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ArtsErie News

ArtsErie to host regional Poetry Out Loud competition on February 16 at Allegheny College

posted on: Thursday, February 14, 2013

Five high school students from Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties to participate


ArtsErie and the PA Council on the Arts are proud to present the 2013 regional competition for the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest on February 16 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Vukovich Center for Communication Arts at Allegheny College in Meadville. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, which encourages the study of poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. The winner of this year’s regional competition will go on to compete at the state finals on March 11 at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. 

Participating students are: Sara Cruz, Fairview High School, Fairview, Erie County; Annette Hilton, Meadville High School, Meadville, Crawford County; Kyle Kuhns, Maplewood High School, Guys Mills, Crawford County; Rosie Pregler, Mercyhurst Preparatory High School, Erie, Erie County; and Marissa Works, Hickory High School, Hermitage, Mercer County.

James West will speak on behalf of the PA Council on the Arts. PA State Rep. Michele Brooks will attend. Ron Hayes, Erie County Poet Laureate, will serve as one of the judges, along with Lora Zill, ArtsErie Poetry Out Loud Coordinator; Donna Baker, English teacher, Conneaut Valley High School; and Jan Hyatt, coordinator, Creating Landscapes Educational Programs for Children, Teens, and Young Adults.

ArtsErie to host area legislative visit at 'One World Tribe' music residency

posted on: Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Site visit to showcase Art in Action program at First District Elementary School

 

ERIE, PA — On Thursday, May 3, M. Holly Nowak, ArtsErie's Arts in Education director, and Delta Zahniser, principal, First District Elementary School, Meadville, will host three area legislators’ representatives at a site visit to a fourth-grade music residency with world music ensemble One World Tribe. The following three representatives from area legislators' offices will be present: Brad Moore, district director for U.S. Representative Mike Kelly; Kyle Hannon, regional representative for U.S. Senator Bob Casey; and Sheila Sterrett, regional manager for Senator Pat Toomey. The event is not open to the general public.

 

One World Tribe is a world music ensemble, consisting of musicians and dancers from many different countries and disciplines. The group's residency work provides insight into the music, dances, languages and cultural traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean supporting subjects such as Math, History, Geography, Language Arts and Social Studies.

 

First District Elementary School is one of three elementary schools that are partners in ArtsErie's Art in Action program, a four-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant program (AEMDD).

 

About ArtsErie

ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.

 

About Art in Action

The Art in Action project is a partnership between ArtsErie, Union City Elementary School, First District Elementary School (Meadville), Cambridge Springs Elementary School and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Through Art in Action, ArtsErie and its partner agencies propose to develop, document and evaluate a model that will enhance both the quality of teaching in the classroom as well as student academic achievement and engagement in the learning process by 1.) integrating the arts into existing curriculum, and strengthening in-school art experiences for approximately 900 elementary students living in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, and 2.) strengthening quality relationships between teaching artists and classroom teachers.

 

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ArtsErie’s Art in Action Program to Host Summer Institute

posted on: Friday, May 13, 2011

Teachers and Professional Artists Encouraged to Attend

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie’s Art in Action Program will host an Art in Action Summer Institute on Sunday, June 12 and Monday, June 13 for teachers and professional artists at The Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs, Pa. Although professional artists may register for either of the one-day programs, the sessions on June 12 will be geared toward artists. Teachers are asked to register only for the June 13 program. Both day-long sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“Participants in the Art in Action Summer Institute will learn about the Art in Education programs with ArtsErie, including the Art in Action program, artist residencies and infusing the arts into classroom lessons,” said M. Holly Nowak, Arts in Education Director at ArtsErie.

The cost of the Art in Action Summer Institute is $50 per person. The fee includes a keynote speaker (to be announced), workshops, group meals and snacks, a basic, one-year membership in ArtsErie and an embroidered canvas tote with a school calendar, Art in Action handbook and other items. Teachers may also receive seven hours of Act 48 Credits. Guests interested in overnight accommodations at The Riverside Inn should mention ArtsErie when making reservations.

To receive a registration form, please click here for a registration form for teachers or click here for a registration form for professional artists. Those interested may also contact ArtsErie at (814) 452-3427 or info@artserie.org. The registration deadline is Monday, June 6, 2011.

This Art in Action Summer Institute is supported by the U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education Model Development & Dissemination Grant, an Art in Education Project of ArtsErie.

About ArtsErie
ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.


