Issue 7 / November 15, 2023

In this issue:

• Illinois Art Education Association Celebrates 75 ^th Annual Conference

• Field Foundation/IDHS Announce Healing Illinois

• Illinois Tourism Request for Photo Submissions

• Collaborator Spotlight: Center for Native Futures

Jay Ryan’s hands-on workshop -

screen-printing IAEA 75^th

anniversary poster

Gala, awarding Judith Briggs with

Art Educator of the Year

Jerome Grand presenting on the IACA’s granting programs

Illinois Art Education

Association Celebrates

75th Annual Conference

Program Director, Jerome Grand presented on IACA’s granting programs at the 75^th annual Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) conference in St. Charles from October 19-21.

With over 600 attendees and more than 150 sessions and hands-on workshops, the conference provided lively and insightful professional development for visual art, media, and design educators across the state. Sessions covered dozens of topics relevant to k-12, higher ed, museums, and beyond.

The featured speakers were: Mario R. Rossero, the Executive Director of the National Art Education Association, who ignited the conference and gave us a look inside his resourceful art educator asset-based toolbox; Paula Liz, Founder and Executive Director of Anti-Racist Art Teachers, who inspired us with her life experiences to create a better future for all through arts education; and Jay Ryan, Illinois artist thebirdmachine.com, who invited us into the whimsy of his creative world and the intricacies of the screen-printing process.

Among the numerous sessions and topics covered during the conference, a handful explored IAEA’s expanding Collaborating

for Excellence. The online collaboration platform (NEA and IACA funded project) was developed for educators to share lesson plans and personalize their professional learning through 12 expert-facilitated modules exploring topics such as Social-Emotional Learning, Student Engagement, Standards-based Assessment and more. Engagement, Standards-based Assessment and more.

The conference marked another year for festivities, with a student art show and honors, a gala, accolades, and awards. Congratulations to the recipients of IAEA’s awards:

Judith Briggs, Art Educator of the Year;

Machaela Leno, Early Professional of the Year;

Kathleen Tieri Ton, Secondary Art Educator of the Year;

Jody Paulson, Higher Education Art Educator of the Year;

Melissa Farley, Elementary Art Educator of the Year;

Jerry Stefl, Distinguished Service to the Profession of Art Education;

Merry K. Lanker, Junior High/Middle School Art Educator of the Year;

Kamila Anna Glowacki, Museum Art Educator of the Year;

Sherri Kushner, President’s Award;

Joseph Hernandez, Distinguished Member;

Happy anniversary to the IAEA and its 75 years of bringing arts educators together.

Field Foundation/IDHS Announce Healing Illinois

The Field Foundation is partnering with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for the relaunch of Healing Illinois, a racial healing initiative.

Healing Illinois was introduced in 2020 to address racial disparities that impact people across the state. The renewed initiative will distribute $4.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that facilitate racial healing activities, lead equity work, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Funding will support communities that continue to grapple with complex and long-standing issues–from institutional racism to freedom of speech and expression.

Healing Illinois grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis now through December 1, 2023, or until funding has been expended. Please follow this link for information on how to apply: IDHS: Healing Illinois Request for Proposals (RFP) (state.il.us)

Illinois Tourism Request for Photo Submissions

The Illinois Office of Tourism/Enjoy Illinois is reaching out to Illinois Arts Council Agency partners requesting photography and/or video footage that best showcases your public arts programs, artists and attractions.

Thank you for your collaboration. We look forward with continuing the promotion of Illinois’ cultural treasures to visitors of our state.

See IACA's announcement for details!

Credit: Illinois Office of Tourism

The Center for Native Futures is located at

56 W. Adams in downtown Chicago

The Gallery

Attendees of IACA's recent listening tour session at Center For Native Futures

IACA Listening Tour: Center for Native Futures

One of the Illinois Arts Council Agency's recent Listening Tour stops was held at the Center for Native Futures in downtown Chicago. We thank their founders, Debra Yepa-Pappan Monica Rickert-Bolter and Chris Pappan and each participant who provided us with many great suggestions and enlightening dialogue. Many thanks also to IACA Council member and Native American, Les Begay for his insights at this session.

The Center for Native Futures' mission is to "bring together Native artists to imagine ourselves richly, where art can provide a lens to learn from the past, nurture our present and realize a thriving future."

The Center is currently planning their second biannual Mound Summit. This daylong symposium highlights the critical role Native curators play in amplifying artists and contemporary Native arts. Mound Summit will return as a hybrid in-person program at their our gallery space on Saturday, December 9 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. All are welcome!

For more information on the Center for Native Futures, visit their website:

https://www.centerfornativefutures.org/