Arts education is a unique model within the United States’ education system, in that arts learning is truly provided by a myriad of stakeholders—certified teachers, parents, afterschool programs, community centers, etc. Sometimes this happens in a well-orchestrated manner. Sometimes these relationships are fraught with strife, such as making a decision to spend money on a certified arts instructor versus a community-based program that would serve more students but on a less frequent basis.

Is our goal to advocate for arts education that is only or primarily taught by certified educators? Or, is a mix of instruction by arts specialists, teaching artists, and general classroom teachers truly best? How can our field lead the way in education reform as we look at a framework of shared delivery and shared leadership for instruction in our content area? As technology continues to rapidly change, and budgets continue to decline, this model of shared responsibility might just be the wave of the future in all of education.

First, learn about the theory and the history of the Shared Endeavor philosophy. Second, learn from a panel of experts in shared delivery of arts education in their communities from across America. And third, hear from an arts advocate who used this model to advocate for continued quality arts education in her community!

Speakers:

• Talia Gibas: Manager, Arts For All LA County Arts Commission
• Deborah E. Mikula: Executive Director, Arts Council of Greater Lansing 
• Jennifer Oliver: Interim Executive Director, Young Audiences of San Diego
• Rosalind Flynn: Educational Drama Specialist, Head of the M.A. Theatre Education at Catholic University of America
• Mary Ruth McGinn: 3rd Grade Teacher, Stedwick Elementary School, Montgomery County, Maryland