National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts

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"I have a better perspective on relevant issues and new energy to face the challenges at hand."

—Paula Morgan, Lawson Academy of the Arts, Converse College

69th Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, November 11-14, 2009
REGISTRATION

Plenaries, Institutes and Session Tracks

The Conference for Community Arts Education features dozens of professional development workshops, roundtables and program showcases. Sessions are organized into progressive tracks in program development, design & evaluation; marketing & development; leadership & governance; and collaboration, partnership & community engagement to provide delegates in-depth training in best practices for addressing some of today's most critical issues in community arts education.

Download the 2009 Conference Program Book (PDF)

Plenaries

Opening Plenary & Keynote Address: Arts and Community in the Age of Obama, featuring Bill Ivey: Thursday, Nov. 12, 10:00-11:15am
Plenary Session: A New Day for Arts Education in America: Friday, Nov. 13, 10:00- 11:30am
Annual Awards Luncheon: Saturday, Nov. 14, 12:30-2:15pm

 

Institutes

Creative Aging Institute: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-5:15pm
Partners in Arts Education Institute: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00am-5:30pm
Rural Arts Education Seminar: The Special Character of Rural Arts Education: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45-5:30 pm

These Institutes are included in the price of a full and single-day conference registration! Visit the Institutes page to learn more!

 

Collaboration / Partnership / Community Engagement Track

What Teens Want: Designing Effective Arts Education Programs for Adolescents: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-3:45pm
Marketing Teen Programs: Strategies for Increasing Engagement: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:15 - 5:30pm
Engaging Families and Communities: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45 - 3:15pm
Cultivating Demand for the Arts: What, Why, and How?: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45 - 5:15pm
Community Engagement: A Facilitated Dialogue on Deeper Engagement with Those you Serve: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00a-10:15am
Partners in Excellence: The Arts Education Partnership Institute: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00am - 5:30pm

 

Program Development, Design and Evaluation Track

Reflect and Revise: Evaluative Thinking for Program Success: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30 - 12:45pm
Program Development Part I: Program Design—Building the Critical Path to Success: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30 - 3:45pm
Program Development Part II: Program Evaluation—Building in Benchmarks: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:00-5:30pm
Engaging Families and Communities: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Artist to Artist: Using Collaborative Reflection to Improve Community and Classroom Arts Education: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:25pm
Building Inclusive Arts Education Programs: Saturday, Nov. 13, 10:45am-12:00pm
Thriving Minds: Defining Dimensions of Quality in Arts Education: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45-4:00pm

 

Leadership and Governance Track

Fostering Innovation: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Engaging Internal Stakeholders: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-5:30pm
Good Governance in Challenging Times: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-5:15pm
Under The Umbrella: Dry and Safe or Hidden and Controlled? The Joys and Pitfalls of Running a “Divisional” Arts Education Organization: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Creating Real Value in Faculty Contentment and Connection: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm

 

Marketing and Development Track

Advocacy: Everyday Steps for Creating Change: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Relevance Resonates: Making Your Case Among Many “Worthy Causes”: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-5:30pm
Marketing Teen Programs: Strategies for Increasing Engagement: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:15 - 5:30pm
Student Recruitment / Increasing Enrollment – Part 1: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15 pm
Student Recruitment / Increasing Enrollment – Part 2: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15 pm
Strategies that Engage Your Board in the Fundraising Effort: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00-10:15am
The Grants Cycle: Making Every Move Count: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:45am-12:00pm
Corporate Sponsorships: Matching Corporate Interests to Your Funding Needs: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45pm-4:00pm
News from the NEA: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm
Social Media and Social Networks: From Experiment to Strategy: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm

 

Roundtables

Large Organization Roundtable: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:15-5:30pm
Dance Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Development Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Theatre Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Visual Arts Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Collegiate Divisional School Roundtable: Trends and Opportunities: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Small Organization Roundtable: Saturday, Nov 14, 4:15-5:30pm

 

Showcases

Starting a Successful Early Childhood Music and Movement Program: Key Elements and Approaches: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
SmartMusic: Software to Engage Students in Practicing and Accelerate Their Learning: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-3:45pm
Meaningful Assessment: Toward a National Standard: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Community School Registration/Management Software Showcase: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Rural Showcase: North House Folk School – Dreams, Identity and Growth In The North: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:45am-12:00pm

 

Other Sessions

Conference Orientation: Thursday, Nov. 12, 9:00-9:45am
Prospects for the Arts in the Obama/Biden Administration: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Strategies for Success: Peer-to-Peer Roundtable Luncheon: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am - 1:15pm
What Can the Guild Do for Me?: Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:00-8:45am

 

Sessions Descriptions Listed by Date

Thursday, Nov. 12

Conference Orientation: Thursday, Nov. 12, 9:00-9:45am
Kenneth T. Cole, Associate Director, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts
An introduction to the Conference for Community Arts Education. Come learn how to make the best use of your time in Minneapolis and have your conference questions answered.

