Image © 2010 Theatre Action Project
In the Spring of 2009, leaders from the arts and education communities assembled to consider inequities in access to arts programming and how they might join forces to make a difference. Collaboration with each other and supportive Austin funders was recognized as key. The mindPOPinitiative received enthusiastic endorsement from Dr. Meria Carstarphen, superintendent of AISD, and the partners were on their way.
Establishing a system of equitable arts-based learning is a major enterprise, combining instruction in the fine arts and integration of the arts in the academic curriculum. Few school districts can commit to this arts-rich approach without the involvement of arts professionals and extra training for classroom teachers—two areas of mindPOP support.
Over many months, MINDPOP strategies were developed to:
• Identify and close the gaps in access to arts programming
• Connect students and non-profit arts providers
• Promote arts-enriched instruction by classroom teachers and teaching artists, and
• Create a process for evaluating results.
Fifty representatives of arts programs within and outside of AISD formed teams to create projects called Solutions. Research was conducted through partnerships with the University of Texas and AISD.
By mid-2011, the following MINDPOP key objectives have been completed or are under development:
• mindPOP Roadmap, a survey of arts programs offered by AISD and localarts educationproviders. The initial report is a first step toward a comprehensive study of arts distribution.
• MINDPOP collaborates with the Austin Creative Alliance in establishing the Creative Learning Directory, a searchable database of arts education resources. Teachers can now apply filters to find programs that fit class objectives at the grade level.
• Mini-grants to local arts organizations in support of mindPOP goals (30 grants in 2010).
• MINDPOP conducts professional development workshops with national presenters.
• Following the 2010 workshop, a music teacher described the experience:
“…one of the very BEST staff development sessions I have attended in my 25 years of teaching…with some clear examples of how we can share with our community the importance of the arts in educating the whole child.”
Stay tuned as MINDPOP continues it's groundbreaking work in arts education.
Image © 2010 Theatre Action Project
