FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2007

Syracuse Leaders Explore Community Arts as Education

How does a large urban school district provide educationally productive arts experiences for all students?
How can teachers use the arts to teach without adding more stress to their work day?
How can cultural organizations best help children explore their own creative possibilities?
How can a community come together to give every student a great education?  

Community leaders are convening on June 27th to begin exploring answers to those questions for Syracuse.

Leaders from Syracuse City School District (SCSD), the offices of the Mayor, County, and State Assembly, the Gifford Foundation and the CNY Community Foundation, Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College, and the CNY Arts & Culture Leadership Alliance, among many other local leaders, are meeting to discuss elements of a district-wide plan for Syracuse City Schools.  

These participants have been inspired by meetings on May 9 and 10 with representatives from Texas’ Big Thought, who have been able to build skills and encourage creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving by teaching through the arts in the Dallas Independent School District.  

After one of those meetings, SCSD Superintendent Dan Lowengard said, “The arts aren’t an add-on. It’s a part of what [students] learn, not only in the schools, but in our community.... It’s part of their lives.”  

Partners for Arts Education hosted Big Thought representatives to further a discussion of how Syracuse might develop a plan to form multi-year, sustainable partnerships that consolidate local arts and learning resources to benefit students. Over the last five years a combination of traditional educators, artists, writers, and performers has significantly improved learning and literacy skills in Dallas’ elementary schools through Big Thought and Dallas Arts Partners.  

The Rosamond Gifford Foundation has supported preliminary research on the role of cultural resources in our schools, and provided the funds to bring the Big Thought consultants to Syracuse.  

This community conversation will take place at 3:30 at Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee St. If you are interested in attending, please call Georgia at Partners for Arts Education, 234.9911.

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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

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