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In This Month's Edition:
COCA Announcements
COCA Arts in Education Articles
Opportunities
Around Town
Job Openings
Did You Know?
Quick Links
COCA Announcements

Did you know COCA promotes school arts programming for FREE?
Add your 2019 school plays, concerts, performances, exhibits, and festivals directly to COCA's Tallahassee Arts Guide.
         
 
 
Simply, click the "register" button in the upper right corner and set up your own free account if you haven't already. Then enter your events and we'll help you promote them to the general public for free! We may even write a feature article about your camp as part of our weekly arts education series in the Tallahassee Democrat.
 
EDUCATORS - We'd love to have you as a COCA member!
 
COCA exists to serve the arts community and memberships are a big part of what allows us to do that. We provide services to educators and students and if you have benefited from COCA's support and resources, won't you consider become a new or renewing COCA member? We have a special category just for educators and you can learn more by clicking here.  
 
   
 
Questions? Feel free to contact Amanda Thompson at  amanda@tallahasseearts.org or 850-224-2500.


COCA Arts in Education Articles
Young actors launch dreams
January 03, 2019
 
Zola Geyer has big dreams. "In 15 years, I want to be on Broadway," she said. The 11-year-old home school student is inching steadily toward her goal. Her first step was joining Making Light Productions. Zola has been cast in their original musical production called "Under the Rainbow" and she's looking forward to her debut. "I love all of it so far, but singing is my favorite thing," she said.
 
"Under the Rainbow" is set in the bird sanctuary of Noah's Ark and the show explores what it means to be different. It celebrates individuality and inclusivity which are guiding tenets of Making Light. The nonprofit theater arts education organization is committed to serving children of all abilities.
 
The cast of "Under the Rainbow" is comprised of kids with special needs working and learning alongside their typically developing peers. Together, they study music, dance, and acting, as well as build sets, make costumes and perform.
 
Read the rest of the story here. Check out our archived arts education articles on the COCA blog.
 

Parsons Dance takes hands-on approach
January 23, 2019
 
Terrie Young has a playful personality, a sparkling smile and a love of the arts. An eighth-grader at Gretchen Everhart School, he uses a wheelchair to get from place to place but he also enjoys a more expressive type of movement.

"I love to dance," he shared. "I dance anywhere. At my home and with my Mom and Dad. I have a drum and I dance to music like Michael Jackson." Recently, Terrie and his classmates got an opportunity to explore dance with the help of some internationally renowned professionals. Brought to Tallahassee by Opening Nights at FSU, Parsons Dance has developed a world-wide reputation for its energized, athletic choreography. The company is also well-known for its commitment to inclusion and has developed targeted programming to ensure all audiences, regardless of ability, have the opportunity to connect with dance.
 
Along with a traditional performance for a Tallahassee audience, Parsons also provided a sensory friendly  performance and two workshops for the community. Through the Opening Nights In Class program, Parsons worked with FAMU students training to become physical education teachers as well as the dance educators from Raa Middle School and Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School for the Arts.
 
The session focused on techniques for working with students who have special needs and different abilities.

Read the rest of the story here. Check out our archived arts education articles on the COCA blog.
 

Empathy Factor
January 30, 2019

Reproductions of famous artworks line the perimeter of Heather Mott's art room.
Examples from Romare Bearden, Mary Cassatt and N.C. Wyeth show a peaceful community, a woman holding a child, and a spirited wild horse. These artworks elicit strong emotional responses which have been studied and discussed by art historians and critics. In Mott's class, they're discussed by fourth graders.
 
Projected onto the board are more examples of famous artworks and art students are prompted to describe the emotions they awaken. In response to Dorthea Lang's "Migrant Mother," one student shared, "it looks like she's upset because she can't pay her bills." This type of close examination and inquiry relates to a new initiative at Sealey Elementary School.

Read the rest of the story here. Check out our archived arts education articles on the COCA blog.
 

