Month: January 2019

2019 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest – Deadline March 1

Elementary, middle and high school teachers and their students are encouraged to participate in the 2019 Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest, an integral part of the 14th annual Endangered Species Day, celebrated on and around May 17, 2019. 

Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day is a celebration of the nation’s wildlife and wild places.  The Youth Art Contest provides K-12 students residing in the U.S. with an opportunity to learn about endangered animal and plant species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. Young artists who are home schooled and participate in youth groups are also eligible to submit their art. More than 1,500 young artists from throughout the country entered the 2018 contest. 

Saving Endangered Species Youth Art contest entries should depict a land or ocean-dwelling species that either lives in or migrates through the United States and its waters and has been placed on the threatened/endangered species list.  Artwork must be submitted electronically by March 1, 2019.

A prestigious panel of artists, photographers and conservationists will judge the artwork. Winners will be chosen in four categories: K-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12, and will receive plaques and art supply gift packs (from Chartpak Inc.). In addition, one grand prize winner will be honored at a reception in Washington, D.C. in May 2019 and also receive a special art lesson from a professional artist.

The Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest is organized by the Endangered Species Coalition.

Visit endangered.org for more information, including complete contest guidelines, submission details, an art lesson plan, and the 2018 contest winners’ and semi-finalists’ artwork. If you have any questions, contact David Robinson (Endangered Species Day Director)

MFA Volunteer Opportunity

Seeking volunteer guides to engage MFA school groups with art!
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s volunteer Gallery Instructors (GIs) encourage discovery, new ways of looking, and critical thinking by facilitating Museum tours relevant to each group of visiting students. GIs receive extensive training about the MFA’s global collection and educational strategies for in-gallery teaching; no previous art or teaching experience required.  The MFA is recruiting applicants to begin training in fall 2019 and seeks to form a cohort that represents the racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of our student visitors. To be eligible to apply, interested candidates must attend an information session on Friday, January 18 (10:15 am-noon), Friday, January 25 (10:15 am-noon) or Wednesday, January 30 (7-8:45 pm). Learn more.

Slavery in The Colonial North a 2019 NEH Teacher Institute – Free Tuition

Slavery in The Colonial North a 2019 NEH Teacher Institute is a learning experience where teachers can explore history at a site where 23 enslaved Africans lived and worked in 1750. Art teachers can enrich their teaching to have students understand issues related to slavery in the colonial north where they construct and demonstrate a deeper understanding, and engage in the a creative process to better connect to the topic at hand.

Slavery in The Colonial North takes place July 14-20, 2019 and is open to all K-12 teachers.  Tuition is free and there is a $1,200 stipend.  Apply today at hudsonvalley.org/nehinstitute, application deadline March 1, 2019 and notifications will be made by March 29, 2019. Learn more about eligibility and applying.

Update re: Art All-State 2019

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Art All-State Steering Committee, the Art All-State Massachusetts program will defer for one year.

Please note, the AAS Steering Committee is devoted to providing an alternate creative experience for current high school juniors in the spring of 2019, information forthcoming.

If you are interested in being involved in the conceptual development of the program, or would like to help in any way please contact the Art All-State Steering Committee Chair, Sheldon Vigeant and the Art All-State Program Director, Kristi Oliver at artallstateMA@gmail.com.