Create, Legislate and Celebrate: A Day of Fine Arts Advocacy

96 Pages·2015·1.16 MB·English

A DAY OF
FINE ARTS ADVOCACY
January 28, 2015 Page 1
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Iowa Alliance for Arts Education
Executive Board
David Law, Chair
Martha Kroese, Treasurer
Maggie Parks, Secretary
Donna Angell
Gretta Berghammer
Ken Esveld
Mark Lehmann
Robin Walenta
FINE ARTS
ADVOCACY
Executive Director: Leon Kuehner
DAY
Advisory Board
Art Educators of Iowa: Andrew McCormick
Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa: Clar Baldus
JANUARY 28, 2015 Iowa Arts Council: Matt Harris
Iowa Association of School Boards: Paul Griffen
Iowa Association of School Music Dealers: Dave Krogan
Iowa Bandmasters Association: Jacquelyn Meunier
Iowa Choral Directors Association: Jennifer Gaesser
Iowa Communications Association: Sarah Schaefer
Iowa Dance: Cindy Herndon
Iowa Department of Education: Rosanne Malek
Iowa High School Music Association: Alan Greiner
Iowa High School Speech Association: Liz Hansen
Iowa Music Educators Association: Kris Versteegt
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About the artwork:
The artwork found throughout this document are pieces that have been created by Iowa elemen-
tary, middle school and high school students.
About the testimonials:
Testimonials are presented in their original unedited form.
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The following testimonials below have been gathered from
citizens throughout Iowa. They answer the question:
“How has fi ne arts (music, visual arts, drama, theatre, dance)
education impacted your life?”
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December 4, 2013
Members of the Iowa Legislature,
As a clarinet player in high school in North Dakota, all-state band member, and
participant in music and theater activities in both high school and college, the fine arts have
always been part of my life and have impacted my life in a variety of ways. Creativity and
innovative thinking result from involvement in the fine arts. Fine arts education has allowed me
to be more aware of the world around me. I see students and faculty who are more well rounded
because of their exposure to the arts. Fine arts exposes the learner in all of us to read better;
write better; listen better; speak better; analyze better; and collaborate often and well.
I am not saying that the fine arts stand by themselves in the educational world...surely not, the
sciences--both physical and social, education, human services, business, law medicine, etc....all
play part in our successful futures. Often today we have been concentrating on STEM--Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics... for our future success as individuals and
economies. We should also talk often about STEAM... adding the “A’ for Arts in that
conversation. I am fond of saying there have been, are, and will always be two big windows on
the world for colleges and universities that bring people to our campuses and allow us to show
off the rest of the campus along with that window. One of those Big Windows is clearly the Fine
and Performing Arts.
Sincerely,
(cid:36)(cid:3)
William N. Ruud, Ph.D.
President
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Adair
Adams
Sue Selby City: Corning
Occupation: Teacher
Testimonial:
Fine Arts education is valuable to students whose capabilities and strengths cover a broad spectrum of
abilities and interests. The Arts can be an area where some students excel when academics or sports
don’t meet their interests or capabilities. Of course, some students excel in all areas. As the parent of
two boys with different interests, both who graduated from Corning Schools, I saw the infl uence fi ne
arts made in their total educations, fi rst hand. One of my sons participated in sports and band, the
other in art class, choir, show choir, and band; and not athletics. Performance, whether on a fi eld,
in a gym, in a musical group, on a stage, or interacting with art materials in a classroom--the Arts--
teach so many skills that are needed in real life for employment, or for real life and used for a lifetime
of personal enjoyment. Learning to work together as part of something bigger than yourself, learning to
work alone and being able to share a completed project with others, learning discipline through
practice and repetition, learning to follow direction for the good of the group from the director, teacher,
or coach, all sorts of life long lessons that can come from the Arts. Relaxation, leisure, personal
satisfaction, are also lessons that can enrich a life touched by music or art. Look at your community
churches, do they have a volunteer choir? Is there a community theater production? Would these
groups continue if no one taught the skills, or encouraged the need for fi ne arts in our educational
system? Careers can be made through learning music and art skills. Science is showing that music
therapy can even reach a life so stolen by diseases such as Altzheimers, who knows what will become
available in the future as a career from incorporating the arts into our student’s educations now
while they are in Iowa’s schools. We owe our students the opportunity to build a broad background
of personal skills, strengths, and capabilities. I would encourage support for Fine Arts inclusion in
the Core in Iowa’s schools, as well as recognizing the accomplishments made through Fine Art skills
gained from Iowa Schools as being as important as the Academic Skills learned in other disciplines. I
can also proudly report that both of my sons are Iowa State University college graduates and gainfully
employed. All because of their beginnings with well rounded educations obtained in one of Iowa’s
Schools!
Sandy Winter City: Corning
Occupation: Teacher
Testimonial:
Learning how to draw during weekly church services helped me learn to sit still for an extended
amount of time. ( I learned that going outside during the church service wasn’t the nature walk I
had anticipated.) Music has been a big part of my life starting in kindergarten with music lessons
continuing throughout my school years being a member of band and orchestra. I developed an
appreciation and a fan of a variety of music. I believe that the Arts have been a big part of being able
to work in the teaching profession for over 30 years!
Tabatha Klopp City: Corning
Occupation: Teacher (TAG)
Testimonial:
Fine Arts is the key to opening our soul. I once had an administrator tell me in regards to a gifted
artist, well if they can’t read they won’t get far in life. Which has it’s merits agreed, I see reading as
important but not the end all or sum of life. To a teacher that states “we don’t color in this grade”. Well
why not? Maybe we might learn something about ourselves as humans and connect more with each
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