Opening Plenary & Keynote Address: Arts and Community in the Age of Obama: Thursday, Nov. 12, 10:00-11:15am
Bill Ivey, Founding Director, Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
In this thought-provoking keynote address, Bill Ivey, the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, will explore the role and potential of a coordinated vision for art, culture and expression in American public life. Ivey proposes that in order to achieve true cultural vibrancy, promote innovation and increase access to the arts, we must adopt a new, comprehensive approach to our arts system that encompasses nonprofit, for-profit and amateur arts organizations that create, preserve and support arts experiences for the public good. Combining public policy insights, personal convictions, and reflections on the economy, Ivey calls for the formation of a new set of goals that will provide opportunities for the arts community to experiment boldly, and to work in partnership to reconnect the nation with its cultural heritage, creativity and
expressive life.

Ivey served as team leader for arts and humanities in the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition and chaired the National Endowment for the Arts from 1998 through 2001. He presently serves as the founding director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University.

Advocacy: Everyday Steps for Creating Change: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Randy Cohen, Vice President of Local Arts Advancement, Americans for the Arts
Sheila Smith, Executive Director, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
Beth Burns, Executive Director, Lutheran Music Program
Contributed support from both the public and private sectors are critical revenue streams for community arts education providers. Your ability to articulate the benefits and value of your work is critical to maintaining that support. Join this lively session with leading national, state, and local advocates and walk away with the advocacy tools and strategies you need to get elected officials and funders behind your program. Learn what you can (and should) be doing to connect your message with the priorities of those in power so that they see you as a resource and ally for years to come.

Fostering Innovation: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
John McCann, President, Partners in Performance, Inc.
There is both an art and a discipline to organizational creativity, as John Kao noted in his book JAMMING (Harper Collins 1996). If an organizational leader wants others (board, staff, faculty, artists) to generate new ideas and implement innovative practices, she/he must set the conditions that foster their creative commitment—not just on an ad hoc basis but for perpetuity. In this session, you will learn the seven essential conditions to increase organizational innovation and impact, and discuss how to practice a new way of leading that develops a 21st century learning organization focused on adaptability, flexibility and resilience and expanded measures of success.

Prospects for the Arts in the Obama/Biden Administration: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Bill Ivey, Founding Director, Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
Community arts education providers are on the front lines in the task of integrating art making with community life. The challenge faced by arts leaders today is to connect arts work with the values embedded in programs of the Obama-Biden administration in order to elevate the importance of cultural vibrancy to mainstream policy makers. Beginning with a broad definition of “arts organization,” this session will discuss the framework and specific tasks that can be employed to make art and art making a higher priority within mainstream public policy.

Reflect and Revise: Evaluative Thinking for Program Success: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30-12:45pm
Leah Goldstein Moses, President and CEO, The Improve Group
Tom DeCaigny, Executive Director, Performing Arts Workshop
Community arts education providers must demonstrate the positive effects of their programs in meaningful ways to multiple stakeholders including board, staff, funders, partners, volunteers and program participants. This session is designed to help you determine program impact and use assessment and evaluation methods for program improvement. We will address the following issues:

Starting a Successful Early Childhood Music and Movement Program: Key Elements and Approaches: Thursday, Nov. 12, 11:30am-12:45pm
Sponsored by Music Together
Dianna Babcock, Director, Early Childhood Music, MacPhail Center for Music
Linda Brasaemle, Music Together Teacher, Music Together
Representatives from two exemplary early childhood music and movement programs—Music Together (a well established feeder program) and MacPhail Center for Music’s Early Childhood Music program (an in-house program)—will discuss the benefits of their different models and key elements for implementing a successful program at your organization. You’ll have a hands-on opportunity to explore their curriculums and discuss ways of transitioning students into formal music education.

