#ArtsInEducation

[adayephoto]

An Evening to Shine

I recently had the pleasure of photographing "An Evening to Shine" at the Durham Performing Arts Center. This annual event is presented by Durham Public Schools & DPS Foundation featuring over 50 schools showcasing their incredible arts programs. What a surprise it was to have the amazingly talented actress and Durham native Lauren E. Banks from one of my favorite shows "Lawmen Bass Reeves", give a word of encouragement to students telling them to follow their dreams and to continue their pursuit of the arts during the event as the students poured their hearts out on stage. What an amazing evening to photograph.

Check out more photos from the event at: https://bit.ly/E2SPhotos_2024

[donwidmerpaperarts]

I’ll be demonstrating my pulp painting technique (a rare opportunity to see this in action) at this one day event. View student and professional artist work while supporting the arts in education @kanelandarts . Sunday April 16 11am-5pm at Kaneland High School in Maple Park. #donwidmerpaperarts #artsineducation #highschoolart #supportarts #pulppainting #handmadepaper #artfairs (at Kaneland High School) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq57xckrP77/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[friendsafforestation]

🎩✨ Happy Make a Hat Day! ✨🎩 ist/

Today, we celebrate the vibrant world of hats! From protecting us from the elements to making bold fashion statements, hats have a rich history and endless creativity. 🌍💫 This September 15th, join us in exploring the evolution of hats and their special place in Canadian culture, including iconic headgear like the tuque, Mountie hat, and Pangnirtung hat. 🇨🇦🧤👒

Dive into fun activities for all ages and discover how hats reflect our heritage and creativity! 🎨🧢✨

#MakeAHatDay #HatHistory #CanadianCulture #TuqueLove #FashionStatements #CreativeKids #CulturalHeritage #CelebrateHats #EducationalFun #CanadianTraditions #HatDesign #ArtsInEducation #HatParade #FashionAndFunction Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas friendsareas.ca

[academicentertainment]

Local Schools and PTAs are struggling now more than ever due to a lack of fundraising activities caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For Giving Tuesday: Give to Local Schools and Parent Groups

Designate your gift for virtual school assemblies or arts in education!

https://www.academicentertainment.com/blog/GivingTuesday

info@academicentertainment.com

800-883-9883

[thepushcartplayers-blog]

Happy Presidents Day from all of us here at The Pushcart Players! #presidentsday #pushcartplayers #njtheatrealliance #njtheatre #theatre #artsednow #artsineducation #artsed #actorsequityassociation #actorsequity #theatreforyoungaudiences #mondaymotivation #whitehouse (at Verona, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuCXIDrhHCp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9aypkzua29he

[gaylahollisart]

Fundraiser for Oklahoma Hall of Fame... for their education program... #okhof #gaylordpickensmuseum #fundraiserevent #gaylahollis #gaylahollisart #artsineducation https://www.instagram.com/p/CS0LbMNLHDH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rpspatch]

Spent some time Friday afternoon hanging out with some sixth grade students. Had the opportunity to discuss their interests in art and writing. Fantastic opportunity. #rottenpumpkinstudios #carreerday #mockinterviews #enliveneducation #enliven #centralmiddleschool #lps #education #artsineducation #getinvolved #oklahoma #lawton #publicschoolprograms #getcreative

[latinachikaspeaksmagazine]

📢 YOU'RE INVITED❗❗❗ Caring for our body and mind can feel like a chore or a luxury but is also a necessary practice to take on whether it is for five minutes or an hour. This hour-long workshop will offer a free flow creation exercise to disrupt the daily grind and help you reflect, replenish, and restore through creative reflection and creation. Let us take a collective pause, a literal moment of breath from the daily grind, from routines that can be harmful. Let us instead have a shared moment of pure free flow of thoughts, without inhibitions or the usual pressures of having to produce let us use our limbs, pen, pencil, paintbrush to find our adventure, to find the medium our bodies and minds need from us and create a “work/product in progress”. Bring a book that is dear to you or come as you are at any level of energy, ability, and artistic experience. You will be welcome and safe in this Choose Your Own Adventure free flow exercise that will offer you a self-care routine that works for you, for when you have hit a creative block in your personal, professional, or academic life. Bring a few sheets of blank paper and any writing or drawing tool you would like in the case that you choose to use a medium that calls for them (writing, drawing, painting, etc.). (Registration Required for planning purposes. All are welcome) REGISTRATION LINK IN OUR BIO . . . @hgse_osa @harvardeducation @harvard_arts @harvard_idc @comunidadlatinx @hgse.wocc @hgse_pace @hgse_bsu . . . #deib #rrr #hgse21 #hgse2021 #artseducation #artsed #arttherapy #wocc #artsineducation #aie #aie2021  #digitalconference #poc #woc #qpoc #supportstudents #artdiary #selfcare #selfcareworkshop #selfcarematters #latinachikaspeaksmagazine https://www.instagram.com/p/COvK8nCpFSk/?igshid=gkgi6kk6tmay

