The Future of our Arts Education Programs

Arts Central is transforming our entire arts education program for increased awareness, participation, and support.  We have been working diligently behind the scenes laying the foundation for this new initiative which will continue to develop over the next few years. 

Efforts include professional teacher training, building a new sequential learning inspired curriculum, embracing arts integration, and collaborating and partnering with business, government, and organizational leaders in support of this community endeavor.

Our new arts education integration initiative will involve utilizing our creative capacity, innovative thinking, and human potential to better facilitate the whole brain development of our youth (our future leaders) through creative learning. 

This will include high quality exploration and experience in the visual and performing arts --dance, theater, visual art such as drawing, painting, collage, clay, printmaking, as the ways to engage thinking and more fully integrate all our capacities..to think, create, present, and imagine.

It is an ambitious community vision launching an arts education paradigm shift; we welcome and appreciate your support and involvement at all levels.

Our new Arts Education program goals:

1. Enhance the student’s power of perception, problem-solving, and ability to express creatively using developmentally appropriate art methods.
2. Provide instruction in unique art experiences that might not otherwise be available.
3. Help educators design or improve basic art curricula in support of the Oregon Standards for Elementary and Secondary Education which include a K-12 curriculum in Art. 
4. Link the arts to other learning goals and content areas. 
5. Increase appreciation of the arts, including world cultural traditions. 
6. Present career possibilities in the arts. 
7. Beautify the school environment with semi-permanent or permanent work by a professional artist alone or with a student/adult team.   

On July 7th, 2010 we convened an inspirational evening exploring the changing role of arts education integration in Central Oregon at the Oxford hotel called The Colors of Innovation. 

We discussed that it has never been a more pivotal time for: 

Our Businesses: In Central Oregon, we are beginning to see the emergence of a knowledge-driven economy whose outputs are creative in nature:  ideas, networks, experiences and companies.  Human creativity is the raw material for the 21st century.  Innovative industries are an undeniable part of our future prosperity. 

Our Community: Arts Central is announcing a new initiative which will create access to innovative education to prepare us for a knowledge driven economy.  Through creative arts education, we aim to teach our future leaders to explore and express their human potential.

Our Future: The science of cognitive development + the art of human expression = an integrated design for Creative Education.  As a respected member of this community, we invite you to join with us in realizing our vision for a community-wide creative future.

This evening would not have been possible without the generous support of:

There were 3 discussion topics that we explored:

1. How does innovative learning and creative thinking lend itself to economic development?
2. How do you believe creative learning is beneficial and makes a difference?
3. As related to arts and culture: what would you like to see more of – or of better quality – in our community?

Here is a link to the comments that resulted: COI Discussion Topics

Other key ways to offer support:

• Become an Arts Central member at the Degas level of $100 (or higher) or upgrade your current membership to the next level.  You can check out the benefits on our website membership page – http://www.artscentraloregon.org/membership.php.  The benefits to you are good; the benefits to the community are great!
• Take a class or enroll a child or grandchild in a class or camp – see creative learning in action! (Class registration page: http://www.artscentraloregon.org/registration.php)
• Support the Black and White: 10.10.10 – our major fundraiser of the year.  There are lots of ways to participate:
  • Leadership gifts will be used to inspire our guests during a special appeal, or recommend businesses and individuals who you think share our belief  in the value and importance of arts education
  • Attend the Black and White! Come with friends; a table holds ten guests.  Call John Negrau (541.633.7242) or any board member for more information; we guarantee a good time.
  • Black & White 10.10.10 event page: http://www.artscentraloregon.org/advocacy_projectsEvents.php
• Host an Art Talk for your creative friends or colleagues – at your home or the beautiful and historic Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher House, Arts Central’s downtown headquarters.  Topics can include our public art, the art of collecting, or the importance of creative learning – or, we can innovate if you have another idea.
• Donate at any level. If this method of giving is favorable for you (and it certainly helps in our planning and budgeting).   Pledge Form
• A Creative Learning Advocate Form which suggests ways to participate in the project.  We would love your continuing involvement as we move forward.

If you would like more information or want to get involved please contact Cate O'Hagan (Executive Director) at 541.749.2291.