All tagged Arts ReimaginED
Throughout the month of March, students of all ages were hard at work making some rather large creations. The whales, one bowhead and two orcas, not only helped them learn about ocean ecosystems but also gave the opportunity for them to get messy creating something truly unique. Each whale was constructed from recycled materials led by Dean Bareham, artist director of Green Fools Theatre.
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.
