KEY WEST, FLORIDA, NOVEMBER 8, 2016 -
More than 300 leaders in arts education met in Dallas, Texas, October 25-28 for the Arts Schools Network's (ASN) Annual Conference. Attendees represented arts schools, programs, and organizations from across the United States, as well as Canada, Australia, and Sweden.
Conference sessions and events were hosted by Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) and the Dallas Arts District's dynamic arts venues, including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Wyly Theater, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, among others. A range of exciting programs that were conceived and conducted between local schools and Arts District institutions exemplified the conference theme, "The Power of Arts Partnerships and their Impact on Arts Education."
Attendees of ASN's 36th annual gathering also enjoyed the STEAM reception and exhibition at the Perot Museum, a Texas barbeque, tours of arts schools, student performances, presentation of ASN Awards and Exemplary School designations, and exceptional opportunities to share experiences and expertise.
Highlights included the conference keynote address, "How Dallas Put Arts Back in the Public Schools," by LeAnn Binford, Director of Big Thought Institute, sessions on integration of abilities, issues for new and emerging schools, trends in established schools, and thought leadership.
Donn Harris, Executive Director for the San Francisco Unified School District, said "The Thought Leadership strand encapsulated all we hoped it would. ASN leaders continually look to research, innovation, and new combinations of theories and paradigms to enrich their work. Our powerful leaders gave us a comprehensive picture of cutting edge arts education in 2016 - everything from values-based strategic planning and the depth of succession planning to portraits of students and their struggle to make it to college."
Participants were inspired by visits to BTWHSPVA, Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard, W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, and Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts and Museum. The new "Curbside Coaching" feature, one-on-one appointments with expert advisors, were so popular that ASN intends to expand the program.
Dr. Scott M. Rudes, Principal of BTWHSPVA, said, "The power of 'network' was pervasive throughout the entire Dallas Arts District during the conference. The intersection of thought leadership and practical application was truly inspiring!"
In addition to BTWHSPVA Advisory Board and the Dallas Arts District, sponsors for this year's conference included 4imprint; Abernathy Media Professionals; Big Thought; City of Dallas; Corner Bakery Café; Crow Collection of Asian Art; Dallas Black Dance Theatre; Dallas Children's Theater; Dallas Independent School District; Dallas Museum of Art; The Dallas Opera; Dallas Theater Center; Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District; Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at AT&T Performing Arts Center; Downtown Dallas, Inc.; Flexpress Digital; Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra; House of Blues Music Forward Foundation; JD's Chippery; Jackson Walker; Junior League of Dallas; La Duni Baking Studio; and Love Field Art Program.
Other sponsors were Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center/Dallas Symphony; Nasher Sculpture Center; Neiman Marcus; Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Dallas; One Arts Plaza; Perot Museum of Nature and Science; Sammons Enterprises, Inc.; South Dallas Cultural Center; Southern Methodist University; The Coffee Company; Think Positive Promotions; Thompson & Knight; Theatre3; Titas Presents; Wall's Catering and Party Productions; Dr. Karl and Carolyn Perot Rathjen; Douglas Anderson School of the Arts; Webster University; CalArts; Columbia College Chicago; College of Charleston School of the Arts; CalArts; NYU Tisch School of the Arts; Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton; Pamela Jordan; and Orange County School of the Arts.
Plans are already in progress for the 2017 ASN Annual Conference at the
University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance October 24-26. The theme will be "Inclusion in the Arts: Access and Equity."
