"Growing up Artfully" Awards Honor Local Educators

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council has been a strong advocate in bringing attention to the need to foster creativity in all disciplines. 

As part of their effort to build partnerships between the art community and educators, the LVAC will host its annual Growing Up Artfully Awards for Excellence in Education 2011 on Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 1:00 to 5:00pm at its spring arts in education workshop Penn State Lehigh Valley.  The awards recognize long standing K-12 programs that bring quality arts experiences to our students and our community.

 “To work in the arts, you have to be creative, innovative and resilient; a team player,” says Claire Marcus, Arts and Education Program Coordinator for LVAC, “and that is what keeps kids in school. . . engaged in the classroom.”

Marcus is leading the organization of the event in a joint effort with Exec Director Randall Forte and Operation Manager Chad Clauser as well as an Arts and Education Committee of six volunteers.  Their goal is to bring together educators, administrators, community leaders and teaching artists to build partnerships with participating organization and with each other.  

Starting at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Bonnie Cramond, University of Georgia Professor of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, will deliver the keynote address, Creativity and How it Should be Nurtured. The keynote address will discuss ways in which the identification and nurturing of creativity can increase retention among at risk student populations, especially students with ADHD and other alternative diagnosis.

Following Dr. Cramond’s address, Varissa McMickens, Director of Arts Rising, will discuss best practices in student-centered learning and the arts environment. McMickens will moderate the subsequent panel discussion on teaching creativity in schools which will include participants Dr. Cramond, Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, superintendent of the Allentown School District, and sculptor Scott Atiyeh, Salisbury High School art specialist.

Ronald Cowell and Jordan Crosby from the Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC) will introduce guests to the Arts and Education Initiative (AEI), who will report on major policy related issues facing arts education in schools and communities as well as suggest ways in which participants can become more effective advocates for arts education.  . 

“We want the event to be a resource for community building,” says Marcus.

In addition to the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to view the Making My Mark exhibit in the Gallery at Penn State Lehigh Valley, displaying prints and collages from students attending Southern Lehigh and Trexler Middle School students in the Lehigh Valley Arts Council’s Urban/Suburban after-school program. Participants will also be entertained by instrumental groups from Broughal and Trexler Middle Schools as well as Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts.

“Teachers and educators look forward to this event because it provides a time and venue for them to get together and exchange ideas across districts and disciplines,” said Marcus, “it’s also why we invited the middle school musicians and have the exhibit going on at the same time. . .making connections, building bridges.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Creative Contribution to the Arts-in-Education will be awarded to Bob Dorough, best known for the songs he composed for Schoolhouse Rock!, the animated series that educated young Saturday morning viewers with songs like Three is a Magic Number, Conjunction Junction, I’m Just a Bill.

The 6:00 p.m. awards presentation will be followed by a reception of light refreshments and a cash bar, concluding the day’s events with an opportunity for socializing and networking.  Tickets are $25 for LVAC members and $40 for non-members; registration is open to the public.