FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2018
Chatham Arts Council Celebrates National Arts in Education Week
Communities across the Country Come Together to Advocate for the Incredible Impact of Arts in Education
Pittsboro, NC—September 9-15 marks the eighth annual National Arts in Education Week, where arts enthusiasts across the country join forces to share the positive effect arts in education has on our nation’s students. At the core of this event is advocating for equity in access to arts education, as it can be a crucial avenue to academic success.
“We know that underserved schools are less likely to be able to offer comprehensive arts in education opportunities,” explained Chatham Arts Council (CAC) Board President, Taylor Hobbs. “The CAC understands the significance of arts in education and is working to help foster arts programs in our county schools. We encourage our community to share the positive impact of arts in education with elected officials and school decision-makers to encourage the implementation of valuable arts programs in schools.”
There are many ways to commemorate this week: hosting an arts in education community celebration, advocating for the value of arts in education through op-eds or resolutions, and working together to bring national visibility to the importance of arts in education. More information on how to find, share, and get involved with celebrations across the country is available at www.NationalArtsInEducationWeek.org.
The Chatham Arts Council is a huge proponent of arts in education. For the past three years, the CAC’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative has been bringing professional artists into schools to support math, science, language, and history curricula. Through interactive, engaging workshops taught by theatre actors, performance artists, dancers, mural painters, African drummers, and strings musicians, students have unique opportunities for a deeper engagement with learning objectives. Chatham County has excellent arts teachers and placing professional artists in schools to support them is part of a research-backed comprehensive arts education.
“Through our Artists-in-Schools Initiative, we’ve seen first-hand the impact the arts can have in reinforcing curriculum and providing meaningful connections to lessons being taught every day,” expressed Cheryl Chamblee, Executive Director of the Chatham Arts Council. “We’re looking forward to a full year, including award-winning playwright and performance artist, Mike Wiley, who will reinforce literacy and history curriculum at Silk Hope School and Siler City Elementary.”
Research shows that students involved in the arts are four times as likely to be recognized for academic achievement. That’s why the CAC is planning to expand the program to all ten traditional public elementary schools in Chatham County in the 2018-2019 school year, reaching 2,766 children, and making 24 direct curriculum connections. It’s a powerful program.
ABOUT NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK
Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week that follows the second Sunday of September as National Arts in Education Week. The celebration is intended to bring attention to the cause of arts education for elected officials and educational decision makers across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students.
ABOUT THE CHATHAM ARTS COUNCIL
The Chatham Arts Council nurtures creative thinkers in Chatham County. We do this in two ways: (1) We invest in artists. And (2) We educate kids through the arts. In its thirty-fifth year as a nonprofit arts agency, Chatham Arts Council’s flagship programs include Meet This Artist, Go See This, Grassroots Arts Grants, and the Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative—serving more than 2,500 children this year. Chatham Arts Council is proud to partner with the NC Arts Council, the Durham Arts Council, Chatham County Schools, and numerous Chatham arts organizations, human resource nonprofits, and local businesses. For more information on the CAC, visit www.chathamartscouncil.org.
CONTACT: For more information, or to set up an interview with Chatham County artists, please contact April Starling, Marketing/Public Relations Leader of the Chatham Arts Council, april@chathamartscouncil.org or 917.544.0608.
NOTE: Feel free to publish partially or in its entirety, with or without a byline. The article was written by April Starling, Marketing/Public Relations Leader, Chatham Arts Council.
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