News

Ohio Arts Council Launches New Arts Learning Grant Program

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:46:07 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio – November 14, 2017

The application for the Ohio Arts Council’s (OAC) newest arts learning program, TeachArtsOhio (TAO), is now open. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2018.

TAO brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, and high-quality arts learning experiences.

Ohio Arts Council Executive Director Donna S. Collins said the OAC is excited to further invest in Ohio’s arts education through the TAO program.

“The TeachArtsOhio program offers Ohio students an educational opportunity to more deeply interact with the arts throughout their general school curriculum and classes,” Collins said. “All of us at the Ohio Arts Council look forward to supporting our students, teachers, artists, and communities in creating more innovative educational opportunities.”

Grants are awarded to schools to cover the artist fees, and 100 percent of the artist fees are paid for using OAC funds, alleviating financial burdens from school and district budgets.

While no cash match is required, schools must provide all program-related materials and supplies.

Ohio’s public, private, charter, or parochial schools (pre-kindergarten through grade 12) are eligible to apply for the TAO program, which offers learners the opportunity to participate in a unique creative process, bridge cultural differences, and develop fresh ways of learning through the arts.

TAO programs aim to showcase lasting benefits from in-person contact and collaboration with professional artists who are experienced in working with school age children and youth.

Applicants may apply for TeachArtsOhio in one of five categories according to residency length:

o Express: A brief mini-residency within a single week

o Basic: A residency of between two and four weeks

o Grading Period: A residency of approximately six to nine weeks

o Full Semester: A residency of approximately 18 weeks

o Academic Year: A residency of approximately 36 weeks

A panel of arts and cultural professionals, educators, artists, and other community members will evaluate and score TAO grant applications.

Applications will be judged on criteria divided into four categories: Program Quality, Community Engagement, Defining and Measuring Success, and Resource Management.

For more information about the TeachArtsOhio program and how to apply, visit oac.ohio.gov/grants#4435-arts-learning or contact Jarred Small at jarred.small@oac.ohio.gov.

ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov.

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Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist

Ohio Arts Council Awarded Art Education Honors

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:33:01 GMT

OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins and OAC Board Member Susan Allan Block Accepted the Distinguished Organization for Art Education Award at the Ohio Art Education Association Professional Development Conference

TOLEDO, Ohio – November 3, 2017

The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) has been named the recipient of a statewide award honoring art education efforts throughout the state.

As part of the Ohio Art Education Association’s (OAEA) annual award program, the OAC was selected as the state award winner through a juried vote of all regional winners of the 2017 Distinguished Organization for Art Education Award.

OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins and OAC Board Member Susan Allan Block accepted the award on behalf of the OAC at the 2017 OAEA Conference at a Nov. 2 ceremony in Toledo.

“Every child in Ohio, from pre-k to grade 12, deserves an education that includes the arts. At the Ohio Arts Council, we believe our investment in arts education is a priority,” Collins said.

A statewide service organization, the OAEA aims to build a community for visual art educators by promoting professional growth and leadership. The Distinguished Organization for Art Education Award is given to business organizations in each region of Ohio that demonstrate a high level of support for arts education throughout the state of Ohio. A statewide recipient is selected from this pool of regional winners.

“The Ohio Arts Council is a steadfast champion for arts education,” said Jarrod Hartzler, immediate past president of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education. “Their work positively impacts what is good for students and provides resources for teachers and principals to supplement the good work arts educators are already doing in schools. The OAC is second to none across the nation.”

In FY 2016 and FY 2017, the OAC awarded $4 million in arts learning grants through its TeachArtsOhio, Arts Partnership, Poetry Out Loud, and Big Yellow School Bus programs.

The OAC was nominated for the OAEA award by Dr. Janet Fedorenko, retired principal of Hanby Arts Magnet School in Westerville.

In her nomination support letter, written on behalf of the Tri-County Educational Service Center in Wooster, Dr. Michelle Muro, a fine arts consultant, described arts education programming that was funded by the OAC.

“We are indebted to the Ohio Arts Council for hearing our requests, working with us to promote arts education to serve a broader range of students, and providing students and teachers with resources that make the arts important in the realm of a complete education,” she said.

Sara Danner Hebdo, an art teacher at Rosemore Middle School, also described the impact the TeachArtsOhio program had on her students through her letter of support.

“The experience of having a teaching artist in my classroom one day a week has had a profound impact on my students and myself as an educator,” she said.

Collins expressed gratitude for the award, and praised work done throughout the state to support arts education initiatives.

“The Ohio Arts Council is so appreciative of the nomination and award from OAEA. To us, the award is a signal that our Board and staff are doing a good job by investing in arts education, students, and teachers through our state and federal budget appropriations,” she said. “The Ohio Art Education Association is an example of a statewide organization that focuses on students, lifelong learning, and enhancing education at all levels.”

For more information about the OAC’s Arts Learning programs, visit oac.ohio.gov/grants#4435-arts-learning.

ABOUT THE OHIO ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The OAEA is a statewide service organization operated by an executive committee and board of directors, consisting of elected representatives from nine regions and eight divisions. These volunteers serve in a variety of capacities on the local, regional, and state levels. Other members represent the Distinguished Fellows, Ohio Art Education Foundation, and Committee Chairs.

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Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Donna S. Collins
Article by Kayla Draper, 2017-18 Social Media and Events Fellow

Ohio Arts Council Board Approves More Than $12M in Awards for Arts in Ohio

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:04:23 GMT

635 Grants Awarded to Artists and Arts Organizations throughout Ohio

Click to Tweet: .@OhioArtsCouncil's board has approved $12M in awards to support 635 grants for #OhioArts! https://ctt.ec/b282D+

COLUMBUS, Ohio - July 20, 2017

Ohio Student Competes at 2017 Poetry Out Loud National Finals

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 09:54:33 GMT

Columbus Student Wins 2017 Ohio Poetry Out Loud State Finals

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 15:10:39 GMT

Madeleine Schroeder, a senior at Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS), won Ohio’s 12th annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) State Finals held on Saturday, March 4, at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center in Worthington, Ohio. Schroeder recited “The Gaffe” by C.K. Williams, “Snow Day” by Billy Collins, and “I Find No Peace” by Thomas Wyatt.

As the state champion, Schroeder earns a $300 prize and an all-expense-paid trip to represent Ohio in the 2017 National Finals in Washington, D.C., April 25-26. The total award pool is $50,000, including a $20,000 top prize for the national champion. The POL National Finals will feature students from every state as well as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.