Professional Development for teachers, teaching artists, and arts administrators is a priority need, as identified by IPS teachers, and this month we are bringing the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to Indianapolis to conduct training for over 150 such educators in Arts Integration.

The Kennedy Center definition for Arts Integration is: “An approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both.”

During the last few months, the collective also identified eight schools for piloting general arts education partnerships next school year including two with a focus on Arts Integration. The momentum has been tremendous! The next steps are to:

1. Finalize the program plan narrative
2. Adopt the proposed evaluation protocols
3. Establish a budget for implementation
4. Develop funding strategies.

In February, these recommendations will be presented to the Governing Council for Any Given Child Indy,  co-chaired by IPS Superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee and Arts Council of Indianapolis President & CEO Dave Lawrence.

Ernest Disney-Britton
Director of Grant Services & Education Partnerships
Arts Council of Indianapolis