FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2007

Statewide Arts in Education Gathering in Rochester

Picture this: a roomful of teachers, artists, and principals collectively choreographing a dance piece based on a work of visual art, and using the experience to develop lessons in collaborative learning and critical-thinking skills for middle-school students.

That’s just one of the workshops that will be taking place at this year’s CommonGround Conference in Rochester, March 28 – 30. Every year, this gathering contributes to fresh curriculum design, school reform and new models for classroom learning around New York State.

CommonGround is the annual New York State arts-in-education conference that brings over 200 administrators, teachers, teaching artists, and community members together for three days of policy setting, planning, exchange of skills and inspirational speakers. This year, the conference addresses the question, “How does arts in education in NYS engage and empower our next generation?” through various workshops that approach the question via Core Knowledge, Curriculum and Assessment, and Educational Reform.

Featured speakers will include Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education’s Arnold Aprill, University of Maryland Minority and Urban Education professor Tara M. Brown, and a performance by the Mt. Morris Middle School Strong as Steel steel drum band.

"As more studies demonstrate the strong links between the arts and learning, school districts are looking for ways to incorporate the arts into their curricula,” says conference coordinator R.J. Rapoza. “This conference is dedicated to providing a space in which the dialogue between teachers, artists, administrators and funders can thrive."

Complete information about the conference, including on-line registration, workshop schedule, keynote speakers, and much more, can be found at www.arts4ed.org.

Syracuse-based Partners for Arts Education coordinates the conference through collaboration with the New York State Council for the Arts, NYS Alliance for Arts Education, NYS Education Department, New York Foundation for the Arts, Empire State Partnerships and theAssociation of Teaching Artists.

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Partners for Arts Education inspires learning and leadership for arts in education in Central New York and throughout New York State. We provide funding and support to deepen and enrich educational experiences in and through the arts for students, teachers and artists.

Partners for Arts Education
Delavan Center Suite 221  501 W. Fayette St.  Syracuse, NY  13202
315.234.9911  info@arts4ed.org  www.arts4ed.org

State of the Arts

NYSCA