Seattle Public Schools Arts Newsletter | October, 2020
The Arts Are Healing
Mural at Roxhill Elementary in West Seattle created by Henry Luke and the school community
On October 9th, more than 250 Seattle Schools staff and Creative Advantage partners joined the workshop, "A Pause for Presence: The Art of Allowing Education to Heal” with mental health counselor Dr. Bre Haizlip. That morning we were all artists who learned to center our own wellness because as Dr. Bre said:

When art meets people where they are; it has the power to heal and transform society. In these unprecedented times, we are ALL experiencing varying degrees of trauma and uncertainty. In order to effectively tap into this healing agent, educators must have a moment to pause for presence and reflect on how trauma impacts both teaching and learning...

We then can take these learnings into applying trauma-informed principles to use art as an agent of healing and a catalyst for positive social change.

Dr. Bre led us through movement, art, and writing activities that easily translate to the classroom. The Creative Advantage is working to bring to bring Dr. Bre back for additional workshops this year. In the meantime, if you are looking for ideas for how to incorporate arts and healing into your classroom community, please check out these resources:
Stay Inside the Lines Seattle:
Free Coloring Pages from Local Seattle Artists
Speaking of art and healing, did you know that research has shown that repetitive strokes while coloring provides temporary relief to life stressors and promotes relaxation?

Local Seattle artists have created a collection of free coloring pages for our community. Artists include OneSevenNine, Kyler Martz, Henry, and Joey Nix. A physical coloring book may also be ordered and the proceeds will be used to supply art materials to schools.
Partner Spotlight:
In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day this October, Creative Advantage teaching artists, Fern Naomi Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) of Red Eagle Soaring & Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha S’Klallam) have been sharing traditional stories via Facebook livestream weeknights at 7pm (PST). You can find the videos here on Vimeo. They are delightful and Roger and Fern welcome you to share them with your students.
Have questions or ideas about ways forward this fall? 

Drop in to Creative Advantage OFFICE HOURS. Audrey and Tina are available every Thursday @ 3pm. Register here. We'll send out the Teams link just prior to meeting each week.
Remote Learning Art Kits for Students
In Seattle, the arts move forward through collaboration and persistence. Through a collective effort to assemble multiple funding sources this Fall, Seattle schools will be able to purchase art materials at every school that has students enrolled in visual arts courses and that have expressed a need. The organizations coming together to make this possible are: Seattle Public Schools, the National Endowment for the Arts , Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and the Seahawks donation made last spring.
 
As a city and district, we are showing our students that we value the arts and that we want students to feel affirmed with quality art materials while learning at home.

Photos at left: Art kits being built at (from top) John Muir by Julie Trout  and Denny by Lida Ench-Keene
Opportunities for Students
More Music at the Moore
Student Auditions
STG's More Music @ The Moore program will celebrate 20 years in 2021! We are now seeking musicians from a great variety of style and genres, spanning world, cultural, popular, classical and contemporary music.

Auditions are being held to select a few of the region’s most talented emerging artists, ages 14-21, for a virtual performance at The Moore Theatre. The first round of auditions is via video submission. Benefits include artist payment, mentorship, collaboration, and more.The deadline to submit your audition is October 30th. For more information and to sign-up visit: bit.ly/MoreMusic20th
Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students (grades 9-12). Participating students develop public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn to connect with literature in new ways, often discovering a new outlet for creative expression.


Poetry Out Loud is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation. ArtsWA coordinates and manages the program in Washington State. Registration is open now through November 16, 2020.
Amplifier
Teen Art Contest
“In Pursuit Of__” is an art contest for 13-19 year olds, brought to you by Unshuttered at the J. Paul Getty Museum and Amplifier!“In Pursuit of__” is the 2020 theme of the

They have put together a ‘masterclass’ style 30-minute video and lesson plan teaching you how to make visual artworks documenting what YOU are in pursuit of in your life, right now.

All you need is a cell phone camera and something to write with. The world is full of stories. What is yours?

Winners will have a chance to have their work included in an exciting Amplifier projection series in cities nationwide and in a special J. Paul Getty Museum exhibit in 2021! 

Contest ends December 11, 2020 - submit today!
Out of School Time
Remote Art Classes with Creative Advantage Partners
Dance
K-5
Active mini-lesson videos
Free

Theatre
10 and up
Scholarships available

All ages
Broadway Inclusion Program - theatre arts programming to neurodivergent and/or disabled community members and their families and caregivers.
Free

The Day the Crayons Quit, Wicked, In The Heights, Social/Emotional Learning Through Drama, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
Prices $185-$375; financial aid is available

Visual Art
Create, Perform and Play for all ages
Visual art for elementary
Free

Youth model making workshops are for ages 11-16
Scholarships available

Teens (14-19)
Rubber stamp making and mixed media will be combined to make postcard assemblages, decorated letters, and other creative parcels to be mailed to friends, loved-ones, and community.
Zoom from 4:30pm-6:30pm, Fridays, October 30th through December 4th (not meeting on Friday, November 27th).
Free

Teens (13-19)
Photography: Media, Archives and the Pursuit of Happiness, Pinhole Camera
Pay what you can
NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS 
The Woodland Park Players has grants in the $500 to $1,000 range to be awarded in Feb, 2021. Grant applications will be accepted for projects that bring arts opportunities to Seattle area public school students. Applications may be submitted from Oct 1, 2020 until Jan 15th, 2021. Grant recipients will be notified in February 2021.

For more information about our organization go to:

Go to the 'More' tab and select 'Grant Program' to fill out an application.
Also coming this year in The Creative Advantage:

  • Creative Career Connections to connect creative professionals with SPS visual and performing arts teachers to be guest speakers in their remote classrooms.
  • Creative Advantage All Access Arts Streaming Live streaming lessons with community artists that feature culturally responsive teaching and focus on mindfulness, movement, creativity and self-expression. 
  • Regional Arts Festivals go virtual to showcase student creativity and voice.
  • Arts Integration Professional Development Series with a focus on remote learning, SEL and anti-racist healing through the arts.
Resources
As you work to expand the arts in your school community, here are a few websites and people you can look to for help:

Drop in to Creative Advantage OFFICE HOURS. Audrey and Tina are available every Thursday @ 3pm. Register here. We'll send out the link just prior to meeting each week.


The Creative Advantage Page on the SPS website
Resources and tools for arts teams, Creative Advantage news and archived newsletters.

The Community Arts Partner Roster is a vetted list of teaching artists and community arts and culture organizations approved to work in Seattle Public Schools through the Creative Advantage.

The Creative Advantage Website Provides an overview of The Creative Advantage and the value of arts education.

If you can't find what you need on-line, contact the Creative Advantage staff:
 
Audrey Querns-SPS project manager for Creative Advantage (for questions about arts teams and planning, arts partner logistics like contracts and funding)
 
Tina LaPadula - Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Arts Education Manager (for questions about the Arts Partner Roster and working with teaching artists and arts organizations) 

Gail Sehlhorst-SPS Visual and Performing Arts Manager (for questions about arts staffing, curriculum and assessment, and supports for arts teachers)

Ashraf Hasham-Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Youth Arts Manager

Pam Ivezic - SPS Music Specialist (for questions about supports for music teachers and programs)

Masao Yamada - Regional Arts Festival Event Manager (for questions about participating in the 2020-21 Southeast or Central Regional Arts Festivals)