows out of the Community Arts Education Project created by the California Alliance for Arts Education and the California State PTA. Learn from the experts on how to use the new funding for the arts wisely!
http://www.artsed411.org/insiders-guide/intro.stm

2) Interactive Websites for Parents, Teachers, and Students

Surrounded by Beauty
Experience the Arts of Native Americans.
http://www.artsmia.org/surrounded%2Dby%2Dbeauty/

The Science of Music
Explore the science of music through online exhibits, movies, and questions. You can compose, mix, dance, drum, experiment, and above all...listen.
http://www.exploratorium.edu:80/music/index.html

Drop Me Off in Harlem
Discover the themes and works that emerged when creative and intellectual voices intersected during the Harlem Renaissance.
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/exploring/harlem/

3) Announcements

Strategic Recommendations for Maximizing New Arts Funding
The California Arts Project shares strategies for teachers, administrators, parents, and others involved in decision making on the use of the new state funds.
http://csmp.ucop.edu/tcap/news/support_visual.html

A Guide to Building Visual Art Lessons
The Getty provides teachers with a Guide to Building Visual Art Lesson Plans-- with suggestions for students at different skill levels. You'll find ideas for art production, incorporating language arts into lessons, and assessment.
http://www.getty.edu/education/for_teachers/building_lessons/

Arts Education Grants
Here are the latest funding opportunities in the Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts.
http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/Artsed.html

Picturing America
Picturing America will provide 500 public and private schools with a collection of 20 double-sided, laminated posters (24â€� x 36â€�) depicting works of American art, related reading lists, and a 100-page resource booklet with information about the paintings, sculpture, architecture, and crafts reproduced. Apply by MARCH 19th.
http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica/

To Subscribe:
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For help or to send comments, suggestions, and inquiries send an e-mail to info@capta.org.

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