Aloha!
The second week in September is designated by an act of Congress (2010) as
"National Arts in Education Week"
. During this time, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education.
"Arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students."
The MACC has been at the forefront of arts integrated education for over two decades, with successful programs
that
are nationally recognized through our partnership with the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC
. We work with the
Hawai'i State Department of Education - Maui District
to
bring the enrichment in learning environment that the arts offer for students. It's been proven in educational research:
students learn more and learn better when engaged through the arts.
While it may have been National Arts in Education Week around the U.S., here on Maui the MACC celebrated all month
,
with HUGE number of arts integrated activities in September. (Actually, we've been celebrating Arts Education for 23 years straight!) Read on, below -- and remember that
the MACC is, and always has been, more than just tickets!
-
Art Vento, President & CEO
|
|
Our Artists in the Community program in September featured an astounding number of residency activities with
5th-generation Japanese puppet master
Koryu Nishikawa V
and
Hawai'i-born puppet artist
Tom Lee
. Their production,
Shank's Mare (in the Castle Theater Sept 29)
is only the top of the glacier of activities: in Maui County they also performed and did lecture/demonstrations in libraries in Kahului, Moloka'i and Lana'i sponsored by the Performing Arts Presenters of Hawaii (MACC is a member). They also performed a school show in Castle Theater at MACC for 450 students and teachers as well as three free community performances in Hana, Molokai and Lanai.
In the past year, more than 7,735 people were served throughout Maui County in MACC programs like these, through 48 activities taking place in community centers and social agencies, school shows.
|
|
Lecture/demonstration at Lana'i School
|
|
Shank's Mare in Kahului Library
|
|
Puppet artists Tom Lee and
Koryu Nishikawa V
|
|
Community performance in Hana.
|
|
School show for 450 kids in the Castle Theater today.
|
|
Renowned photographer
Susan Middleton
's exhibit "
Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life"
has been very popular with the public of all ages - and an education for all ages. We had a unique opportunity to feature an artist in the Gallery who was able to bridge art and science in educational opportunities for the Maui community at large.
The educational aspects of this exhibit included:
- Explanatory exhibit tours, i.e. "walk-throughs"
- A teachers professional development (credited) workshop on Sept 23 presented by Susan Middleton and focusing on techniques of "Visual Storytelling" (see education brochure for full description of workshop and exhibit)
- Two artist's workshops with Susan at Baldwin High School (total 491 students) on "Visual Storytelling" and "Marine Science and Biodiversity" - the convergence of art and science!
- Observe & Play Family Day, where a record number of 340 keiki and parents came to see the cool photos and make sea creatures of their own!
If you haven't already seen
Spineless
for yourself, you still have a couple days' chance! The exhibit
will be
open through October 1.
Below: Susan Middleton at the exhibit opening reception, and keiki exploring their ultra-marine creativity at Observe & Play Family Day.
|
|
Susan Middleton at one of the two artist's workshops at Baldwin High School,
where she covered two topics: "Visual Storytelling" and "Marine Science and Biodiversity."
|
|
The MACC Education Department worked with the
DOE on a
teacher's workshop
during "Waiver Day" (required for professional development) on Sept 22 at King Kekaulike HS. The workshop focused on arts projects integrating with science content. One of our CanDo! Days teaching artists shared an arts-and-science lesson with Upcountry elementary school teachers.
"I really appreciate the ability to participate in art that connects to science. I enjoyed being able to work through a creative process,"
said a 5th grade curriculum coordinator.
|
|
|
|
In September alone, 750 Maui school children participated in 14 CanDo! Days: field trips at MACC where students learn more about music, dance, drama and visual arts.
I
n 2016-17
, over 17,000 students attended MACC arts education programs
, through 124 events, including CanDo! Days and school shows,
|
|
Why are our Artists in the Community and Arts Education programs so relevant?
Read what our own celebrity 'sistah', Kathy Collins, wrote in her "Sharing Mana'o" column in
The Maui News
this week for a personal testimony:
"My first joyful interaction with the students and community of Hana was over a dozen years ago, when
Willie K and I visited as part of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s outreach program
. Willie conducted a music workshop for the high-schoolers while I led a performance arts session with the younger kids... Tita told Hawaiian legends and spread the word of pidgin pride, and Willie and his band blew everyone away with a lively concert.
That night, the MACC sponsored a free show for an overflow crowd at Helene Hall....
It was a young local girl who provided the most gratifying moment of that memorable trip. After the school performance, this little girl, probably a 2nd- or 3rd-grader, hugged me and said, “My brothers always tease me and say I’m a tita. Now I’m gonna go home and tell them, ‘that’s a GOOD thing!’
I think it is. And a tita who likes to read, well, that’s even better.
“
click to read Kathy's whole column
Sharing Mana'o
C
hicken Skin, eh? The power of the arts can help break down barriers and infuse confidence. In fact, as our founding chairman, Pundy Yokouchi, always said:
“The arts are education. They lift up the human spirit, and help us become better people.”
|
|
The MACC is more than just tickets.
There's plenty of great things to see and do here,
free
and
ticketed.
But when you do buy a ticket or renew a membership, keep in mind that it all goes to help support the many free and community-oriented events that happen
without
a ticket!
There are dozens of new shows being announced this week alone.
The 2017-18 brochure with many of
"The MACC Presents..."
events -- our "collection" of performing and visual arts throughout the fall, winter and spring -- is posted online now.
"The MACC Presents..."
will go on-sale to MACC members first on October 3.
Click on the cover below to read all about it!
|
|
|
Click on the cover image or link below
for the current month's edition of our
October events
@ the MACC
OR click on the button below
to read about everything @ the MACC.
We're sure you'll find
something of interest
for everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|