ArtsErie to Host Cultural Excursion for Elementary Students

posted on: Monday, April 18, 2011

Students, teachers and families from three area schools invited to attend “Hua Hua’s Visual Expressions” on Tuesday, April 19 at Edinboro University


ERIE, PA —
ArtsErie’s Art in Action project will provide a family cultural experience for students and teachers from Cambridge Springs Elementary School, Cambridge Springs, Pa.; Second District Elementary School, Meadville, Pa.; and Union City Elementary School, Union City, Pa. Teachers, students and their families are invited to attend the performance “Hua Hua Zhang’s Visual Expressions,” part of the Performing Arts Series, at Edinboro University on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. The event showcases a blend of Chinese and Western puppet art with dance, music, masks and lighting.

“Hua Hua Zhang is absolutely amazing,” said M. Holly Nowak, Art in Action's Project Director and ArtsErie's Arts in Education Director. “She taught students in the Clarion area as part of an ArtsErie artist residency several years ago. Everyone remembers how wonderful it was to have her there in residence. We’re so excited to be able to have a new group of students experience her performance.”

The three elementary schools are partners in Art in Action, a four-year program funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant program (AEMDD). ArtsErie’s Art in Action project will provide the opportunity free-of-charge, including event tickets and transportation to and from their schools, to the attendees.

 

About Art in Action

The Art in Action project is a partnership between ArtsErie, Union City Elementary School, Second District Elementary School, Cambridge Springs Elementary School and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Through Art in Action, ArtsErie and its partner agencies propose to develop, document and evaluate a model that will enhance both the quality of teaching in the classroom as well as student academic achievement and engagement in the learning process by 1.) integrating the arts into existing curriculum, and strengthening in-school art experiences for approximately 900 elementary students living in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, and 2.) strengthening quality relationships between teaching artists and classroom teachers.

About ArtsErie

ArtsErie strives to nurture the arts and enrich the lives of the people of northwestern Pennsylvania through leadership, financial support, education and advocacy. Additional information about ArtsErie is available online at www.ArtsErie.org.

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Children's Book Author and Illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw Visits Harding Elementary on April 28th

posted on: Friday, April 08, 2011

Harding Elementary Welcomes Famous Children’s Book Author & Illustrator Ruth McNally Barshaw on April 28th

ERIE, PA Later this month, Harding Elementary Students will be treated to a workshop hosted by children’s book author Ruth McNally Barshaw. Barshaw has published three books’ to date and is currently working on her forth, due out later next year. Her famous series chronicles the adventures of a young girl, Ellie McDoodle, who loves to doodle in her sketchbooks, but often runs into trouble along the way. Barshaw’s books aren’t just popular with children, but they have also been nominated for numerous awards across the country and in her home state of Michigan.

 

Barshaw’s visit correlates with what the forth grade students at Harding Elementary have been working on, alongside Artist-in-Residence, Mike Bocianowski. Bocianowski is a local graphic artist and animation instructor, who has been sharing his passion for the arts with Harding Elementary students since 2009, which has been made possible through a grant from the PA Council on the Arts known as a Teacher Artist Partnership or TAP. Jeanne Kraus, 4th grade teacher, along with Bocianowski, arranged this meeting along with support from  ArtsErie and the PA Council for the Arts. They are excited to be able to share the work of a practicing artist and author with their students at Harding Elementary.

 

Barshaw will spend the day at Harding Elementary, conducting workshops on creativity through each individual grade level. Her schedule is as follows:

  • 9:30- 10:00 – Room 15
  • 10:00 - 10:30 – 4th grade workshop – Room 201
  • 10:45-11:15 – 3rd grade workshop – Room 201
  • 11:30-12:10 – 5th grade workshop – Room 201
  • 12:15-1:15 – Lunch
  • 1:30-2:00 – 6th grade workshop – Room 201
  • 2:00 - dismissal –Lobby display

 

Students will have the opportunity to work closely with Barshaw, asking her questions and learning the unique aspects of writing and illustrating. For more information on Ruth McNally Barshaw, you can visit her website here. You can also visit Mike Bocianowski’s blog, containing his latest projects and updates of Harding Elementary students with their work here. If you would like more information on ArtsErie’s Artist-in-Residency program, you can visit our website at artserie.org

 

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ArtsErie Honors Local Students at Annual Art Show

posted on: Friday, April 01, 2011

ArtsErie Joins Forces with the Pennsylvania Art Educators Association to Honor Students at Their Annual Art Show

On Sunday March 20th, ArtsErie partnered with the Pennsylvania Art Educators Association to honor local Erie students who took part in the Annual Student Art Show. This year’s event took place at the Millcreek Mall with over 100 people in attendance to congratulate the winner’s.

