COCA's Monthly Arts in Education Newsletter for January 2020

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 program as part of our 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? You can learn more by clicking here.

Questions? Feel free to contact Amanda Thompson at [email protected] or 850-224-2500.

COCA Arts in Education Articles

Engaging with arts 'makes everything sparkle'
December 25, 2019

Henry Detweiler is no stranger to live musical performances. Both his parents are musicians, so he's gathered a few tips on being a good audience member.

"For starters, when you're in an auditorium, you should not talk because then you're going to be more focused on talking than the music," said the Gilchrist Elementary School second grader.

Figuring out when to applaud can be a challenge and Henry offered a helpful suggestion. "Try to follow along when a whole group claps. That's always what I do. Not like when only one person claps. Don't start clapping then because it's probably not a spot when you clap."

For good measure, he added "try not to kick the seat in front of you."

Henry and nearly 2,200 other elementary-aged students and their teachers recently attended the Young People's Concerts presented by the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (TSO).

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

Opportunities

C-SPAN's StudentCam (Accepting submissions: Nov. 1 - Jan. 20, 2020)
This annual national video documentary competition encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students in grades 6-12 are asked to create a short (5-6 minute) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme, "What's Your Vision in 2020? Explore the issue you most want presidential candidates to address during the campaign." With cash prizes totaling $100,000 each year, C-SPAN awards prizes to 150 student documentaries, and over 50 teacher advisers . Click here for more details.

Digital Humanities Advancement Grants (Accepting submissions: Nov. 15 - Jan. 15, 2020)

This grant supports digital projects at different stages throughout their lifecycles, from early start-up phases through implementation and sustainability. Experimentation, reuse, and extensibility are hallmarks of this program, leading to innovative work that can scale to enhance scholarly research, teaching, and public programming in the humanities. Click here to learn more.

Advancing Arts Education (AAE) program (Accepting applications Oct. 1 - Jan. 17, 2020)

The Advancing Arts Education (AAE) program recognizes schools with underserved/emerging arts programs who desire to develop or enhance their programs. One school will be selected from each of the three regions of Florida: North, Central, and South. As an AAE School, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with an expert consultant(s) in the field of arts and arts integration techniques in developing a plan designed to develop or enhance an arts program in your school. The Florida Alliance for Arts Education provides funding to AAE schools through the Arts for a Complete Education grant. Grant funds will be allocated to support the one-year partnership with the consultant, contingent upon receipt of legislative funding each year. The grant supports awards of $5000 per AAE designation. Click here to learn more.

Florida Arts Model Schools (Accepting applications Oct. 1 - Jan. 17, 2020)

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) supports a complete and comprehensive education that includes dance, music, theatre, and visual arts for all Florida students. To help achieve this goal, the Florida Department of Education, in partnership with the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE), seeks to identify model arts education programs in schools throughout Florida. The Florida Arts Model Schools (FAMS) program recognizes schools that offer exemplary programs in any of the four arts disciplines. Schools can apply for FAMS designation in one or more arts disciplines. Click here to learn more.

Kennedy Center Arts Administration Training Scholarship (Deadline: Feb. 2, 2020)

The Next Generation Leaders Scholarship Program is a comprehensive 10-week intensive arts administration training program. Through the program, students will have the opportunity to develop office skills, gain qualifications for future jobs in arts administration, and cultivate social capital by developing connections with leaders and peers. Applicants must be a rising junior, senior or within one year post undergraduate degree to apply for the Next Generation Leaders Scholarship Program. Click here for more.

Arts for Life Scholarships (Deadline: Feb. 3, 2020)

Arts for Life! annually awards $1,000 scholarships to 25 graduating high school seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in one of the following art forms: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art. Students must submit a completed application, a brief essay explaining "How the arts have positively influenced my life" and a portfolio of work. Click here for more info.

Florida Animation Festival - Call for Submissions (Deadline: March 3, 2020)
New for the 2020 festival is the addition of two divisions for young animators. Creators aged 12 and under are "Debut Junior" and animators between 13 - 17 are "Debut." There is no submission fee for these categories and, as it is our first year opening up these specific categories, the judging process will be independent from paid-for submissions. Click here for more details.

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.

Resources

"Write the Way You Would Talk"

Gerald Ensley was one of the Tallahassee Democrat's most popular writers ever. During his career, he wrote for every regular and special section the Democrat ever produced, including the only two "extras" published during his time there. Ensley won more than 50 state and national writing awards in more than a dozen categories and it is estimated that he wrote nearly 12,000 articles in his years at the Democrat.

Even his retirement in 2015 didn't stop him from contributing, and the Democrat continued to publish his work regularly. Less than a month before his death on Feb. 16, 2018, his last column appeared on the front page, and he was working on several other articles. It was his dedication, passion and curiosity that made him such an exemplary writer.

