Several of the students are graduates or current participants of the NSO Youth Fellowship Program, an orchestral training program for talented young musicians. Also included are students participating in the Young Artists of Color National Training Initiative of the Kennedy Center. In addition to their many lessons and training sessions, the students also perform a series of free Kennedy Center Millennium Stage concerts that are open to the public.

The Summer Music Institute is coordinated by the National Symphony Orchestra Education Program, which is a component of the Kennedy Center Education Department. Young people, teachers, and families take part in innovative and effective education programs initiated by the Center, including performances, lectures, demonstrations, open rehearsals, dance and music residencies, master classes, competitions for young actors and musicians, backstage tours, and workshops. These programs have become models for communities across the country, as educators and government leaders recognize what the Center has known for years: that the arts can unlock the door to learning for young people, fostering creativity, teaching discipline, improving self-esteem, and challenging students to think in new ways, as well as offering them experiences in the joy of the performing arts.

Dear Vermont Public School Music, Visual Art, Dance and Theatre Teachers – Please share this with your colleagues:

You read the title correctly!

$80,000 of Title IID (Enhancing education through technology) grant money has been reserved for Vermont’s Music, Visual Art, Theatre, and Dance Teachers. This is open to K-12 arts teachers.

This is “one-time money” and this grant will likely not be repeated in this way in the future.

Application Deadline: October 30^th

To find information, instructions and the grant application, click HERE and then click on ARTS.  For the application only, click HERE.

Here’s the introductory information on Title II D Grants:

One of the essential skills most prevalent in our 21st Century education landscape is collaboration. This grant program represents the department’s work within that realm. Content area specialists are assisting to make this program a success and provide technology to support the acquisition of skills in those specific areas. Many of these content areas have not had an opportunity such as this in the past. The grants are set up for a variety of funding amounts and are targeted specifically at teachers. This is a Title IID program and eligibility requirements are in place for those schools wishing to apply.

You may find the guidelines , a “how-to-apply” primer and nomination form for the KCAAEN-NSBA Award on the same page as well.

Robinson Elementary School in Starksboro received the School of Distinction Award when it was the “Creative Ticket Award” in 2004-2005.

VSC will offer 1-4 week artistic rejuvenation residencies for Vermont art and English teachers in spring & summer 2010.   All Vermont art and English teachers are eligible to apply.  Lamoille County secondary school teachers will be given preference. Multiple teachers are encouraged to apply from the same school. Fellowship awards include support for student follow-up extension activities.  Program supported by the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Contact  Zelda Alpern, Grants Program Manager, for a pre-interview and application.  Phone: 802/ 635-2727 x 218. Email:grants@vermontstudiocenter.org.

The Target Corporation has announced that it will award 5,000 field trip grants of up to $800 each for the coming K-12 school year.

Managed by Scholarship America, the program is open to education professionals who are at least 18 years old and employed by an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States that maintains 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status. Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff of these institutions must be willing to plan and execute a field trip that will provide a demonstrable learning experience for students.

Grant funds may be used for visits to art, science, and cultural museums; community service or civics projects; career enrichment opportunities; and other events or activities away from the school facility. Funds may also be used to cover field trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, resource materials, and supplies.

Grants will be awarded in February 2010. Applications can be completed online anytime between August 5 and November 3, 2009. Complete program information is available at the Target Web site.

While this sounds pretty wide open for its uses, it is likely to not apply to Vermont, as Target has no stores in our state, yet!

The Institute examines program models and planning strategies for establishing and expanding professional learning programs in the arts for all teachers, and develops and nurtures partnerships between arts organizations and their neighboring school systems.

Teams of school district and arts administrators interested in applying for the Institute can download the application here and submit it with letters of commitment from both the arts organization and school system.  The application deadline is October 31, 2009.

Questions and requests for a hard copy of the application can be directed to:

Kelsey Mesa, National Partnerships, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, 20566