Arts in the Schools

Overcoming barriers to accessing high-quality arts activities and supporting high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for residents of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. Many greater Minnesota schools have self-identified as needing more arts integrated learning opportunities for students and embedded staff development; this project not only helps to meet those needs, but also introduces subject matter and arts learning opportunities not readily available to schools in greater Minnesota. While we do enjoy a nice community theatre season, the connection of arts integration in the classroom is simply not a resource within our region. Now that we've seen what can happen in those kinds of classes, we want to work to make sure all of our students get to experience at least once. Because of these residencies, arts learners are able to look beyond differences, come to an understanding about their shared experience, and learn how they can work together to build peace. Significantly, this project is sparking conversations in resident communities on issues of equity, respect, integrity, opportunity, race, gender, sexuality, theatre, the arts in general, and that “peace” means different things to different people. PoP activities are helping to achieve the stated outcomes for students to learn how to become agents for peace in their communities through creative expression and collaboration and for teachers to learn arts integration strategies they can implement when teaching topics related to social issues and across curricula. Student will complete pre- and post-surveys.