A DAY OF FINE ARTS ADVOCACY January 28, 2015 Page 1 Page 2 Iowa Alliance for Arts Education Executive Board David Law, Chair Martha Kroese, Treasurer Maggie Parks, Secretary Donna Angell Gretta Berghammer Ken Esveld Mark Lehmann Robin Walenta FINE ARTS ADVOCACY Executive Director: Leon Kuehner DAY Advisory Board Art Educators of Iowa: Andrew McCormick Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa: Clar Baldus JANUARY 28, 2015 Iowa Arts Council: Matt Harris Iowa Association of School Boards: Paul Griffen Iowa Association of School Music Dealers: Dave Krogan Iowa Bandmasters Association: Jacquelyn Meunier Iowa Choral Directors Association: Jennifer Gaesser Iowa Communications Association: Sarah Schaefer Iowa Dance: Cindy Herndon Iowa Department of Education: Rosanne Malek Iowa High School Music Association: Alan Greiner Iowa High School Speech Association: Liz Hansen Iowa Music Educators Association: Kris Versteegt Page 1 About the artwork: The artwork found throughout this document are pieces that have been created by Iowa elemen- tary, middle school and high school students. About the testimonials: Testimonials are presented in their original unedited form. Page 2 The following testimonials below have been gathered from citizens throughout Iowa. They answer the question: “How has fi ne arts (music, visual arts, drama, theatre, dance) education impacted your life?” Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 December 4, 2013 Members of the Iowa Legislature, As a clarinet player in high school in North Dakota, all-state band member, and participant in music and theater activities in both high school and college, the fine arts have always been part of my life and have impacted my life in a variety of ways. Creativity and innovative thinking result from involvement in the fine arts. Fine arts education has allowed me to be more aware of the world around me. I see students and faculty who are more well rounded because of their exposure to the arts. Fine arts exposes the learner in all of us to read better; write better; listen better; speak better; analyze better; and collaborate often and well. I am not saying that the fine arts stand by themselves in the educational world...surely not, the sciences--both physical and social, education, human services, business, law medicine, etc....all play part in our successful futures. Often today we have been concentrating on STEM--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics... for our future success as individuals and economies. We should also talk often about STEAM... adding the “A’ for Arts in that conversation. I am fond of saying there have been, are, and will always be two big windows on the world for colleges and universities that bring people to our campuses and allow us to show off the rest of the campus along with that window. One of those Big Windows is clearly the Fine and Performing Arts. Sincerely, (cid:36)(cid:3) William N. Ruud, Ph.D. President Page 7 Adair Adams Sue Selby City: Corning Occupation: Teacher Testimonial: Fine Arts education is valuable to students whose capabilities and strengths cover a broad spectrum of abilities and interests. The Arts can be an area where some students excel when academics or sports don’t meet their interests or capabilities. Of course, some students excel in all areas. As the parent of two boys with different interests, both who graduated from Corning Schools, I saw the infl uence fi ne arts made in their total educations, fi rst hand. One of my sons participated in sports and band, the other in art class, choir, show choir, and band; and not athletics. Performance, whether on a fi eld, in a gym, in a musical group, on a stage, or interacting with art materials in a classroom--the Arts-- teach so many skills that are needed in real life for employment, or for real life and used for a lifetime of personal enjoyment. Learning to work together as part of something bigger than yourself, learning to work alone and being able to share a completed project with others, learning discipline through practice and repetition, learning to follow direction for the good of the group from the director, teacher, or coach, all sorts of life long lessons that can come from the Arts. Relaxation, leisure, personal satisfaction, are also lessons that can enrich a life touched by music or art. Look at your community churches, do they have a volunteer choir? Is there a community theater production? Would these groups continue if no one taught the skills, or encouraged the need for fi ne arts in our educational system? Careers can be made through learning music and art skills. Science is showing that music therapy can even reach a life so stolen by diseases such as Altzheimers, who knows what will become available in the future as a career from incorporating the arts into our student’s educations now while they are in Iowa’s schools. We owe our students the opportunity to build a broad background of personal skills, strengths, and capabilities. I would encourage support for Fine Arts inclusion in the Core in Iowa’s schools, as well as recognizing the accomplishments made through Fine Art skills gained from Iowa Schools as being as important as the Academic Skills learned in other disciplines. I can also proudly report that both of my sons are Iowa State University college graduates and gainfully employed. All because of their beginnings with well rounded educations obtained in one of Iowa’s Schools! Sandy Winter City: Corning Occupation: Teacher Testimonial: Learning how to draw during weekly church services helped me learn to sit still for an extended amount of time. ( I learned that going outside during the church service wasn’t the nature walk I had anticipated.) Music has been a big part of my life starting in kindergarten with music lessons continuing throughout my school years being a member of band and orchestra. I developed an appreciation and a fan of a variety of music. I believe that the Arts have been a big part of being able to work in the teaching profession for over 30 years! Tabatha Klopp City: Corning Occupation: Teacher (TAG) Testimonial: Fine Arts is the key to opening our soul. I once had an administrator tell me in regards to a gifted artist, well if they can’t read they won’t get far in life. Which has it’s merits agreed, I see reading as important but not the end all or sum of life. To a teacher that states “we don’t color in this grade”. Well why not? Maybe we might learn something about ourselves as humans and connect more with each Page 8