[oozeinspiration]

We wrapped up our first week of the #virtualartprogram for our local school and also the #nationalartsineducationweek with an awesome Picasso inspired collage project 💚 . . Please swipe to see highlights, which include all sorts of fun visuals from a bling neck, to a chihuahua chasing burglars, a cookie torso, wine opener monocle, and more.... 💥🧐💥comment on what stands out for you in the pics! 😜👇🏽. . #becauseofartsed I laughed and peeled glue off my fingers today! 🥰❤️🙏🏽 #gratefulthankfulblessed #ArtsInEducationWeek #artsineducation #artsedmatters #artforall #oozeinspo #kidatheART #oozeinspiration #artforkids #virtualartclass https://www.instagram.com/p/CFcgpSJDd-N/?igshid=1cgvs4f6u8ijh

[niknoc]

#artists.#monaghan.#artsineducation (at County Monaghan)

[theoliverchong]

instagram.com/lab.of.the.ordinary instagram.com/theoliverchong #workshop #selfimprovement #socialconcern #beingordinary #wellbeingthroughcreativity #artistsoninstagram #events #lateralthinking #criticalthinking #communitybonding #communitybuilding #artsineducation https://www.instagram.com/p/B6phjVDnmeh/?igshid=1ndgt31vnxc6e

[gastonartsnc]

With you we can continue to do what we do but even better! #givingtuesday Your gift will assist our work with #artsineducation Pre-K -- 12 grade #artincommunity #veterans "My Military Memories" #literacy "LIT UP" https://bit.ly/34MrsaC https://dell.to/2qk7aGE #linkinbio https://www.instagram.com/p/B5nJKLynoa8/?igshid=7ogyiyisewqw

[academicentertainment]

World Kindness Day is November 13. A Virtual Kindness Assembly can promote unity amongst your student population and teach them social-emotional learning skills, awareness of others, friendship, and may help improve mental health. Celebrate World Kindness day with a Virtual and Online School Assembly.

https://www.academicentertainment.com/blog/World-Kindness-Day

info@academicentertainment.com

800-883-9883

[thepushcartplayers-blog]

Pushcart Players received a generous grant from Pine Tree Foundation of New York to sponsor a year-long residency of theater arts education at The Learning Center for Exceptional Children in Clifton, NJ. The program involves story-telling, performance, puppetry, and creative writing for students on the Autism spectrum and with other cognitive and physical disabilities. Pushcart's teaching artist is Gerald Fierst, internationally recognized story-telling and author of children's books. This is a poem written by one of the students.

"The Secret Ingredient is Love"

"Near the monkeys, Under the leaves of a big, big tree, The root becomes yellow and crescent moons. Chop, slice, taste, Smooth and hard becomes gooey. A sweet rot fills me with the memory of Grandma and I dancing. And then a plate of plantain, rice and beans, Smacking lips of love."

[lwlittrell]

Round two on my naming mission! You guys have been awesome! Here are the final picks and I need you to help me decide the winner! Remember to go to @farmerandfrenchman between Oct 15-17 to bid on these pieces! All profits will go to @hendersonsofa for the arts in education! 1. Whispering Meadow 2. Butterfly Kisses 3. A Taste of Sunshine 4. Golden Nectar #artsineducation @tourhendersonky @dhphenderson @wearehcs #bethechange #thinkofthefuture #wherewouldwebewithoutart https://www.instagram.com/p/B2mIChslz1P/?igshid=1iksn1jdlo7qk

[baxarts]

Intern Stories: Aviya Hersntadt, Spring 2019 Education Intern

Maya Gonzalez June 27, 2019

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with our 2019 Education Intern, Aviya Hernstadt, and reflecting upon her time with us this year. Throughout the year, we had worked alongside each other at various BAX Youth Education events. I’d gotten to know her, and recognize the countless things she’s done to support the BAX community throughout her time here. We grabbed some coffees, found a sunny spot outside, and got to talking.

When did your internship start?

AH: I officially started in the beginning of February, with a two-week overlap training period with Brooke [our former Education Intern] at the end of January.

How would you describe your role in the EDU Dept. as an EDU Intern?