Program Development Part I: Program Design—Building the Critical Path to Success: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-3:45pm
Sharon Rodning Bash, Program Director, ArtsLab
Sponsored by ArtsMidwest
In this session participants will explore the process of program development from concept to implementation. Utilizing a strategic roadmap framework as well as a logic model, the session will explore issue/concept formation, assessment of fit within the organization and within the community, desired outcomes and impacts. What does a program need to successfully move from idea to reality? How can we build sustainable projects or programs that produce measurable results?

SmartMusic: Software to Engage Students in Practicing and Accelerate Their Learning: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-3:45pm
David Hawley, SmartMusic Product Specialist, MakeMusic, Inc.
Joe Sullivan, Associate Director of Institutional Gifts, MacPhail Center for Music
SmartMusic is a powerful yet affordable interactive practice system that provides instrumental and vocal students accompaniment for solos, technical exercises, concert repertoire, methods (including Suzuki), as well as jazz improvisation solos and studies. All these can be played at any tempo, recorded, and looped for targeted practice. Instantaneous on-screen assessment is provided for much of the repertoire. SmartMusic also supports distance learning: Teachers can assign any of SmartMusic’s content for students to practice at home, then submit for review. Instructors then evaluate assessment scores and recordings to provide individualized instruction and feedback for each student. Teachers can also use Finale notation software to create their own repertoire and exercises to be used with SmartMusic. Come learn about this important new tool and hear how one Guild member, MacPhail Center for Music, is successfully applying it in the studio, classroom, and over the web to improve teaching and learning.

What Teens Want: Designing Effective Arts Education Programs for Adolescents: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-3:45pm
Moderator:
Traci Slater-Riguad, Director, Coming Up Taller
Panelists:
Tom DeCaigny, Executive Director, Performing Arts Workshopr
Witt Siasoco, Program Manager, Walker Art Center Teen Programs
J. Curtis Warner Jr., Executive Director and Associate Vice President for Education Outreach, Berklee City Music
Studies show that high quality arts education can address teens’ unique needs by improving their artistic and life skills, positive self-image and societal commitment. In this session, representatives from three exemplary organizations with robust teen programs will discuss how to design effective programs and engage teens in leadership positions within your organization. They will also engage in a critical dialogue about key considerations including barriers to participation, faculty training and mentorship.

Engaging Internal Stakeholders: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-5:30pm
John McCann, President, Partners in Performance, Inc.
It's no secret that organizations often reach out to their community while failing to embrace those inside the organization who are essential to successfully delivering programs, garnering contributed support, and forging the partnerships upon which real leverage can be gained. In this session, we will discuss proven approaches that help leaders create a shared purpose across their organization and enroll others in a vision for success. Learn how to work with your staff to craft and prioritize strategies for moving your organization’s vision forward and to ask the questions that stimulate good thinking and challenge outdated assumptions. We’ll also discuss how to design effective meetings that spark fruitful engagement while assuring informed and timely decision making.

Relevance Resonates: Making Your Case Among Many “Worthy Causes”: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2:30-5:30pm
Bruce Thibodeau, President, Arts Consulting Group, Inc.
Given the severity of the “Great Recession,” we can no longer rely solely on traditional who/what/where/when messages to secure the student, parent, and community participation;donor engagement;and public support needed to sustain arts community arts education programs. Case statements based on “We need money because we’re important!”or "We have a deficit, please help us!" simply don’t work in times like these. Instead, we must demonstrate and communicate the many ways in which our programs contribute to the vitality of individuals and communities. We must articulate impact.

In this session, we’ll explore our organizations’ larger purposes—developing skill, understanding and appreciation of the arts, but also creating community, unlocking imagination and creativity, providing jobs, and more—and work together to develop concepts and actions plans that allow existingstudents, parents, patrons, donors,volunteers, and staff to become better connected and engaged. And we’ll learn how to create strategic and consistent messaging that moves people—internally and externally—to action.

