fine arts education EXPRESSIONS
Summer Send Off 2023
Summer Send Off 2023
Do you have an email address update for next year? Please let us know.
Please share this newsletter!
- ESU Professional Development Staff, District Supervisors, Department Chairs, and Organization Leadership: Please send this information to the fine arts teachers in your service area, district, or organization.
- Fine Arts Teachers: Please share with your colleagues and friends.
- If you're receiving this newsletter from someone else and want to receive it directly, be sure to sign up to be on the NDE Fine Arts Education mailing list. You'll receive newsletters, invitations to events, and special announcements.
Head Into Summer in Style!
In just a few short weeks, school year 2022-2023 will be history! I hope your year has been one where you've seen growth in your kids and in yourself. As teachers, we never really stop learning, do we?
This year, I know I've learned a lot. Personally, the highlight of my year has been working with you, the amazing arts educators, arts organization staff members, ESU and district personnel, arts faculty at colleges and universities, pre-service teachers, folks at other state departments, and my colleagues here at the NDE. My kids often would catch me and call me out because I always had so many "favorites." I can honestly say that's easy to do when you get me talking arts and arts ed. It's all my favorite!
I hope your summer is one of rest and rejuvenation. Enjoy the last few days of the school year and be well! -Cody
P.S. Be sure to check your email from time to time, as I have some exciting announcements on the horizon.
MONA Joins the Fine Arts Exchange
The Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) has recently been added to the Fine Arts Exchange. Check them out to see how the renovation is coming. They also have two new staff members for their education programs. I hope you'll consider contacting Christine or Becky if you want to learn more.
I've already started thinking about next year's Fine Arts Exchange. If you know of an arts organization (non-profit or state agency) in Nebraska that has opportunities for arts educators to extend, enhance, and enrich arts learning, please let Cody know.
Nebraska Public Media Seeks Student Composers
Composers of music will not be paid, but will be notified and credited during end credits and on the "What If..." website. Composers retain all rights for other uses of their music, and any submitted pieces will only be used in "What If..."
Send your original music and any questions to Nebraska Public Media's "What If..." producer and host Mike Tobias. Check out the "What If" Series on NPM's website to learn more.
Nebraska Arts Council to host State Arts Awards
The Nebraska Arts Council will host the State Arts Awards at the Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln on October 19, 2023. This biennial awards program recognizes individuals and organizations that shape our state’s artistic landscape. The impact of the arts, and these honorees, is felt in the classrooms, in Nebraska's economy, and throughout communities all across our state.
Nominations are currently open for the following: Access to the Arts, Outstanding Artist, Leadership in the Arts, Excellence in Arts Education, the Heritage Award, Organization Achievement Award, and the Thomas C. Woods III Partner in the Arts Award. Be sure to submit your nominations by June 30, 2023.
Calibraska Arts Summer 2023
Calibraska Arts Initiative is revving up for its 10th anniversary. This summer is full of fun classes and camps where kids and adults can learn from experienced LA based professionals in the arts! Summer long online classes include Creative Writing for both teens and adults, Documentary Photography (13-18yrs), and Acting for Self-Tape Auditions (16 yrs & up). This year there is also a very special series of FREE virtual workshops for K-12th grades with NICKELODEON ANIMATION!
Calibraska will also be in-person on our Nebraska "tour." We will be in Lincoln June 11-23, Omaha June 21-30, Scottsbluff July 1-14, and North Platte July 17-21. This summer we are offering multi-generational animation classes as well as animation and music video camps for teens. Registration is open now. Scholarships and discounts are available, too.
May 17, 2023 Update - Catch the latest news from Erica at Calibraska!
Opera Omaha's Poetry and Music Project
This program was in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective, American Opera Project, and UNOmaha.
National Poetry Out Loud Competition
Catch highlights on the NEA's Youtube Channel.
Summer Arts Activities
Here's just a few to get you started: Party in the Parks in Lincoln, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Grand Island Summer Concert Series, Norfolk Downtown Summer Concert, Flatwater Music Festival in Hastings, Bands on Broadway in Scottsbluff, Sheldon Statewide in Falls City, Kearney Area Arts Council Concerts in the Park, Jazz on the Green in Omaha, Seward Arts Council's Summer Events and Art Cart, Concerts, Exercise and more at the Omaha Riverfront, Nebraska State Fair Concerts and Exhibitions, Omaha Symphony's Independence Day Celebration, and Jazz in June in Lincoln. Also check out your local library. There's lots going on at our Nebraska public libraries!
NEWS FROM NEBRASKA'S ART EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS
Great Plains Orff Chapter
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will offer Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Levels I and II for those interested in studying the pedagogy of Orff Schulwerk. These courses are certified by the American Orff Schulwerk Association and offered for UNL graduate credit.
Nebraska Art Teachers Association
NATA recently hosted its annual preservice spring forum where Dr. Marilyn Stewart of Kutztown, PA, shared resources for middle level educators through Davis Publications.
Join NATA's webinar, A Journey to the Heart, My Home in the Understanding Belonging Series. with guest Renee Sans Souci, a member of the Umonhon Nation tribe and a Teaching Artist with the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 6:30 PM CT/5:30 PM MT. Be sure to pre-register for this event.
NATA will hold its annual summer board meeting in July and then gear up for the 2023 NATA Fall Conference in Lincoln, October 13-14, 2023. More information can be found on NATA's social media pages.
