Administrative Brief
COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
VOL. 30 NO. 32
October 1 , 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM JOHN HIGHKIN
Arts Education in Salina
Introduction
The Arts Infusion program was created more than fifteen years ago, successor to many more
years of arts education programming initiated by the department in collaboration with USD 305.
The program guides and coordinates artists working with teachers and students in the school
district, integrating arts-based learning into the core curriculum. Contracted local and regional
artists work throughout the school year in elementary schools offering instruction in Reader's
Theatre, writing applications, first person interpretation, storytelling, visual art, dance and music.
Students at secondary levels receive regular workshops and residencies by regional and national
artist residencies.
Artists work with Salina Regional Health Center (SRHC) staff to respond from their personal
creative realms to teacher requests for customization of lesson plans. For example, working with
a dancer, teachers integrate music and ballroom dance curricula; the instructional impact is
deepened with the addition of parent/child activities, outreach to residential care facilities and a
six-week after school dance class that culminates in a stage performance with the Salina Chorale.
Artist residencies support secondary students in their own artistic explorations (e.g., master
classes, workshops, choreography).
The program operates from September through June, with additional
opportunities available throughout the year. Student-produced work
is often showcased at the Smoky Hill River Festival. In 2008, in a
partnership with the summer lunch program, Eulenspiegel Puppet
Theatre taught puppetry at Sunset school. Students attended and
performed at the Festival; their families were given admission buttons
and Spanish language materials, if needed.
Fall & Spring Residencies
This fall, the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission presented workshops and performance by
Kansas City-based Son Venezuela, a musical group, in conjunction with the Hispanic Heritage
Festival. In October and November, we shall bring the much loved Acoustic Eidolon, a cello and
guitar duo and storyteller Priscilla Howe.
There is much exciting activity ahead in spring 2009: the Orchid Ensemble fuses the music of
China with world music, jazz, and improvisation; Kenny J and Company, a black line-dancing
company (a hit of the 2007 Smoky Hill River Festival), will work in schools and with the annual
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration; and blues singer Kelley Hunt will participate in Kansas
Wesleyan University's vocal music event in March.
Lied.Art.Teach Program
This year, through the Lied Center of Kansas at the University of Kansas, the Arts and Humanities
Department will serve as the site for three two-day sessions of the Lied.Art.Teach program,
funded by The Dana Foundation. The workshops are free-of-charge and open to people working
in arts education in the City.
elM
Page 2
The purpose of Lied.Art.Teach is to develop new teaching artists and strengthen existing teaching
artists into "a teaching artist corps" that will assist state and local schools and arts organizations in
providing arts education opportunities for teachers, school children, and communities of Kansas.
This is accomplished by presenting three Kennedy Center seminars: Arlists as Educations:
Planning Effective Workshops for Teachers; Presenting Effective Workshops for Teachers; and
Planning Effective Arls-Integrated Residencies for Students. Goals of the program include:
· Training participants in development of workshops and residencies tied to Kansas and
national learning standards.
· Developing ways in which each participant can utilize their art form to teach across
curriculums
· Providing participants opportunities to present workshops and residencies for Kansas arts
organizations.
· Providing local and statewide educator workshops that will provide participants ways to
incorporate the arts into all curriculums.
Workshops will take place on October 22/23, February 23/24, and April 13/14 in the Community
Room of the Smoky Hill Museum. A workshop for teachers, entitled: Reaching the Kinesthetic
Learner through Creative Movement will also be presented.
Summary
The Arts Infusion Program offers Salina students an introduction to the arts. Students receive
successive experiences as they move upward in grade level, identification of student interests,
development of skills, and placement in programs and opportunities offered by the range of
Salina's arts and cultural providers and beyond - thereby enhancing the acquisition of artistic
skills, understanding and knowledge.
In 2007/08, the Arts Infusion Program achieved 16,949 student and 1,744 teacher contacts in
Salina schools through local artists working in classrooms; presentations, performances and
workshops conducted by regional and national residency artists; and through performance
opportunities, such as the Smoky Hill River Festival and Art a la Carte, made possible by the City
of Salina Arts and Humanities Department.
MONDAY'S MEETING
Enclosed are other items on the agenda. If any Commissioner has questions or cannot attend
the meeting, please contact me.
Jason A. Gage
City Manager