Large Organization Roundtable: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:15-5:30pm
Paul Babcock, President & COO, MacPhail Center for Music
This roundtable discussion is for directors of independent community arts education organizations with budgets of $1.5 million or more. The discussion will focus on key issues and future opportunities for developing long-term sustainable impact. Topics will include:

Marketing Teen Programs: Strategies for Increasing Engagement: Thursday, Nov. 12 4:15-5:30pm
Moderator:
Donna Walker-Kuhne, President, President, Walker International Communications Group
Panelists:
Winner Bell, Executive Director, Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls
David Dombrosky, Executive Director, Center for Arts Management and Technology
Heather Ikemire, Marketing and Communications Manager, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts
What influences teenagers’ decision to participate in an arts education program—or not? This session will share successful and innovative strategies for recruiting teenagers and sustaining their involvement. We will discuss common barriers to participation and learn how social media, peer-to-peer marketing and other methods of engagement can increase participation.

Program Development Part II: Program Evaluation—Building in Benchmarks: Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:00-5:30pm
Sharon Rodning Bash, Program Director, ArtsLab
Sponsored by ArtsMidwest
Building on the work within Part I, this session will explore the use of a strategy roadmap and logic model to develop clearly articulated goals, expected outcomes, and establishment of an evaluation plan. What are the critical questions to be answered at each phase of program development? What are indicators of success at each phase? What measurement tools can be employed to provide the necessary feedback? Attendance at Program Development Part 1 is recommended but not required.

 

Friday, Nov. 13

Plenary: A New Day for Arts Education in America: Friday, Nov. 13, 10:00-11:30am
This could be a new day for arts education in America. The Obama-Biden administration is taking a real interest in the arts and its role in communities. And the economy—while tough on many organizations—forces us to focus on our contribution to economic recovery and community vitality. Given
the changes in the country’s political and economic climates, community arts education providers have a renewed opportunity to make the case for their work and think strategically about how to build a strong future for arts education. To move our work forward, we must look beyond divisions within our field that contribute to a culture of scarcity. And we must, as a unified field, build bridges with organizations/agencies in other sectors such as community development, youth development, healthcare, aging services, etc. By stepping out of our ‘silos’, we can move closer to ensuring access to arts education for every American, as well as increase engagement, spark innovation and more boldly demonstrate the positive impact of our work.
Moderator:
John McCann, President, Partners in Performance, Inc.
Panelists:
Senator Richard J. Cohen, Finance Committee Chair, Minnesota State Senate
Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD., Senior Research Associate and Director of Culture, Creativity and Communities Program, Urban Institute
Jeremy Nowak, PhD., President, The Reinvestment Fund
Julie Simpson, Executive Director, Urban Gateways

Strategies for Success: Peer-to-Peer Roundtable Luncheon: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am - 1:15pm
Thisdynamic luncheon provides a focused opportunity for you to come together with your peers to address common challenges, build relationships and exchange innovative ideas and solutions.

Visit the Networking page to learn more!

Dance Educators Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Julia Wilkinson Manley, School Director, Ballet Nouveau Colorado
Jeff Melanson, Co-CEO & Executive Director, Canada's National Ballet School
The dance education roundtable will focus on three key topics facing the leadership of dance education organizations and divisions of multi-arts organizations:

Development Staff Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Meg Gehlen Nodzon, Development Director, MacPhail Center for Music
Julie Rulyak, Director of Development and Marketing, Turtle Bay Music School
As a development professional, are you often asked “Are our fundraising strategies in line with other organizations similar to ours? What can we do to improve the way we engage with our diverse constituents to garner long-term support?” Join in this roundtable discussion with other development professionals to share experiences and compare recent trends, including:

Participants in the Development Roundtable are also invited to attend the Development Directors’ Taste of Minneapolis Dinner on Thursday evening, November 12, to build relationships and explore additional topics.

Theater Education Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Joyce Bonomini, Director of Education, Hoffman Performing Arts Institute
Thetheater education roundtable will bring together leading theater education providers to discuss key issues in theater education, share best practices models, and exchange resources and strategies for success. The roundtable will focus on three core topics:

Visual Arts Roundtable: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:45am-1:15pm
Matthew Braun, Executive Director, Fleisher Art Memorial
Join colleagues for a facilitated discussion around new and innovative strategies to increase engagement in visual arts learning with special focus on new directions for collaboration in our communities and across the Guild network.