Nebraska American String Teachers Association
Nebraska Music Educators Association
We are excited to announce our Summer Leadership Symposium being held on June 9, 2023, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on the University of Nebraska-Kearney campus. Open to all NMEA members, this one-day symposium will explore how to “Identify and Activate Your Leadership Style” in your classroom, school, and community with sessions led by Dr. Glenn Nierman and Kathy Ohlman. Be sure register for this event!
Nebraska State Bandmasters Association
Nebraska Thespians
Nebraska Thespian's Fall Leadership Retreat will be August 12 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM (with the option for troupe time until noon) at Burke High School in Omaha. Round table discussions and time for networking will also be scheduled into the event. Registration is now open. Teachers and students are encouraged to come.
The mission of Nebraska Thespians is to shape lives through Theatre Education. Our goal is to quality theatre programs in every school across our great state. If you would like to start a thespian troupe at your school, or know a school that doesn't have a thespian troupe, please email board@nebstatethespian.com so we can get the process started.
Plains States Kodaly Organization
UNOmaha will offer Kodaly levels this summer for teachers who want to increase their skills in teaching with a program that promotes music literacy through experiences in singing, movement and reading. This program is endorsed by the American Organization of Kodaly Educators.
National Dance Society - National Conference in Omaha Summer 2023
Members of SHAPE Nebraska are eligible for the membership/partners rate and non-members are welcome to come, too.
Evening events include.
- Opening ceremonies at Stinson Park (67th & Center Streets, in Omaha) at 7:30 PM, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Featuring Native American musicians and dancers from Nebraska. This is event is free and open to the public.
- Gala Performance on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 7:30 PM in the Dance Lab (Room 229) at UNO's Health & Kinesiology Building showcasing major dance companies from the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Tickets are $10.
Be sure to check the National Dance Society's website for more information.
Information from Nebraska's Arts Education Organizations is provided as a resource and is not an endorsement of the NDE.
Do you know of another organization not listed? If so, have them contact Cody.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Nebraska Arts Councils Open Now
APPLY NOW FOR ARTS GRANTS! The Nebraska Arts Council is now accepting grant applications for next school year. Schools may apply for programs taking place anytime between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.
- School Bus for the Arts Grants support field trips to professional arts performances or art exhibits.
- Artists in Schools/Communities Grants pay artist fees for NAC Roster Teaching Artists, who engage students in creative and educational arts activities.
Nebraskans for the Arts - Arts Award Applications Open
Humanities Nebraska Grant Opportunities
For more information, including grant categories, eligibility, deadlines, and applications, visit Humanities Nebraska.
Nebraska Excellence in Teaching Forgivable Loan Programs
The Nebraska Department of Education provides programs to help address teacher shortage areas. Currently, music, visual arts, and theatre are considered educator shortage areas.
The Enhancing Excellence in Teaching Program (EETP) provides forgivable loans (up to $3,000/year for a maximum of five years) to Nebraska teachers enrolled in an eligible graduate program at an eligible Nebraska institution.
For more information on these programs, visit the NDE Educator Preparation or contact Excellence in Teaching Act Specialist, Kelcy Sass at kelcy.sass@nebraska.gov.
TECHNOLOGY TIDBITS
Check out Crayola for summer resources for creative learning. There are activity sheets, read-aloud videos, how-to art activities, and more.
Comprehensive Musicianship: A Practical Resource with accompanying workbooks: Workbook for Comprehensive Musicianship: A Practical Resource and Aural Training and Sight Singing, published by the Iowa Regents, is a new resource available in the OER (Open Educational Resources).
Check out the Nebraska State Fair Competitions. Categories include photography, quilts, textile arts, and visual arts.
Looking for new lesson plans for your music classroom? Explore the resources from Dr. Shelly Cooper available on the Plains States Kodaly Organization's website.
The digital tools shared in this newsletter are shared with teachers to increase their knowledge on how the application or site could be used in the classroom however, students should only use digital tools and resources and only those tools and resources that have been approved by the teacher’s school district for student use.
Do you have a favorite site, app, or tech tidbit you'd like to share? Email Cody to include your idea in the next edition of the EXPRESSIONS.
Connect with Nebraska's Fine Arts Education
Let's connect and work together for all kids in Nebraska to have access and opportunities in arts education.
- Sign Up to be on the NDE Fine Arts Education mailing list. You'll receive newsletters, invitations to events, and special announcements.
- Follow Nebraska Fine Arts on Twitter at @NDE_FineArts. Use the #FineArtsEdNebraska to highlight the many amazing Fine Arts Education opportunities, events, and learning.
- Find out more about Fine Arts Education in Nebraska and view past editions of the NDE Fine Arts Expressions Newsletter.
Nebraska Department of Education
Mailing: PO Box 94987, Lincoln, NE 68509-4987
Email: cody.talarico@nebraska.gov
Website: education.ne.gov/finearts
Phone: 4023147822
Twitter: @NDE_FineArts
Links to third-party websites do not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of the sites.
Decisions about curriculum and instructional materials are made locally by individual school districts and classroom teachers. The Nebraska Department of Education does not mandate the curriculum used within a local school. The digital tools shared in this newsletter are shared with teachers to increase their knowledge on how the application or site could be used in the classroom however, students should only use digital tools and resources and only those tools and resources that have been approved by the teacher’s school district for student use.
Pictures from photosforclass.com (no attribution required) or provided by the school or organization and used with permission. Organization logos used with permission.