All in Arts Commons Education
Over two days, 1450 teachers flooded the halls of Arts Commons, engaged in building their toolboxes for arts-based learning as part of Calgary City Teachers' Convention. The convention was topped off with a keynote from education's leading luminary, Dr. Chris Emdin, inviting not only teachers, but artists, and members of the creative community to be inspired.
Arts Commons Education invites you to bee-engaged this spring and show a little love for your pollinators with this easy to do craft.
For those of us who love the look and smell of a natural wreath but also want to put our own personal touch on it, we have the craft for you! So grab your pine boughs, wreath frame, and get ready to create some holiday magic.
Arts education took centre stage on Thursday, September 28 as Arts ReimaginED kicked off the season of arts education in alignment with Alberta Culture Days. Eight classes and over 200 students took part in eight different workshops scattered throughout the building, learning everything from painting to Bollywood dance. Teachers were able to engage directly with teaching artists, both learning through hands-on experience and crafting the perfect learning environment.
What do you think when you hear arts education? Learning a musical instrument? Painting a portrait? Maybe using dance to express a feeling or idea?
Though these are all forms of arts education, what you likely don’t think about is the decades worth of research supporting the benefits that arts education has to our mental health, emotional maturity, and even our employability as adults – not just as artists, but in any type of job. As the largest performing arts centre in western Canada, it’s no surprise that we are very interested in the science of arts education. That’s why in spring of last year, we collaborated with Calgary Arts Development Association to conduct a benchmark survey to discover where teachers, parents, and arts facilitators needed us to step in and support.
During a Culture Days workshop this past September, students had the opportunity to work with visual artist, Paula Timm at Arts Commons to create a planet.
Students were led through a variety of prompts to get them thinking about space, stars, and planets. Each student picked a rice paper lantern and then used paint brushes, sponges, and watercolour paints to paint their lantern.
In 1970, three women set to work making the dream for a performing arts centre in Calgary a reality. Today, Arts Commons is a top destination for arts and culture in North America. Learn more about the exciting history of Arts Commons—from the 1988 Olympic Games to the world famous Carthy Organ—and discover what the future holds!
Take advantage of that autumn light with these fun and easy suncatchers! Grab some wax paper, tissue paper, and a few other household items to get started.