A segment of arts organizations—once viewed as less attractive distant cousins to the “big boys”—has emerged at the center of this more expansive vision of the arts. These typically small and midsized arts organizations, often community-based in their mission or practice, provide a canvas for the works of emerging artists and are bustling laboratories of experimentation and innovation. The work of these organizations moves people to understand that art can be about more than engaging in an aesthetic experience. Art can also comfort in times of trouble, heal personal wounds, inspire community participation, and foster a more compassionate society. --Ron Chew, Community Based Arts Organizations: A New Center of Gravity, 2009

Engaging Families and Communities: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Jennifer Bransom, Director of Research and Evaluation, Big Thought
Dennie Palmer Wolf, Principal, WolfBrown
Engaging families can lead to lifetime investments in the cultural life of the community. It can also lead to increased enrollment, more diverse student populations and stronger, more sustainable programs that are responsive to community needs. Unfortunately, simply asking families, “What do you want to do?” and/or “What are you good at?” rarely yields the kind of information that inspires and supports families’ meaningful participation. So where do we begin?

In this session, BigThought and WolfBrown will introduce you to tools and techniques that have proved successful for getting families and communities involved on multiple levels as arts learners and advocates. Learn how to approach individuals along a continuum of engagement, gather personal histories to better understand your community’s assets and resources, and identify individual talents and gifts that can be leveraged to everyone’s full advantage. We’ll practice how to get the conversation going within your organization and the community. And along the way, we’ll also show you how these everyday engagement techniques can support formal and rigorous evaluation.

Meaningful Assessment: Toward a National Standard: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Dr. Andrew Hisey, Associate Professor of Music, St. Olaf College
Respected clinician and performer, Dr. Andrew Hisey discusses the benefits of third-party assessment through the National Music Certificate Program. Join us for an introduction to the Certificate Program and discover how our comprehensive system can give you the advantage to help develop well-rounded musicians.

Student Recruitment / Increasing Enrollment – Part 1: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Michael Kumer, Executive Director, Duquesne University Nonprofit Leadership Institute
How are community arts education organizations recruiting new students and increasing enrollment in their programs in these tough economic times? We’ll generate a host of ideas through a “brain tsunami” and work collectively to identify those that are most promising.

Under The Umbrella: Dry and Safe or Hidden and Controlled? The Joys and Pitfalls of Running a “Divisional” Arts Education Organization: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-3:15pm
Moderator:
Tom Trow, Consultant
Panelists:
Amy Dennison, Director, CCM Preparatory Department, University of Cincinnati
Margaret Perry, Director, Armstrong Community Music School of Austin Lyric Opera
Michael Walsh, Director, Multnomah Arts Center, Portland Parks & Recreation
Leaders from three community arts education organizations working successfully within larger nonprofits or government agencies discuss the challenges and advantages that come with being a division, rather than an autonomous organization. In a frank and open discussion with the audience, the panelists will examine issues related to identity, fundraising and control of resources.

Creative Aging Institute: Friday, Nov 13, 1:45-5:15pm
Presented with the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN) and the National Center for Creative Aging. New research shows that sustained participation in professionally-led music and arts programs can promote health and prevent disease in older adults, and promote a sense of shared culture and community belonging. This highly interactive session is designed to help your organization serve this growing population across the well-to-frail continuum. Learn the benefits of arts education programs for older adults, better understand the elder services infrastructure as it relates to the intersection between arts and aging, and train in best practices for designing, implementing, evaluating and sustaining creative aging programs. Visit the Creative Aging Institute page to learn more!

Good Governance in Challenging Times: Friday, Nov. 13, 1:45-5:15pm
Lowell Noteboom, National Guild Trustee
Nonprofit governance is critically important, particularly in today's challenging environment. This seminar will provide a comprehensive look at best practices for your board, including recruitment, mentoring, optimal use of board meetings, succession planning, financial oversight, and many other subjects.

Artist to Artist: Using Collaborative Reflection to Improve Community and Classroom Arts Education: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Linda Ehreth, Arts in Education Director, North Dakota Council
Barbara Cox, Arts Education Partnership Coordinator, Perpich Center for the Arts Education
Steve Busa, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Red Eye Collaboration
Reflective practice can be an effective strategy for assessment and evaluation on an administrative, programmatic and classroom or studio level. It can also help arts education providers build successful collaborations when they are working across multiple artistic disciplines in both community settings and K-12 classrooms. This hands-on session will introduce you to the national Artist to Artist professional development model, which utilizes structured inquiry-based strategies for program improvement. As a participant, you will practice using reflective protocols designed to help administrators, teachings artists, students and other collaborators ask intentional questions that promote trust and allow programs to stay fresh and relevant during every phase of program planning, development and implementation.