AH: So many things. I’d say it definitely requires wearing a lot of hats; for me I think the biggest part of the role is After School Pick Up and spending time with the kids on, you know, the weekday afternoons that I’m there, and Saturdays. Saturdays also include making connections with parents, and getting to know all of the families at BAX, which has been really cool ‘cause Saturdays are less structured; it’s pretty much just me and Roxy [BAX Education Assistant], sometimes a few other people, in terms of admin; so it’s really nice to do your own work then get to know families and provide support there for BAX.

And then on the admin side,  it’s kind of filling in all the gaps, I would say, which gives me a little taste of everything; like just a kind of peek into every aspect of Education planning and everything that goes into that.

This conversation turned into a comprehensive review of the inner workings of the Education Department:

AH: Both Lucia [Scheckner, Education Director] and Ashley [R. Thaxton-Stevenson, Education Manager] supervise me and they have different roles so that’s also been interesting; learning the difference between their roles; between what  a Manager and a Director is, and the type of work that goes into that and the kinds of decisions that are made on each level. Seeing Lucia work and thinking about the decisions that she makes has made a big impression on me; she decides so many big picture things that trickle down into so many details;  and when the details come to me it’s easy to not see that big picture part of it. It’s interesting to think about that trickle-down of information and decision-making; and to witness what it takes to run a performing arts school. A lot of what BAX does was established before Lucia and Ashley stepped into these roles, but its constantly being re-thought, it’s not like they’re just repeating what past employees have done.

I’ve been a part of a lot of different conversations at BAX that have given me a taste of these processes. For example, after the Teen Arts Conference, Lucia, Ashley, Charlie [Community Outreach/Youthworks Intern] and I all sat down and discussed how the conference went, what worked/didn’t work, and what it all means for the future of the Conference.

Is there a project that sticks out to you that you worked on during your time at BAX? Any projects that you really enjoyed working on?

AH: Yes. In the waiting area on the second floor we have this inspiration board. There’s always some kind of engagement project on it. The most recent one, that’s still up there, was made during NYCDOE’s Civic Engagement Week. The week is about encouraging schools to have conversations with their students, asking questions like: what it is to be an active citizen? How can you help your community? We kind of BAX-ified this idea; we designed a project around the questions: What does it mean to be an active member of your community/how have you uplifted your community, who are some leaders in your community/ what communities are you a part of (your school, BAX, your religious center, your neighborhood, your family?) And kind of popping those kernels of what you can do to uplift your community. So when we first did it, I created and left out a mostly blank poster; I wanted to frame it as like a BAX community poster. I had some kids working on it in After School Pick Up, just kind of asking them different questions and encouraging them to draw something or write a story to add on to the poster. It didn’t really take off that way, so during Spring Break Charlie and I led a lesson plan with each age group (NanoBAXers; K-2nd graders and Mega/ GigaBAXers; 2nd-5th graders), prompting them to sort of write or draw something. We kind of hodge-podged it all together and it became this awesome poster. And that was a really cool moment. We had a really successful lesson plan; we started the conversation, then broke up into groups, and we framed it around one story they had when they helped their community, or someone in the community helped them, kind of making the simplest possible version of asking these questions of how we can support our community members.

As an arts educator it’s always nice to get more experience and to, you know, lead a structured activity, especially within the structures that BAX provides, and to get feedback on it. BAX is definitely the kind of educational environment that I want to be in.

Let’s talk a little more about the process leading into you starting here at BAX/how did you find us?

AH: BAX was somewhat on my radar; I took classes at BAX in high school; I performed at BAX once. So when I moved back home after graduating college, I found Dance to the People. I was in a piece with Maira Duarte [BAX in-house teacher and co-founder of Dance to the People], The Tampon Piece, and we had all our rehearsals at BAX, so I was around the building once or twice a week.  I remember looking at a board and seeing that there was a Drag class for kids and I was just like, this is awesome! What is this place? And that really got my gears turning. Then I saw that they had a job posting for this internship.

 Interns are invaluable at BAX. We have so much going on all the time and it’s so helpful to have people there who can sort of be around and be present for that and also be supportive pillars of it.

What as an individual do you feel you have brought to BAX?

AH: My independent study project has been looking at our language accessibility at BAX. I speak Spanish, and when I first started interning here, every once in a while I’d be sent an email that needed to be translated to Spanish.

It really got started when we got a new Spanish speaking family in the spring and I was the only person in the Education Department who could interact with them and translate meetings, e-mails and paperwork. So I started to wonder – do we have any systems in place for this?

At different points there have been people in the office who speak Spanish and it pretty much always just works out. The Education assistant before Roxy (current Education Assistant) was a native Spanish speaker so she was doing all of this work, but it was kind of invisibilized because she was just doing it, and there weren’t other people checking or directing it because it was work that she was the only one able to do. What does it mean to have one person on staff who is taking on all of that work?