Opportunities
 
 
2019 K-12 Student Art Assessment & Virtual Exhibition (Deadline: March 12)
 
The purpose of this program is to serve as a statewide assessment for visual art and promote the achievements of students enrolled in visual art classes throughout Florida. Sargent Art will generously sponsor prizes for the 2019 FAEA K-12 Student Art Assessment & Virtual Exhibition. Click here to learn more.
 

Call for Session Proposals (Deadline: March 30)
FAAE would like to announce that they are now accepting session proposals for the 2019 Annual Leadership Summit. Your session may be in any number of different formats, but should address the summit theme "Heritage, Culture, and History in the Arts."  Click here  to learn more.
 

FAAE STAR Program (Deadline: April 23)
The STAR program is designed to honor and nourish the artist in the educator by providing five public school educators from Florida with the opportunity to pursue their artistic work in the inspiring environment of the prestigious Hermitage Artist Retreat.  Four-week residencies will be offered to two visual artists; two writers (fiction/non-fiction/poetry/playwriting); and one composer. Click here to see all the details.
 

Arts4All Florida Student of the Month Recognition Program 
Have an outstanding student with a disability who should be recognized for
work in or through the arts? Arts4All Florida invites you to take this easy opportunity to recognize a student who exemplifies outstanding work in or through the arts.To learn more, here.
 



Awesome Tallahassee (Deadline: Rolling)
Each month Awesome Tallahassee awards a $1,000 grant to people doing awesome things in our community. If you have a great idea for the Tallahassee area apply for a grant today!
Click  here for more details.  

 

Around Town
COCA promotes school arts programming and summer camps for FREE!
Add your school plays, concerts, performances, exhibits, festivals, and camps directly to our new Tallahassee Arts Guide. It only takes a few minutes to register and send us information about your arts related school events. They will be listed on the Tallahassee Arts Guide and we'll help you promote them for free!

We may even write a feature article about your program as part of our weekly arts education series in the Tallahassee Democrat! Questions? Contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at 850-224-2500.
 

Holocaust Education Week (Feb 4-8)
Presented by  Holocaust Education Resource Council and  Tallahassee Community College, t he Annual Holocaust Education Week starts with the premier of the documentary "Eva", an impactful and emotional story of Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor. Historian and author Peter Hayes will have a book signing and present a lecture on the commonly-asked questions regarding the Holocaust. Finally, former chief of staff Sally Bradshaw will moderate a panel discussion on the human condition and why people should remember the Holocaust. Click here for more info. 
 

BBCO -Young Artist Competition Winners (Feb. 9 at 3:30pm)
Come enjoy an afternoon of symphonic music with the Big Bend Community Orchestra, featuring our 2018-2019 Young Artist Competition winners, and followed by a free reception. The concert will  feature the 2018-2019 Young Artist Competition first-place winners in three age categories: Kye Richardson, violin (Vivaldi: Concerto in A minor, RV 356 , Mvt. 1); Blake Richardson, violin (Viotti: Concerto No. 22 in A minor , Mvt. 1); Maxwell van Hoeij, violin (Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 22 , Mvt. I).  Free admission! Click here for details.
 

Performance Opportunity (Deadline: Feb 15)
The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), in partnership with the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, invites you to be part of Arts and Culture Week at the state capitol during the 2019 Legislative Session.
This annual advocacy celebration is bigger and better than ever because this year there are new opportunities for the cultural community to get involved. The event will be held on March 28, 2019 at the state capitol and along with the Chalk Walk event and booths highlighting local arts organizations and businesses, we're offering PAID performance opportunities to local performing artists and school groups.  Click here for more info. 
 

Promotional Opportunity (Deadline: Feb 15)
The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), in partnership with the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, invites you to be part of Arts and Culture Week at the state capitol during the 2019 Legislative Session. This annual advocacy celebration is bigger and better than ever because this year there are new opportunities for the cultural community to get involved.

The event will be held on March 28, 2019 at the state capitol and we will provide you with a FREE table and chairs on the capitol courtyard (between the old and new capitols) for you to promote your programs. You'll also have an opportunity to perform/present to attendees.  Click here for more info. 
 