 

The event honored students in three different age groups: Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Within each age group, awards were handed out to the top three students based on specific criteria determined by the judges. ArtsErie donated $25 to each first place winner along with art supplies to each second and third place winner. This year’s contestants were honored in the following order according to age group:

 

In the Elementary age group, Anna Rose Morton, a first grader from Grover Cleveland Elementary, took first place. Second place was awarded to Eliza Reynolds, a second grader from Union City Elementary, and third place was given to Victoria Mott, a forth grader from Montessori Regional Charter School.

 

In the Middle School age group, first place went to eighth grader Nicholas Huggler from Jefferson School. Second place was awarded to eighth grader Riquel Corder from Roosevelt Middle School and third place was given to Rachel Barczynski, a sixth grader from North East Middle School.

 

In the High School age group, first place was awarded to Mike Green, a senior at Cambridge Springs High School. Second place was given to Meagan Younkin, a junior at Iroquois High School, and third place was awarded to Katie Lewis, a senior at North East High School.

 

This year’s Student Art Show was a huge success with over 50 teachers participating and over 500 pieces of student art work submitted.

 

For more information on the PA Art Educators Association, you can visit their website at paea.org and for more information on ArtsErie you can visit our website at artserie.org




                                                                                                                                                                               

Holly Nowak Participates in National Read Across America Day

posted on: Friday, March 04, 2011

Arts in Education Director, Holly Nowak, Partners with Harding Elementary School for “Read Across America

 
    This past week, students across the country participated in the 13th annual Read Across America program, which focuses on engaging children of all ages to read through programs and events held through their schools and communities. National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. During this week, schools across the country spread the important message of reading through fun, age-appropriate activities.

    Local Erie elementary schools got in on the fun by transforming some of their libraries and classrooms into “Seussville.” Students at Ridgefield Elementary, in Millcreek Township, were delighted to find their schools library made over into five learning stations. Each station contained a theme from Dr. Seuss’ books. Students at Harding Elementary participated by not only reading Seuss books, but culminating the week with a parade through their auditorium, dressed as their favorite literary character.

     ArtEries’ Arts in Education Director, Holly Nowak, also helped spread the message of Read Across America by reading to kindergarten and second grade students at Harding Elementary. Ms. Nowak chose to read the popular children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Along with reading the book out loud to the students, Ms. Nowak had them engage in the text by playing along with instruments. This not only made the experience more enjoyable for each student, but also allowed them to interact with the text. Ms. Nowak expressed how incorporating the instruments made reading the story more exciting, and in turn demonstrated just how fun reading can be.

 For more information on National Read Across America Day, you can visit http://www.nea.org/readacross

 

 

 

 


Poetry Out Loud Winner

posted on: Friday, March 04, 2011

ArtsErie Announces “Poetry Out Loud” Regional Champion;

Winner to Compete in State Finals on March 14


            ArtsErie announces that Jillian Johannes, a sophomore at Mercyhurst Prep, has been selected as the winner of the regional finals for the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, created by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, which encourages the study of poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country.

ArtsErie and the PA Council on the Arts presented the 2011 regional competition, held Saturday February 19, 2011 at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. This year, three students participated in the regional finals. In addition to Johannes, the following students competed: Katelyn Baker, a home-schooled student with the Western Pennsylvania Christian Orators, who placed second in this year’s contest. Placing third in the competition was Megan Kibler, a student at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy.

The three poems Johannes chose to recite for her portion of the competition were “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers” by Emily Dickenson, “Altruism” by Molly Peacock, and “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden. She was awarded an all-expense-paid trip to the Pennsylvania State Finals for Poetry Out Loud, which will be held on Monday, March 14th 2011 at the Governor’s Residence, in Harrisburg, PA. There she will be vying for the opportunity to compete at the National Finals, to be held on April 29, 2011 in Washington, D.C., where Poetry Out Loud will award $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes to the winner.  

