Each year since 1998, the Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership celebrates national arts education month in March by presenting Art IS Education, a showcase of the powerful arts learning that students are engaged in at schools across the county. In Alameda County, we know that art making requires deep learning and thinking. These performances and exhibitions are an opportunity for students to share not just their finished artwork and performances with parents and their school communities, but also the problems they solved during the creative process and the revisions they made that resulted in their finished work.
Through the online Art IS Education calendar, the sharing continues year-round, with over 300 events annually, demonstrating what students are learning in and through dance, music, theater, visual and media and literary arts. Together we demonstrate the multiple ways that the arts can engage every child in important educational endeavors, where they experience pride and success. We advance a single message that Art IS Education! We deepen the understanding of greater parts of the community who come to share our vision for arts learning as an essential part of a high quality education for every child in every school, every day.
Art IS Education events take all shapes and sizes including:
• Exhibitions of visual and performing artworks with student docents or displays that guide visitors through the learning process
• Hands-on family art nights
• Dress rehearsals of creative-work-in-progress
• Events, exhibitions and performances hosted by community partners such as local businesses, libraries, hospitals and city halls
• Professional development for teachers to learn new techniques for arts learning, arts integration and making their student learning visible
Interested in joining Art IS Education?
• It’s as simple as posting your event to the countywide calendar.
• We also have a set of tools to help you create your event.
• Check out the award-winning Art IS Ed PSA and other videos that illustrate how Art IS Education.
What’s new for Art IS Education?
Art IS Education 2008, launches our first-ever online interactive artwork. Everyone – students, teachers, teaching artists and parents – are invited to join this exciting new way to celebrate that Art IS Education in Alameda County!
Since 1999, the Oakland Tribune has been the exclusive media sponsor of Art IS Education.