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September 2007 Newsletter


SMARTS: BRING BACK THE ARTS

CALIFORNIA STATE PTA ONLINE NEWSLETTER

September 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
  • State Budget Funds Arts Again!
  • Follow The Arts Money Web Site
  • PTA Start The Art Week
2) Arts Websites for Parents, Teachers, and Students
  • National Gallery Of Art: Interactive Art You Can Make On-Line!
  • A Guide To Harlem Renaissance Materials
  • Counting On Art
  • Islamic Art & Culture: A Resource For Teachers
3) Announcements
  • Does Your School Have An Arts Education Plan?
  • California Arts Education Strategic Task Force Report

1) Advocacy for the Arts

State Budget Funds Arts AGAIN!
The recently passed California State Budget continues on-going funding ($109 million) for arts education in our public schools. This has been a priority issue for PTA parents throughout the State.

Please take a moment to thank the Governor and your legislator for supporting arts in our schools!
Contact the Governor: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#contact
Contact Your Legislator: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html

Follow the Arts Money Web Site
Let's make sure the new funding for the arts in our schools is spent wisely. Visit the "Maximizing New Resources! Visual and Performing Arts and Physical Education Block Grant Website".
http://csmp.ucop.edu/tcap//maximizingnewresources/

PTA Start the Art Week
It's time to start planning for PTA Start the Art Week October 8-12.
Find out about PTA Start the Art Week Activity Ideas.
http://www.pta.org/archive_article_details_1186085137718.html

2) Arts Websites for Parents, Teachers, and Students

National Gallery of Art: Interactive Art You Can Make On-Line!
Take an art trip to the National Gallery via the web. Make a collage and a mobile. Visit the paint box. You can even visit a “make believe� Dutch dollhouse.
http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/

A Guide to Harlem Renaissance Materials
African-American expressions of writing, music, and art during the 1920s and 1930s are well represented in the vast collections of the Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/harlem/harlem.html#External

Counting on Art
In Counting on Art, students will explore the paintings of Horace Pippin and Wayne Thiebaud and the mobiles of Alexander Calder to discover and practice math and visual art concepts.
http://www.nga.gov/education/classroom/counting_on_art/index.shtm

Islamic Art & Culture: A Resource for Teachers
Architecture, calligraphy, manuscript illumination, metalwork, ceramics,
glass, & textiles are included, along with an historical survey of Islam.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/islamicinfo.htm

Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Victoria and Albert Museum
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2004/islamic/index.shtm

3) Announcements

Does your school have an Arts Education Plan?
The Insider's Guide to Arts Education Planning provides a hands-on, how-to planning process for schools, districts and counties. Here are tips on how to get started:

Introduction
http://www.artsed411.org/insiders-guide/intro.stm

Developing Your Community Arts Team
http://www.artsed411.org/insiders-guide/chapter1.stm

Looking at the Current Status of Arts Education
http://www.artsed411.org/insiders-guide/chapter2.stm

California Arts Education Strategic Task Force Report
Read the six high priority recommendations designed to move the public school reform agenda toward a full and comprehensive education that includes systematic instruction in the four disciplines of the arts—dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.
http://www.capta.org/sections/programs-smarts/downloads/CCSESA-Arts-Initiave.pdf

2007 California Arts Day Poster
The 2007 California Arts Day Poster is now available!
http://www.cac.ca.gov/359/

To Subscribe:
If you wish to be added to the subscriber list to this newsletter, send an e-mail to SMARTSenews@capta.org. Enter the word "Subscribe" into the subject area or the body of the email and you will automatically be added.

To Unsubscribe:
If you would like to terminate your subscription to the SMARTS newsletter, send an e-mail to SMARTSenews@capta.org and in the subject area type "Remove" or "Unsubscribe" and your name will be removed.

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

The California State PTA SMARTS newsletter is sent free of charge via the Internet as a service of the California State PTA in the furtherance of its nonprofit and tax-exempt status. Unless otherwise noted, PTAs may reproduce and distribute the materials from the California State PTA website for PTA use without express written permission. California State PTA materials may not be duplicated by any other organization or person without written permission.

California State PTA

  • Does not exert editorial control over materials that are posted by third parties onto its website, or materials that are e-mailed by third parties to any other persons.
  • Specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that result from postings by third parties.
  • Does not exert editorial or any other control over content provided by links from the California State PTA website.

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