Arts Education
Did you know there is a fun and interesting way to learn geometry? Maybe not… But you would if dancer Becky Coxe, one of our Community Artists, had helped you learn it through dance. Becky is one of the many artists on the Arts Council's Artist Roster who works with students in schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She teaches geometry through the art of dance. Visual artist, Lori Alexander, teaches students about the Renaissance by using elements of painting and drawing to create their own masterpieces. Arts programs like these make an unforgettable impression on young minds.

In 2004, the Arts Council's Arts Education Program provided 42 programs in 3 parishes throughout the state. Qualified artists reached more than 5,900 students and teachers through 2,760 hours in the classroom.
Partnerships in Arts Education
The Arts Education Department completed its Professional Development Program with its final teacher workshop on Wednesday, April 18th. Community Artist Becky Coxe led teachers in “Breakin’ It Down: Ways to unite dance, music, and mathematics using division, multiplication, fractions and geometric lines.”

The Arts Council is in its second year with the John F. Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program, providing classroom teachers professional development experiences that enhance their understanding of the arts and teach effective techniques to reinforce the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum.

The Professional Development program is supported by a grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund
 The Arts Council’s Education Department continues to offer programs to the residents of the Renaissance Village transitional living community.

Program components include:

After-School Program providing professional artists to teach the arts to school age children three times per week.
Seniors Program providing arts classes once a week.
Community in Concert Program offering special performances and lecture demonstrations presented by Baton Rouge performing arts organizations in connection with their annual performing arts seasons. Complementary tickets will be provided for residents of the transitional community for all related performances.

This programming is being made possible through the generous support of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

Poetry Out Loud encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance and helps them master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation partnered with State Arts Agencies to launch Poetry Out Loud nationwide. The Arts Council’s Arts Education Department is serving as project director for the state of Louisiana. Students from the regions of Lake Charles and Baton Rouge competed at the school level and the regional level, to make it to the State Finals. On Saturday, March15th, six finalists competed for the State Final position at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Mercedes Wilson of Baton Rouge Magnet High won the competition and will represent Louisiana at the National Competition in Washington, DC on April 27-29, 2008. The Arts Council sends congratulations to all the students and teachers that participated around the state. our six finalists for their outstanding performances, and Mercedes Wilson as she represents us in Washington.

more info about Poetry Out Loud
School Readiness Through the Arts
Click here to see photographs of the School Readiness Through the Arts Program.
Artist Roster of the Arts Council
The Artist Roster is a current listing of highly qualified artists who are available to teach their area of expertise in schools, the Community School for the Arts and throughout the community.

Accomplished artists in the disciplines of dance, creative writing, music, theater and visual arts are invited to apply. Applicants will be evaluated by a jury composed of experts in arts education, professional artists, community volunteers and representatives of the Arts Council.  Selection criteria includes professionalism, education, training, proven expertise in an arts discipline, and the ability to teach the arts to students. Accepted applicants will be eligible to participate in the Arts Council's Arts Education programs as artists in the classrooms and Community School for the Arts. 

The Council serves an eleven-parish area.  Qualified artists from the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana are encouraged to apply.

Artist Roster application
For more information about these programs or to bring a program to your school, contact Toni Brown, Arts Education & Community School for the Arts Director, at 344-8558 or tbrown@acgbr.com.


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