ARTech Arts Committee Meeting # 4 Agenda:
December 15, 2010 (2:45pm at ARTech)
Present: Bob GB, Sarah W, Todd T, Charisse P, Lilla J, Simon T, Jan R
Absent: Donna E, Michelle R
Action items are highlighted:
1. Discussion and action plan for moving forward with the pilot program for visiting artists during 4th quarter: Lilla, Donna and Robyn G will coordinate visiting artists. Jan and Lilla will meet to set up parameters of project, set dates and look at costs.
2. Foundation/core art courses? Discuss technology foundations as this is needed for media arts but is not part of foundation visual arts. Can all areas of the arts offer foundation classes? We discussed the role of technology in the life of the ARTech student and how it relates to the arts. There is a core area of technology knowledge needed by each student to fully progress within many of the art disciplines. When we discuss core or foundation classes in the arts, it would be good for students to have this core technology taught as an independent class or skill and not lumped in with the art foundation class.
3. Minnesota Arts Education survey is available to us to participate in and it would also provide us with a great arts program inventory (and may help us address #4). Discuss how the committee can participate in this. Jan will start to work on this survey with relevant staff. It was agreed that this would be a valuable assessment for our school but also valuable to be involved with this group of arts based schools.
4. Unique to ARTech in the arts? What is happening at ARTech that is not happening at the High School or Middle School in the arts and what do we hope to add to that? Are these noted areas sustainable and, therefore pillars of the arts at ARTech? One aspect that is unique to ARTech is the progressive theater classes being offered to students from middle school through to high school. The theater program is strong thanks to the guidance of Bob GB. Currently, Bob goes to the high school or middle school to do after school theater programs but what if ARTech were to start up its own after school programs in the arts?
Todd shared with us the desire of 12 students to start up a show choir that would perform publicly and compete in show choir competitions. Ideally, this group would meet after school and use a space other than the Great room, (possibly the space that Tammy P. has offered at their church). The Great room could be used but there could be conflict with the spring theater performance.
This discussion then led us to think about the need for an activity fee. Up till this point, Staff has only offered after school activities if there is a stipend or some other extra source of money. The budget does not currently allow for any after school activity funding for staff and the committee decided it would be good to investigate other charter school models offering after school activities and their fee structure. If our students do participate in after school activities with the school district, it is at a significant expense to us. If ARTech were to offer after school activities, perhaps such an expense could be reduced? Here is a link to the NHS fine arts activities and fee schedule FYI: http://www2.nfld.k12.mn.us/education/components/docmgr/download.php?sectiondetailid=29906&fileitem=12532
The other unique area of instruction is dance, and again, this is an area that would benefit with after school enhancement classes. Visual arts could run an open studio.
Overall, this is an interesting area that needs further investigation and reconciling with the finance committee in regard to the budget needs etc.
Review student suggestions from Ginger: Ginger Coleman is the new student representative on the board and she is planning to hold student/board update meetings every month. At her last meeting, students were introduced to the artist pilot program planned for the 4th quarter. Here is some of the feedback from the group:
Some ideas the students had for the artist in residency program included:
- Hands on work with the artist, maybe even one-on-one with particularly interested students
- After school or during a time where most students are able to participate
- Artists who teach film making, graphic design, and novelists
- Some students are interested in writing grants for artists who specialize in these areas
· There has been questions about whether or not we could buy some computer programs for students who are advanced in film making and graphic design like Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut
As you can see from these comments and suggestions, the students are right in line with the discussions we are having here at the arts committee.
5. Media Mike residency: Simon, Rebecca and Jan need to meet to look at costs so far in the residency budget (i.e. stipend taken out for Bob’s work with Arts for Martin and pilot program) to see what we have left to be able to book this particular residency.
6. Middle school arts program write up in the handbook: Simon and Lori are writing up what the arts look like at the middle school level and would like to have the committee review this at the January meeting.
The committee also needs to come up with several questions relating to the arts for the school/director survey. Please send me any suggestions or questions.
7. Next meeting: January 19, 2011, 2:45pm at school.
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ARTech Arts Committee Meeting #2- NOTES
September 20, 2010 3pm at ARTech
Present: Donna Eicher, Lilla Johnson, Jan Rohwer, Scott Grave, Simon Tyler, Sarah Wallis, Bob G.Bjorklund, Todd Thompson.
Agenda:
1. Introductions to Sarah Wallis.
This was brief as several committee members needed to leave early. Sarah mentioned a desire to have a deeper discussion regarding foundation classes for visual arts. Sarah has had many students ask her about projects and realized a common arts vocabulary and knowledge base is necessary for students to make the most of the project process. The discussion then touched on how the literary arts have established a similar model with the requirement of a grade 9 core class.
2. The revised and working arts vision statement is:
Based on all five disciplines of the arts (theater, dance, music, literary and visual/media arts), ARTech will strive to give all students a focused knowledge and passion for the arts. The arts will enhance all areas of learning by stimulating curiosity, critical and creative thinking. Collaboration with community artists and arts organizations will enrich and further the student’s art experiences and growth. Furthermore, a nurturing and safe learning environment will enable individualistic and group creativity and innovation.
3. Make a list of families to ask to be on working committee:
It was decided we will send out a message to the school community looking for specific areas to have people involved in. These areas would be:
· After school program support
· Grant writing and research
· Coordinator of arts teaching staff assistance
· Mentor list and community artist coordinator
There could also be a position for a community arts person.
4. Setting priorities for the year ahead:
· Define what is UNIQUE about the arts at ARTech
· Review art foundation curriculum and how our students develop “focused knowledge”
· Develop and implement a trial of visiting artist/open studio for one quarter. This model would incorporate a weekly visit from a community artist, followed by an after-school open art studio
5. Next date for forming working committee:
Some suggestions for our next meeting are: Thursday October 28th at 3pm at school?
At this stage, we will leave it open for staff to attend and will use email and notes from meetings as a means of keeping staff informed of where and what the committee is doing.
The committee, once established, will contact arts staff and discuss their needs and how the committee can channel support to them.
Jan Rohwer 9/30/10