For more information regarding the Poetry Out Loud competition, click here. You can also contact our Arts in Education Program Manager, Holly Nowak, at holly@artserie.org or by phone at (814) 452-3427


ArtsErie’s Regional “Poetry Out Loud” Competition to be held on February 19th at Allegheny College

posted on: Thursday, February 17, 2011

ERIE, PA — ArtsErie and the Pa. Council on the Arts are proud to present the 2011 Regional “Poetry Out Loud” competition on February 19, 2011. This year’s competition will be held from 11 AM-1 PM at the Vukovich Center for Communication Arts at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, which encourages the study of poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country.

This year’s participants include Megan Kibler from Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Katelyn Baker from Western Pennsylvania Christian Orators, and Jillian Johannes from Mercyhurst Prep. Each contestant will be responsible for memorizing three poems chosen from the Poetry Out Loud anthology and reciting these poems before the judging panel. Each judge will score the contestant based on certain criteria such as level of difficulty, posture and presence, pronunciation, and evidence of understanding. After each round, their score will be tabulated and at the conclusion of the last round, their final scores will be announced, determining the regional champion. The winner of this year’s competition will go on to compete at the State Finals at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg, Pa.

This year’s panel of judges includes Conneaut Valley High School English teacher Donna Baker, ArtsErie Poetry Out Loud coordinator Lora Zill, coordinator of The Creating Landscapes Educational Programs for Children, Teens, and Young Adults, Jan Hyatt, and Associate Director of Public and Professional Writing at the University of Pittsburgh, Pam O’ Brien. ArtsErie is also proud to welcome Pennsylvania Senator Mary Jo White as a judge to this year’s panel. Senator White has served the 21st Senatorial District since 1996.

The 2010-11 academic year mark’s ArtsErie’s sixth year as regional host for area high schools. Eligible schools allowed to participate as part of ArtsErie’s region include Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Forest, McKean, Potter, Elk, and Cameron.

To receive information about participating in next year’s competition, contact Holly Nowak, ArtsErie’s Arts in Education Director, at (814) 452-3427. Additional information about Poetry Out Loud is available online at www.poetryoutloud.org.

Rep. Dahlkemper Announces $1.1 Million to ArtsErie for Project Benefitting Local Elementary Students

posted on: Monday, September 13, 2010

Erie, Pa.—Congresswoman Dahlkemper (PA-3) today announced Arts Erie has been awarded $1,122,733 in federal funding for their new project, Art in Action, to strengthen arts experiences in local elementary schools. The funds will support Art in Action for four years, serving about 900 local students annually by incorporating the arts into their classroom curricula. The program will also create local teaching opportunities for artists and educators.

“Incorporating the arts into the classroom helps keep students engaged in learning, can improve their performance in school and cultivates a lifelong appreciation for the arts. ArtsErie is providing a wonderful service to our local students, encouraging their creativity and enhancing their experience in the classroom. The Art in Action program will also create local jobs for Erie’s art and education community. I applaud ArtsErie for their work in developing this exceptional new program,” said Rep. Dahlkemper.

The funding was awarded through the Department of Education’s Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant program (AEMDD). Of 200 applicants from throughout the United States for the AEMDD grant program, only 33 were chosen to receive funds, including ArtsErie.

ArtsErie will partner with Union City Elementary School, Second District Elementary School in Meadville, Cambridge Springs Elementary School, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for Art in Action over the next four years. Resident artists will be assigned to up to forty-eight classrooms of students in grades PK-6 each year. For nine weeks, these artists will infuse arts-based instruction into the classroom to improve student achievement and engagement.

“ArtsErie is thrilled that the Department of Education has recognized the value of the work we’ve been doing for many years. I’m excited to be able to bring this wonderful opportunity to these students and to witness the positive changes that will surely take place because of Art in Action,” said M. Holly Nowak, Project Director for Art in Action and Program Manager of Arts in Education for ArtsErie.

In addition to the advantages for the students, more than 60 elementary school teachers will benefit from ongoing training and professional development to help enhance their teaching skills through the arts, including an opportunity for a three-credit graduate course at Edinboro University. Art in Action will undergo an ongoing evaluation process to measure the program’s effectiveness for the students. The evaluation results will be made available to the education community to share the successes and lessons of the program with other schools.

ArtsErie’s Art in Action project is also creating jobs and business opportunities in the area. In addition to the resident artists in the classroom, art specialists will help facilitate teacher training and retired teachers will observe classrooms as part of the program evaluation, which is being managed by KeyStone Research Corporation in Erie.

The AEMDD grant program stipulates projects must serve at least one elementary or middle school in which 35 percent or more of the children enrolled are from low-income families. One hundred percent of the total costs of the program or project will be financed with federal money.

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