Ensley's family is pleased to present a new publication "Write the Way You Would Talk: Gerald Ensley's advice on interviewing and writing-for rookie reporters & columnists." The guide i s a tribute to his legacy of mentoring young reporters and is an open access work, available for free. Click here for more details and to download .

The Art Assignment

This educational video series explores art and art history through the lens of the present. The series premiered in 2014 with episodes introducing you to emerging and established artists, each of whom share an assignment that relates to their approach to art. These episodes serve as open calls for makers across the globe, and thousands of artworks have been created and shared in response to the assignments. Click here t o explore the website.

Around Town

2019 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit (On view through Jan. 27)

This exhibition showcases youthful talent and imagination through nearly 80 pieces of student artwork. Elementary, middle and high school art teachers submitted work on behalf of their students for the competition. The entries represent 35 different area public and private schools. The dedication and professionalism of our area art teachers is evident in the quality of the student artwork on display in the gallery and the exhibition is stunning. Click here for more details .

Arts4All Florida Young Performers Program (Deadline: Jan. 13, 2020) As an exciting expansion of the popular Arts4All Florida Young Soloists program, the new Arts4All Florida Young Performers Program will increase the reach to recognize extraordinary performers ages 14-24, in not only music, but also dance and theatrical performance, that have a disability. Click here for more details.

VSA Artist-in-Residence

We hire artists and therapists of all art forms to work with children and teens who have disabilities in the school and DJJ system. We are currently looking for artists in your county and would love to talk with any of your staff/artist who might be interested. It is only a one hour a week commitment for 8 weeks and we have two terms a year, fall and spring. Click here for details.

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 [email protected] or 488-6287.

Internships

Mission San Luis Spring and Summer 2020 Education Internships

The primary job description is to assist the Mission San Luis Education Department in creating programming to inform the public of the history of Mission San Luis. Click for more info regarding the position available in the spring and summer 2020.

Kudos

COCA is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibition on display now at the City Hall Art Gallery through Jan. 27. For more than 25 years, we have partnered with the City of Tallahassee's Parks and Recreation Department to present this showcase of youthful talent. This year there are nearly 80 pieces of K-12 student artwork on view. They are all outstanding but a few of them received some additional kudos. Congratulations to these young artists and their teachers!

2019 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibition Award Winner s:

MAYOR'S AWARD "BEST IN SHOW"
"Figs and Olives" by Sereena Kurdi, Grade 12, Lincoln High School, art teacher Marilyn Proctor-Givens

MIDDLE SCHOOL
First Place
"Wink Bright" by Chanel Thomas, Grade 8, Raa Middle School, art teacher Katie Aylward
Second Place
"The Grazing Bison" by Michael Prendeville, Grade 8, Trinity Catholic School, art teacher Courtney Thomson

Third Place
"My Mind" by Isabella Suarez, Grade 7, Florida State University School, art teacher Pam Wallheiser and art intern Emily Faehnle
Honorable Mention
"Alexander Army" by Laila Alexander, Grade 6, Montford Middle School, art teacher Donald Sheppard
"The Lady in Gray" by Reyla Green, Grade 7, Raa Middle School, art teacher Katie Aylward
"Festive Floral Landscape" by Ava Cherashore, Grade 8, Maclay School, art teacher Kim Daniel

HIGH SCHOOL
First Place
"Penny Fly" For A Lifetime by Gabriela Garcia, Grade 12, SAIL High School, art teacher Jeff Distefano
Second Place
"Denigration" by Ryan Cake, Grade 12, SAIL High School
Third Place, art teacher Sheri Nilles Marshall
"Protector" by Tatum Cocotos, Grade 12, Leon High School
Honorable Mention, Sarah Raulerson
"The Ones Left Behind" by Roman Le, Grade 11, Chiles High School, art teacher Julie Childers
"Mocs" by Janae Scott, Grade 12, Florida State University School, art teacher Barbara Davis

"Self Portrait" by Wyatt Townsend, Grade 9, Chiles High School, art teacher Teresa Coates

Did You Know?

On December 10, 2019, l ongtime efforts of music lovers, history buffs, and preservationists were been rewarded, as the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted unanimously for the landmark designation of five buildings connected to the birthplace of American popular music.

The five mid-19th century Italianate row houses at 47-55 W. 28th St. were central to what would become known as Tin Pan Alley - home to sheet music publishers who revolutionized the music publishing industry.

" They are part of an irreplaceable cultural history of New York City-and America," wrote Greenspan, who further noted, "African American songwriters and songwriters of Eastern European Jewish descent thrived here, and their creative and musical legacy is bound to these buildings."