Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors the Congressional Art Competition, a high school visual art competition celebrating artistic talent in U.S. congressional districts. More than 650,000 high school students have participated in the competition since it began in the early 1980s. Artworks must be original two-dimensional pieces that can include paintings, drawings, collages, prints, photographs or mixed-media…
The relationship between arts education and improved student outcomes is well-established, with research demonstrating that students who study the arts have better attendance, lower dropout rates, and higher standardized test scores in reading and math and are better prepared to enter the workforce. The North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) has long recognized the importance of…
In a move to foster and celebrate the creativity of youth, the Arkansas Arts Council has launched the Arts Across Arkansas initiative. This annual program nurtures artistic expression and creativity, develops local talent through mentoring with teaching artists, and fosters community engagement in arts learning. The project aims to encourage and expand high school students’ creativity by…
State arts agencies are vital partners in supporting student learning and engagement in the arts and the professional development of arts educators. To this end, the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) promotes and assists in the development of teaching professionals and reinforces state fine arts standards through its biennial Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit. IAC’s Fine…
Recognizing the important role that arts learning plays in promoting human development, creativity, critical thinking, cultural understanding and civic participation, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is committed to supporting arts education for young people in the state. Youth Arts Project Grants are an important part of this commitment, which aims to broaden…
The Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment (MAEIA) project is a comprehensive effort to improve arts education in Michigan. The goal of MAEIA is to provide educators with a set of high-quality arts education resources that can be used to develop effective instruction and assessments for K-12 students in Michigan. The initiative is a collaboration…
The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) supports cultural heritage education and engagement through the Youth Cultural Heritage Grant Program. Funded by the Rasmuson Foundation, the program helps school-age children and youth have meaningful interactions with culture bearers, elders and teaching artists. Students learn traditional and contemporary art forms integral to many aspects of…
Capitol art exhibits are a strategy state arts agencies adopt to showcase and celebrate the arts as an important part of state policy and public pride. Exhibiting artworks or cultural events in state capitol buildings helps to raise public awareness about the arts, create visibility for local artists and educate elected officials about the role…
Research indicates that museums provide ideal spaces for exploration, immersive learning and critical thinking for children. They also offer opportunities for social, cognitive and emotional development. To provide children and families with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences in 2019 during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Summer…
The arts and arts education play an important role in supporting both students and educators in school environments, with research showing that the arts can bolster student achievement, support effective instruction, and improve school culture and community engagement (learn more). Recognizing the power that arts education holds for all in the education ecosystem, the Indiana…
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