Kids Go for B'roque Auditions (Application Deadline: April 17)
The Tallahassee Bach Parley Kids Go for B'roque concert is an honors recital featuring musicians 18 years old and younger, who are currently studying with a music teacher, playing pieces of the Baroque period, 1600-1750. Strings, winds, pianists, vocalists, guitarists, and small chamber ensembles are welcome to audition. Auditions will be Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the FSU College of Music. A panel of 3 judges will select those students who will perform on the concert. Comment sheets will be returned to teachers, available at the concert, or mailed on request. Click here for more. 
 

Call for Arts Mentors at Raa Middle School 
Local visual artists, musicians, dancers, and theater professionals are sought to provide mentoring to middle school arts students in Raa's Magnet Program. These students know they want a life filled with arts experiences and you can show them how. If the arts have been an important part of your life and you want to pass that on, this is the perfect opportunity for you. The commitment is very low, just one hour per week, and Leon County Schools takes care of all the rest at no cost to you. Support these students by helping them develop communication and social skills, positive relationships with adults, as well as a life-long love of the arts. If you are interested or want more details,  here or contact Raa's Magnet Coordinator, Sam Thompson at  thompsons2@leonschools.net or 488-6287.  
 

Job Openings
Experienced Group Painting Instructor (Deadline: March 3)
xperienced group canvas painting instructor is needed for our beginning Painting Express classes at the Oglesby Art Center located on campus at FSU.  Must have at least an intermediate level experience painting instruction on canvas, acrylics, and 2D techniques.  Students will be at the beginning level. Hours are flexible. Click here for more info. 
 

Beginning Wheel Ceramics Instructor
(Deadline: March 3)
Click here for more info. 
 

Part-Time Music Instructors Wanted (Deadline: March 31)
Music Lessons Express, Tallahassee's largest music school, is seeking applications to teach music lessons (private and group) at our studio just off Apalachee Parkway. We are accepting resumes for all instruments and positions. Current openings include: Ukulele instructor, Voice instructor, Summer camp staff, Rock band coach/substitute instructor. Click here for more.
 

Kudos
Congratulations to Devan Moore, band director at Fairview Middle School. The Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) just recognized her with the Tom Bishop Award during the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa. The intent of this award is to recognize FBA members who have made a positive difference in a relatively short period of time in the position of band director.

Learn more about Devan and her program by reading this COCA article. 
 

Did You Know?
Rare blue pigment found in medieval woman's teeth rewrites history

Researchers were studying a skeleton of a woman who was estimated to be between 45 and 60 years old when she died sometime between 997 and 1162. The skeleton itself was unremarkable, with no visible signs of trauma or infection. But blue flecks were embedded in her teeth. Multiple spectrographic analyses revealed the blue pigment to be ultramarine.

Ultramarine and gold leaf would have been used to create illustrated illuminated manuscripts and luxury books in monasteries, mostly for other religious institutions and the nobility. Only the most skilled artists were allowed to use them because of their cost. 
 
That the discovery was made in a rural German monastery is no surprise; books were being produced during this time in monasteries across the country. But women were not known to be the illustrators of such prized creations.
 
Click here to read the article  by Ashley Strickland. 
 

About the Arts in Education Newsletter

Amanda Karioth Thompson
Assistant Director
Education & Exhibitions Manager
Council on Culture & Arts
phone: 850-224-2500
fax: 850-224-2515
amanda@tallahasseearts.org
 
To submit listings for COCA's Arts in Education Monthly Newsletter, send a description of 50 words or less to Amanda Karioth Thompson at amanda@tallahasseearts.org. COCA reserves the right to include or exclude any listing at its discretion and to determine the content and placement of all listings. Deadline for submission is 5:00pm on the fourth Monday of the month.
 
COCA does not endorse any artists, organizations, or programs listed herein, nor imply stature through their inclusion in this newsletter. While we have made every effort to insure that this information is correct, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information.
  

COCA's programs are sponsored in part by the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.