I’ve taken on the project of looking at similar institutions and seeing what their practices are, what kind of accessibility they have, and then thinking about what’s realistic for BAX in the short term, and speaking with staff to identify some pipe dreams that we have for the long term. So that includes talking to Lucia, Ashley and Fernando [Maneca, Marketing & Communications Director], and also translating specific documents; simple e-mail templates in Spanish that can be dated and sent out at different occasions.

It’s been really cool to be able to provide that service for BAX, interacting with families and putting effort into working with the families that don’t speak English. As much as all of our staff feels so strongly that all families are a part of this community, there’s a barrier there in relaying that message. I’m not a native speaker by any means, I feel confident in my language abilities but I am humble with that. Of course I can’t say everything; it would be helpful to have a native speaker on staff.

Challenges?

AH: Working with kids can be the most refreshing, light-hearted, easiest thing and then one question can kind of throw you into a tailspin:  how do I answer this, what’s my place in answering this. There have been a lot of those moments, of like ok what does this child need, how can I serve them, can I serve them, or do they just need to be alone. I think it’s about giving the kids respect, hearing out all sides, being able to say something constructive and something reaffirming to each kid involved.

It’s been rewarding getting to know the individual kids that I spend time with at BAX. I really care about them, I’m sad to leave this position. I’ll be a counselor this summer so I’ll see a lot of them; but it’s just been really special getting to know them.

And on the administrative side, I’ll have ongoing projects that take a few days, I have reoccurring projects, like something I do on a weekly basis, an then I ‘ll have short-term projects that take an hour to finish; keeping track of all of the work in a timely manner has been a learning curve for me.

I graduated college a year ago now. I’ve been working odd jobs, babysitting/working in a restaurant, and this internship is my first real experience with a workplace environment. I’ve had various summer internships, but this is my first time on the other side/in the real world. It’s very different being out of school than in school ‘cause in school you’re going back every fall, but at BAX, while I’m here, I want to soak up all this information and stick all these tools in my pocket, understand how an office functions-even though this isn’t your typical office.

What are you walking away with from this internship?

AH: Honestly, the knowledge that a work environment and a place like this exists, where people are so supportive of each other. I mean I have just felt so incredibly supported at BAX. There have been multiple times where I’ve been supported in my own personal practice by the Education Department. There was a dance workshop that I really wanted to take, a choreographer was visiting from Europe and it was kind of like a one-time thing, and Lucia and Ashley totally supported me in doing it. It was a really last minute thing but they supported me because they wanted me to cultivate and keep alive my own artistic practice, understanding that that directly feeds into a professional working practice, as an educator, as an admin, all of that.

So things like that, understanding what you’re worth; as an artist especially its really easy to get in the mindset of just like throwing everything you have into your work/job and letting all these different jobs/positions just take, take, take from you. Because the artist’s life is such an atypical life. It’s atypical to give value to your personal practice, and to spend an hour in the studio and recognize that that is work, that’s not just fun, its work; you know, naming that and giving that value. And that BAX supports that with every single person who comes through these doors, is worth so much. I’m so lucky to be where I am. I have friends whose employers don’t care about their personal lives, emailing them at 9:30pm with something that they have to finish. The amount of respect that exists at BAX is so special; now that I know how good it can be and how much I can be worth, I am worth that, and I shouldn’t settle for anything less.

It all comes back around and it all works because everybody’s all in, everybody’s committed.

I’ve also gained a ton of experience with problem solving, especially with kids. I’m really excited to be a counselor in BAX’s Summer Arts Program this summer. I’m not ready to say goodbye and I’m not done learning yet, and I’m really excited to step into a new role at BAX. I think that’s gonna be really cool; to see all the teaching artists in action; summer’s a whole different ball game and I’m excited to see that. As a counselor I’m gonna be in all the classes, helping support all the classes which will be huge for my own professional teaching practice, you know seeing the different skills that teachers use, different activities, different tools for your tool box. More tools please!

Any post summer plans?

AH: I’ve been teaching with Wingspan Arts so I hope to continue that in the fall, maybe take on more classes than I had during the spring I’m also gonna continue working with Dance Action, Carmen Caseras. I’d love to be able to stay at BAX in some capacity if I can. I know that BAX is the kind of environment I want to be in.

Pictured, left to right: Lucia Scheckner, Education Director, Ashley R. Thaxton-Stevenson, Education Manager, Brooke Rucker, Fall 2018 Education Intern, Charlie Fischetti,2018-19 Community Outreach/YouthWorks Intern, Aviya Hersntadt, 2019 Spring Education Intern. Photo taken by BAX Staff after the 2019 Teen Arts Conference.