NEWS RELEASE:
MARCH 14, 2003
CONTACT:
Brenda Nienhouse, Traverse Area Arts Council
director@traversearts.org
www.traversearts.org
phone 231.932.0732
FIRST "NATIONAL OVERTURE" SPOTLIGHTS EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
TRAVERSE CITY, MI --- Improving education through the arts will be the focus of the inaugural National Overture of Education and the Arts to be held April 6-13, 2003 in Traverse City, MI.
The weeklong event is spearheaded by the Washington D.C.-based Institute for Education and the Arts, which will join national experts and resources together with local educators, artists and cultural organizations to explore and demonstrate the use of visual and performance arts as tools in teaching core academic subjects in grades K-12. When completed, the event will serve as a national model for communities throughout the country.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to access our nation's cultural treasures, showcase our region's rich resources and to interactively explore the benefits of integrating arts and education," said Brenda Nienhouse, Executive Director of the Traverse Area Arts Council. The council is serving as host and local coordinator for the event, which will feature a community-wide schedule of seminars, symposia, interactive presentations, performances and demonstrations.
"The goal is to identify models, methods and resources that can be utilized by educators and communities throughout the country for creative collaborations and sustained educational programs," said Donna Power, Vice President of the Institute for Education and the Arts.
The Institute, which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress, will bring more than two dozen experts from more than 13 national organizations to Traverse City.
Participating organizations include the National Gallery of Art, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Shakespeare Theatre, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, McGraw Hill Publishing, Northwestern University School of Music, Federal City Council of Washington, D.C. and the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, as well as the Library of Congress and The Smithsonian Associates. Representatives will demonstrate their educational programs, outreach opportunities, resources and initiatives while also gaining feedback from the local community.
An early proponent of the Institute for Education and the Arts, the Interlochen Center for the Arts will play an active role in hosting and participating in events scheduled during the week of April 6-13. Together with the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress, Interlochen played a key role in early support for the Institute.
The National Overture in Michigan will also showcase the rich cultural resources within the local communities and innovative arts initiatives at work in the schools. Examples include programs at Interlochen Center for the Arts, youth performances of the Martin Luther King Suite and Les Miserables, the Dennos Museum Center's Inuit Art and Japanese exhibit education programs and the three day Youth Arts in Action, a three-day Give 'Em 40 youth arts showcase at Traverse City West High School.
Performances and displays will also be featured throughout the week by such area organizations as Dennos Museum Center, Traverse Area District Library, Old Town Playhouse, Traverse Symphony Orchestra and Northwestern Michigan College among many others.
Traverse City was chosen over several other U.S. cities as host for the National Overture due to the strength of the region's cultural resources, local commitment to arts programming in the schools and demonstrated community support of cultural arts initiatives.
Examples include the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce's leadership in creating and implementing the Community Cultural Plan, the longstanding reputation of Interlochen Center for the Arts, national recognition of Traverse City West High School and the Traverse City Area Public Schools in 2001 by The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education, the strength of the Grand Traverse Cultural Coalition and ongoing collaboration and innovation by area arts organizations and the high number of noted area artists, performers and educators.
Among the nationally renowned scholars and artists scheduled to participate are Michael Kahn of The Shakespeare Theatre and the Juilliard School, John Newsom of the Library of Congress, Celeste Miller of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Ken Fischer of the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, and Carol Bogash of the Smithsonian Institution.
Presentations will include: Carnegie Hall's LinkUP! Program involving area fourth grade classrooms and culminating with an interactive performance of the Dvorak's New World Symphony performed by the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. Jazz at Lincoln Center will share its new Jazz for Young People series, based on Wynton Marsalis' presentations to youth. The National Gallery of Art will present Art Tales, a curriculum for middle school teachers. The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will interact with high school teachers on "The Power of Metaphor."
Exhibit materials from the Library of Congress include original Mozart and Beethoven scores, an early 16th century Spanish choir book, Gerry Mulligan's baritone saxophone, an early 20th century Stroh viol, the original score of "I've Got Rhythm" by George and Ira Gershwin used in Crazy for You being performed at Old Town Playhouse and original Rodgers and Hammerstein sketches complementing Interlochen Arts Academy performances of South Pacific as well as web demonstrations of its online collections. Most will be displayed at the Dennos Museum Center.
Other highlights include: opening ceremonies at the Dennos Museum Center with keynote by U.S. Representative Dave Camp and a point/counterpoint panel discussion by state and national leaders as well as an opening panel at Interlochen Center for the Arts that will set the tone for the week's discussions.
The National Overture for Education and the Arts is being hosted by the Traverse Area Arts Council, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Traverse Cultural Coalition which includes City Opera House Heritage Association, Dennos Museum Center, Encore Society of Music, Great Lakes Children's Museum, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Music House Museum, Art Center Traverse City, Old Town Playhouse, State Theatre Group and Traverse Symphony Orchestra. Additional events and presenters are being added throughout the month. A comprehensive listing of activities will be available in late March, and will also appear on the Traverse Arts web site at http://www.traversearts.org.
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For more information
about the Institute for Education and the Arts:
info@edartsinstitute.org
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