Collegiate Divisional Roundtable: Trends and Opportunities: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Bryan Bowser, Assistant Director of the Conservatory & External Affairs Director, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music
Cathy Fletcher, Director, Herberger College Community School of the Arts
This roundtable is an opportunity for directors and staff of community arts education divisions at colleges, universities and conservatories to network and discuss issues unique to collegiate divisional schools. We will discuss three key topics:

Participation from all who attend the session is keenly encouraged.

Community School Registration/Management Software Showcase: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Moderator:
Joeseph L. Hull, III, President, Barthelmes Foundation
Panelists:
Tom McCobb, Chief Architect and CTO, Raven Commerce Systems, Inc.
Sid Swartz, Senior Account Manager, Active Educate
Two software vendors will demonstrate registration management systems designed for community arts education organizations. The systems are ActiveNet by ActiveEducate and Art Center Canvas by Raven Commerce Systems. You’ll be invited to test drive each system at the Arts Education Expo.

Cultivating Demand for the Arts: What, Why, and How?: Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Dr. Laura Zakaras, Senior Communications Analyst, RAND Corporation
Demand for the nonprofit arts has not kept pace with supply. Recent RAND research examines what it means to cultivate demand for the arts, why it is important to do so, and how it can be done through comprehensive arts learning. The authors claim that arts policies that focus on supply are not sufficient to sustain a healthy cultural system. What is needed is a balance of policies that not only promote supply of high quality arts but cultivate audiences capable of appreciating them. Arts education fills this critical role. It is the most effective way to develop an individual's capacity to see, hear, and find meaning in works of art. And it's the best means we have to democratize the arts by helping all our young people discover what the arts have to offer. The study examines the current institutional infrastructure for arts learning (public schools, colleges and universities, and community organizations), highlights its strengths and weaknesses, and recommends steps to improve it.

Student Recruitment / Increasing Enrollment – Part 2:, Friday, Nov. 13, 3:45-5:15pm
Michael Kumer, Executive Director, Duquesne University Nonprofit Leadership Institute
In this follow-up session, we’ll flesh out the ideas generated in part one and draft action plans that we can execute upon returning home. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and work with peers from around the country to develop effective strategies for bolstering participation in your programs. You’ll leave with loads of tips, tools and techniques, as well as new and strengthened relationships with peers engaged in the same endeavors. (You do not need to attend part one in order to participate, though we welcome your innovative ideas!)

 

Saturday, Nov. 14

What Can the Guild Do for Me?: Saturday, Nov. 14, 8:00-8:45am
Kenneth T. Cole, Associate Director, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts
Heather Ikemire, Marketing & Communications Manager, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts
Peggy Quackenbush, President & Executive Director, Hochstein School of Music & Dance
National Guild representatives will provide an overview of your national service organization and share insights into how to make the most out of your affiliation. Join us to learn more about the Guild’s history, governance structure, programs and services, online resource center and networking tools; exchange information and ideas; and explore ways of being more involved.

Community Engagement: A Facilitated Dialogue on Deeper Engagement with Those you Serve: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00-10:15am
Bill Flood, Community Cultural Development Consultant
Bill Food will lead this moderated discussion on how community arts education providers are engaging with their publics. Community cultural development – engaging the people of a community in moving forward, taking action, building on and improving their shared cultures – is the foundation for this session. During this conversation we will consider reasons for community engagement, success stories, connections with partnership development, as well as the implications for organizational planning, development, and management. Bring your mission, your passions, your woes, and let’s have a rousing and enriching early morning discussion!

Strategies that Engage Your Board in the Fundraising Effort: Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00-10:15am
Carlo M. Cuesta, Managing Partner, Creation In Common
Key to diversifying your organization’s base of support is motivating your Board of Directors to play an active role in raising money. From the point of view of staff and board leadership this may seem insurmountable as board members may feel uncomfortable with the subject and/or are peripherally involved. This workshop will focus on overcoming the barriers board and staff leaders face by helping you build a systematic approach to engaging them in the effort.
At this workshop you will learn:

This workshop is ideal for executive directors, development staff, and board leadership. Each attendee or organizational team will leave the workshop with a set of tools and processes in order to begin building their systematic approach to board involvement in the fundraising effort.

