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Arts Commission News

MAC's Whole Schools Summer Institute

"Creativity at Work"

DATE:        July 1, 2011 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, Public Relations Director

601/359-6031, sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Jackson, Miss. - The 2011 Summer Institute of the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Whole Schools Initiative will offer educators new and innovative ideas for classroom arts integration.  This year’s Institute will be held at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian July 18 – 21, 2011, and will focus on “Creativity at Work.”  

Approximately 300 teachers, artists and administrators from more than 40 schools will gather in Meridian to study everything from book-making to Native American and African American traditional music forms.  The Institute’s highly professional training will give educators the inspiration, knowledge and art skills to lead their students toward the goal of reaching their full academic potential. 

“The Mississippi Arts Commission is proud to provide this outstanding professional development opportunity to teachers and administrators interested in providing arts-infused instruction to their students,” said Malcolm White, Executive Director of MAC.  “This agency is committed to show the value of teaching the arts across the curriculum and what a difference it can mean to children today and in the future.”

Classes will begin on Monday, July 18th, with a series of special workshops and arts experiences including African dance and storytelling as well as teaching math through movement.  The Institute provides educators with a unique opportunity to learn how to teach critical thinking and problem solving through visual art, dance, and other art forms.

Since 1992, the Mississippi Arts Commission has provided grant funds, technical assistance and professional development opportunities to Mississippi schools. It is the goal of the Commission to assist schools in the development and implementation of arts-based, interdisciplinary curriculum. The Summer Institute was created 13 years ago to offer comprehensive professional development opportunities educators need to deliver effective arts-infused instruction. In addition to the Institute training, participating Whole Schools receive up to $8,000 a year in grant support, several retreat opportunities during the school year, plus a Field Advisor to offer assistance, support, advice and training.  

The Whole Schools Initiative is open to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and strives to engage everyone from principals to parents to work toward integrating the arts into existing school curricula in order to further prove the powerful role the arts play in engaged learning. 

The featured guest for this year’s Institute is acclaimed composer, arranger, lecturer, vocalist and instrumentalist, Victor Wooten.  He will provide the keynote address to attendees on Wednesday, July 20th at 11:30am in the Riley Center’s historic theatre.

Visit the WSI website at www.mswholeschools.org to learn more about Whole Schools and the annual Institute.  For more information about the Mississippi Arts Commission, visit http://www.arts.state.ms.us/.  The Institute is sponsored in part by The Riley Foundation and the Phil Hardin Foundation.

The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Riley Foundation, the Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources. MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi.  The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

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