Sam Piha’s Post

Here's a snapshot of some recent stats from dabbledoo

For all those in the education space, this will be so worthwhile. The creative arts are fundamental for child development... encouraging problem solving, self-expression, confidence, articulation, leadership skills and a plethora of other key building blocks for success.

Say it loud! 📣The arts are essential and a human right! To limit students access to arts education is to deny critical opportunities for social emotional development as well as other critical aptitudes: Confidence, creative problem-solving, cultural awareness, communication, conflict resolution, collaborative empathy and self-awareness. Decreasing support for arts education limits the ability for low-income communities to envision the many possible pathways that exist in both arts and non-arts professions. The proposed cuts disproportionately impact students in those communities.

Did you know that 88 percent of Americans consider the arts as an integral part of a well-rounded education, yet an American for the Arts public opinion survey found that the percentage of students receiving arts education has declined drastically over the last few decades? Arts education is often the first to go when schools make budget cuts. So why does this matter? Arts education plays a critical role in the growth and development of our youth and teens. Several local and national arts initiative research has found that an increase in arts educational experiences has substantial benefits on students’ academic, social and emotional outcomes. This is one of the core reasons we do the work we do. We strive to use the Arts as a catalyst to ensure a better future for them and also for our communities. Source: “The many benefits of arts education” by the Herald Review.

Here to share the 50-State scan of arts education policies that I have been working on these past months! This resource offers information for 13 different arts education policy areas! Please check it out! https://lnkd.in/g7ifhDFT

⭐️ New blog alert! ⭐️ Arts education is not just an extra-curricular activity; it’s a crucial part of a well-rounded education. Learn more about the ArtsWave 100 Endowment for Arts Education Experiences and why it was created in this week's blog post! 🍎🎨 https://lnkd.in/gQKypqfP #CincyArts

Yes! 🙌 ➡️There is a very real issue. There is a very real crisis around the lack of access to creativity and all the arts. 🎨🎭🎶At Early Education, myself and Cathy G. are working to address this crisis that is recognised by the Education Secretary in a project supported by the Mercers’ Company as trustee of the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington. 🌱SPACE to Flourish is an early years project that is directly Supporting Pedagogy in Arts and Creativity Everywhere. 💭🤔Crucially we are creating a #thinkingenvironment for educators to think critically, reflect on practice and develop actions that amplify opportunity for flourishing through creativity and the arts. 🌱It is a multilayered approach to professional learning and continual formation with: ✳️Deepening Pedagogy Days in which we explore how the arts enable communication, thinking, and meaning-making through collaboration and practical engagement ✳️Setting Visits in which we get to see work in progress and develop the work together in bespoke and contextual ways ✳️Half-termly group coaching sessions to think together about the impact of the changes being made to pedagogy, curriculum, environments and materials and most of all, the experiences of the children in the flourishing of their learning and development 🔍To find out more, check in the comments for a link to the project microsome for updates and shared resources.

Acknowledging the problem is the first step to identifying solutions. This is heartening....

A new article in ‘Educate’, the National Education Union’s (NEU)- JAN/FEB magazine of current affairs in the teaching profession, makes a powerful statement on the need for an arts-rich curriculum in schools.  Written by Ken Jones, academic and head of policy at NEU, the article argues that the funding crisis has negatively affected the ability of schools to provide a high-quality arts education to young people. But the lack of value given to the arts runs through other policies and procedures in the education system - for example, Michael Gove’s 2014 guidance for school buildings states that dance and drama should be delivered in school halls ‘as much as possible’ rather than in specialised spaces.  Whilst UK based-it resonates with me... https://lnkd.in/gTBCt3Tj. 

5 ways to help your arts classes SOAR in 2024! 1. Hold your class on a Monday, the most popular day of the week to offer arts classes. 3. Schedule the class between 4pm and 6pm. Weekday evening classes are more popular than morning classes. 3. Open registration 1 month before the class starts, unless … 4. ... it’s a kids’ summer camp or class. Then you should open registration about 3 months before the start date. 5. Focus on Facebook. More than 50% of arts programs promote their classes on this social media platform. For more data to help your arts education program SOAR, download our new State of the Arts Report! https://lnkd.in/e45eFmM8