Partners in Excellence Institute: Planning and Building Successful Partnerships between Community Arts Education Organizations and K-12 Schools: Saturday, Nov, 14, 9:00am-5:30pm
The Partners in Excellence Institute will provide you the tools and training needed to develop successful arts education partnerships with K-12 schools. We will explore the value of partnering and address best practices in structuring, managing and sustaining these relationships. Explore the benefits and challenges of collaborating with a public school, learn the characteristics of effective and sustainable partnerships, and begin developing your own personal action plan. Visit the Partners in Excellence Institute page to learn more! Sponsored by MetLife Foundation

Building Inclusive Arts Education Programs: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:45am-12:00pm
Mary Liniger, Director of Education Services, VSA arts
Shaqe Kalaj, Visual Arts Coordinator, VSA arts of Michigan
Does your community arts education program reach all the members of your community including young children, older adults, and people with disabilities? This workshop explores how to create flexible arts programs that meet the needs of the greatest number of participants, a key concept of Universal Design for Learning. As a participant, you will:

You also will receive a one-page Universal Design for Learning template, curriculum mapping template for designing inclusive residencies, and “Lowest Levels of Intervention” and “Best Practices for Working with Students with Disabilities” handouts.

The Grants Cycle: Making Every Move Count: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:45am-12:00pm
Margaret Hasse, Arts Consultant
The financial recession calls for community arts education organizations, like others in the nonprofit sector, to be more strategic about overall operations, including raising money from grants. This session will help you assess your organization’s grant-getting capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency. Together, we’ll explore customary and creative tactics that have been used to improve organizations’ grants programs, from prospecting for the best fit to writing winning proposals that include evaluation, from use of technology that streamlines processes to ways of relating to funders. We’re in this together! Please come to learn as well as to share your issues and ideas about best practices in grants fundraising. You’ll leave the session with tools and tips for bolstering your fundraising efforts back home.

Rural Showcase: North House Folk School – Dreams, Identity and Growth In The North: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:45am-12:00pm
Greg Wright, Executive Director, North House Folk School
In twelve short years, North House Folk School has emerged as a unique and nationally-recognized resource focused on traditional northern craft. Envisioned by a handful of determined volunteers in 1997, the school featured 23 courses during its first year. By contrast, in 2008 North House welcomed over 13,000 participants to its harbor-side campus for experiences ranging from multi-day courses (325+ in 2008), three major seasonal special events, custom workshops for groups, and more. The talents of more than 100 regional artisans fuel programs that explore nineteen themes; timber framing to wood-fired bread baking to greenwood carving fill North House’s classrooms throughout the year. While many of North House students are from Minnesota, in 2008, participants arrived from 36 states and three countries. How did a young nonprofit emerge so quickly? How has the school’s character been shaped by its remote northern location? How can steady program growth and the creation of an economic impact study be used as tools for engaging neighbors and the broader community in meaningful dialog? This showcase will begin with the story of the school’s emergence, explore the range of traditional craft themes featured, highlight the challenges and successes of pursuing a major capital campaign in a rural setting, and reflect on the vision for North House’s second decade.

Annual Awards Luncheon: Saturday, Nov. 14, 12:30-2:15pm
Join us for a celebratory luncheon honoring two extraordinary arts leaders for their contributions to the field: The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and National Guild Trustee Ed Farmilant. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts will be receiving the 2009 National Guild Leadership Award in honor of its steadfast commitment to supporting community arts education and its innovative leadership as grantmaker, convener, and advocate for the public value of the arts. Ed Farmilant will be receiving the 2009 National Guild Service Award in honor of his exceptional service to the National Guild and the community arts education movement.

Thriving Minds: Defining Dimensions of Quality in Arts Education, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45-4:00pm
Gigi Antoni, President & CEO, Big Thought
Jessica Malek, Vice President of Research and Program Development, Big Thought
In this session, Gigi Antoni will lead you through an interactive exploration of six dimensions of quality arts teaching and learning discovered through Big Thought’s Thriving Minds initiative. Participants will examine  Big Thought’s tool and process for gathering data on quality and  learn about its training model for preparing artists and other creative citizens to provide high quality arts instruction in variety of community settings.

