Nationally-Renowned Artists Headline Tennessee Arts Academy

Nashville, TN – An esteemed cast of music, theatre and visual arts educators will share their expertise at the 21st Tennessee Arts Academy. The bill includes forums with John Seigenthaler and Alan LeQuire; musical and dance performances; and clinics covering comedy to sculpture to world music.

 

“Even the most creative minds need fresh ideas to effectively engage students,” Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. “The miracle of arts education is how engaging the creative side can strengthen students’ abilities in other areas of learning.”

 

Research has shown arts education to propel the development of critical thinking, problem solving and cooperative learning skills. Each year, Tennessee invites nationally-renowned specialists to share ideas and stimulate new ones with Tennessee educators. This year, more than 250 K-12 teachers and administrators plan to participate.

 

“It’s exciting to think that for every teacher who attends the Academy there are thousands of students who will be exposed to the ideas shared here,” Tennessee Arts Education Director Jeanette Crosswhite said. “The vision is for imaginative, standards-based arts education to flourish across Tennessee and for all students to graduate having been inspired by an encounter with the arts.”

 

The Tennessee Department of Education is hosting the Academy July 8-13 at Belmont University. In addition to being arts educators, the Academy faculty includes composers, authors, actors, conductors, professors, a vocalist, a theatre director and a puppeteer.

 

Sample clinics include:

o     Maintaining the Integrity: Creatively Integrating Music into Other Academic Curricula while Achieving and Assessing Music Standards

o     Tragedy Tomorrow! Comedy Tonight! The Actor’s Exploration into the Comic Unknown

o     Sculptural Bookmaking

o     Safe and Simple Printmaking

 

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.  

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