Category Archives: Arts Advocacy
Why the Arts? Survival of the Species.
Depending on the website, March 11-17 was “Illinois Arts in Education Week” (as Mayor Morrissey proclaimed at city council), or the whole month of March is “Illinois Arts in Education Month”, OR nation-wide it’s September. Some states opt for April or May.
Regardless of when it is observed, the message is the same: If we want our children to receive the best education possible, that education has to include the arts. Longitudinal studies conducted by the US Department of Education show statistical evidence of increased academic success by those students who participated in long-term sequential study in one or more …
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Rockford Native’s Play in Finals
CulturalDC announced the 25 Finalists for the “2013 Source Festival” full length plays. One of the 25 finalists is Rockford native, Nathan A. Davis. I learned about this because someone posted the press release on his Facebook page. I have not heard of this festival, but a friend who lives in Washington DC tells me this IS a big deal. For those who may not know the connection…Nathan A. Davis is my son.
While I don’t know much about CulturalDC, I know about this play. It’s called “The Wind and the Breeze” and this isn’t the first time it’s earned …
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Posted in Arts Advocacy, Arts Events, Rockford
Instrument Petting Zoo…step in the right direction
Yellow school buses were parked in front of Riverfront Museum Park when I arrived yesterday. Fifth grade students from King Elementary piled out. There was a sign on the door that I might have overlooked, but one of the girls screamed when she saw it. “Hey, look! They made a sign for us!”
All week, District 205 fifth grade students have boarded buses to go on an Instrument Petting Zoo field trip. They touched, blew, plucked, and strummed instruments as an interactive promotion for the middle school instrumental music program.
A former Auburn graduate, greeted the students and told them …
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The Arts, Miracles, & Impressive Shopping…
This week I spoke at the Kiwanis lunch meeting. Our CEO, Anne O’Keefe, had a conflict and asked me to speak on her behalf about the Rockford Area Arts Council, our mission, and what we do. She assured me they were a fun group and she was right, so my nerves were only jumping hurdles instead of vaulting the high jump.
Before I ever spoke, they sang songs. One member showed a video of a dog with man hands eating at a dining room table (told you they were a fun group), and the wall behind me was a painted …
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Posted in Arts Advocacy, Arts Events, Arts For Children, Arts for youth, City of Rockford
Local Artists: Writers, Poets, And Musicians
Rockford, a city in between Chicago and Madison, has lots of resources when it comes to writers, poets, and musicians. I would love to reflect on what this city has to offer, and the people I am involved with and work with to provide entertainment to enthused and interested patrons of the arts.
The Rockford Writers’ Guild is an on-going writers resource that meets monthly at Twinker Swiss Cottage. A collective of writers of all sorts, the group is always high-spirited,
professional, and interested in what the members are doing when it comes to their writing.
I believe more people …
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Posted in Arts Advocacy, Arts Events, City of Rockford, Education, Entertainment, jazz, open mic, poetry, Rockford, spoken word, Winnebago County
Tagged artists, live music, music, musicians, poetry, Rockford, spokenword