Thriving Minds is a groundbreaking systemic endeavor which provides children and families with an extensive web of creative learning opportunities. As managing partner, Big Thought collaborates with a broad coalition of organization and individuals—including  the Dallas Independent School District, the City of Dallas and dozens of professional arts and cultural agencies—to ensure that 1)  all young people will have access to arts education and 2)  the teaching and learning they encounter will be of the highest quality, enabling them to participate in, enjoy and support the creative activities of their homes and communities. Towards the goal of making arts education programs more relevant, attractive and useful for children and their families, Big Thought and its partners have worked to define and measure the current quality of in-school and out-of-school programs to establish a city-wide baseline measure of excellence.

Corporate Sponsorships: Matching Corporate Interests to Your Funding Needs: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45-4:00pm
Meg Gehlen Nodzon, Development Director, MacPhail Center for Music
Joe Sullivan, Associate Director of Institutional Gifts, MacPhail Center for Music
In this session the presenters will facilitate an open discussion with participants on what corporate sponsorship is, how sponsorships differ from grants, and why, when and how to pursue a corporate sponsorship program. We’ll address:

Presented in an interactive format, this session will get you ready to begin adding corporate sponsorship to your organization’s portfolio of fundraising strategies. Bring your questions!

Rural Arts Education Seminar: The Special Character of Rural Arts Education: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2:45-5:30 pm
Anne Katz, Executive Director, Arts Wisonsin
Rural arts educators are often deeply rooted in a sense of place and uniquely positioned to develop programs that holistically respond to their community’s interests and needs. But serving a smaller population base with fewer resources also presents unique challenges. This seminar will explore the special nature, concerns, and potential within rural arts education organizations, review model programs, and provide you the skills and connections to help you develop and manage a successful arts education organization in your “neck of the woods.”

Don’t Worry, Be Happy: Creating Real Value in Faculty Contentment and Connection: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm
Jeffry Walker, Executive Director, Community School of Music and Arts (Mountain View, CA)
Every community school of arts in the nation is built on the assumption of faculty happiness; not happiness in the glib sense of “have a nice day” sense but in the deeper sense of satisfaction that comes from living and sharing passion and knowledge in a supportive setting. However, amid myriad conflicting expectations of endless programmatic adaptation, struggles for financial security, redesign our marketing brands, and the launch (or delay!) of capital campaigns, are the essential best interests of our schools – the well-being of our teachers – always a clear priority? Few of our organizations can afford to compensate our teachers with competitive salaries and benefits. Still, our teachers teach with enthusiasm for their students and without compromise of the core values. But, is their professional contentment their individual responsibility, or is it ours as agencies of both art education and social order? Shouldn’t our field’s universal commitment to “serving the underserved” include enlightened and deliberate strategies to better serve artists in all disciplines who teach?  Are they happy? This talk and conversation will move us from mere worry to action!

News from the NEA: Saturday, Nov 14, 4:15-5:30pm
Sarah Cunningham, Director of Arts Education, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Come hear about the National Endowment for the Arts' latest initiatives and how to secure federal support for your work. NEA projects, including NEA National Initiatives and Leadership Initiatives, will be covered during the first half of the session; information on the Learning in the Arts grants competition and tips for improving your applications will be shared during the second half. Bring your questions! Dr. Cunningham will answer questions about the resources and support you can connect to through the NEA.

Small Organization Roundtable: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm
Jason Trotta, Executive Director, Northampton Community Music Center, Northampton, MA
At this roundtable, for community arts education organizations with budgets of less than $600,000, we will discuss three key issues:

This session is most appropriate for organizations working in urban or suburban communities. Those working in rural communities are encouraged to attend the Rural Arts Education Seminar from 2:45 – 5:30 PM.

Social Media and Social Networks: From Experiment to Strategy: Saturday, Nov. 14, 4:15-5:30pm
David Dombrosky, Executive Director, Center for Arts Management and Technology
For many community arts education providers, the social Web has been both an exciting and sometimes frustrating laboratory for experimenting with new ways to maximize awareness, recruit new students, increase participation, foster community building and more. This session explores insights gained from these experiments and offers practical strategies for how you can effectively utilize social media and social networks without draining your organization’s financial and human resources. Leave with a 10-step action plan for setting up a successful social media program at your organization that will either help you get started or maximize your current utilization of these tools.