Rescuing Arts Education and Arts Educators | First Person with Kimberly Olsen

“Last March, our world changed. As city school buildings closed, arts education was impacted almost instantaneously. Our community was disconnected from the schools and students with which they were working. We found that not only did many arts educators lose their jobs, but those who had jobs required an entirely new skill set.”

Check out my recent interview with the New York Community Trust about the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable’s administration of the Arts Educator Emergency Relief Fund.

Link: https://www.nycommunitytrust.org/newsroom/rescuing-arts-education-and-arts-educators-first-person-with-kimberly-olsen/

Legislative Briefing: Arts Are Essential in Our Schools

I was honored to organize and participate in this convening of policymakers, cultural workers, and arts educators to speak on the current realities and potential of arts education in NYC schools.

Tune in to hear policy recommendations to support equity in our schools and for a holistic look at why arts are essential for NYC’s 1.1 million students.

On ArtNet News

“Now more than ever, the students need the arts as a vehicle to express themselves, to build community, to think critically, and also to process the world around them, from the reality of this pandemic to the reality that systemic racism persists in our school system, one of the most highly segregated school systems in the country.”

BIG NEWS

Kim is now serving as the Interim Managing Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable, a service organization and a community of arts education practitioners focused on sharing information, providing professional development, and communicating with the public to promote our work in schools and beyond.

See the “official” announcement here: http://nycaieroundtable.org/2018/10/11/roundtable-welcomes-interim-managing-director/

 

ITAC & Dine-Around

I had an awesome time serving as a United States delegate at the International Teaching Artist Conference. While my experience was filled with many moments of artful learning, a definite highlight was hosting a dine-around with other international delegates on behalf of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. Check out this cute group shot!

Many Faces of Miss Kim

Over 1,000 students, 12 schools, 4 professional developments, 4 boroughs, 2 states, 1 Face to Face and too many tableaux and laughs to count!  Another year in the books — happy to report the future looks to be filled with thoughtful young artists 🙂