Archives
Explore articles that examine how arts learning makes a difference in everyone's life and highlight high-quality arts learning initiatives, programs and practices in Ohio.
This archive contains feature articles published in Links & Threads since it was launched in 2004. Articles have been placed in four categories to help you find material relevant to your interests:
Issues spanning 2004-2009 can be downloaded as pdfs. Each article not yet archived links to the issue in which it appeared.
—Arts Education—
—Research
Research in Arts and Achievement
Newton D. Baker School of Arts in the Cleveland Public School District is one of the ten schools profiled in Third Space: When Learning Matters by Lauren M. Stevenson and Richard J. Deasy of the Arts Education Partnership. The book presents case studies that reveal how high-quality arts education and integration of the arts with other subject areas transform teaching and school culture. Learn More.
Adolescent Literacy Research
An overview of research findings related to the literacy achievement of middle and secondary school students has implications for arts integration. Learn More.
Looking at the Arts in the Context of Research
A review of research makes increasingly distinct the possibility that arts learning and achievement in other academic areas are linked. Learn More.
Why Advocacy?
Research suggests links between arts learning and achievement. Learn More.
Arts Integration Research Highlighted at Forum
(Also listed below under "Arts Integration")
The Arts Education Partnership introduced a newly published arts integration literature review at its 2007 Forum in Cleveland. Learn More.
—Artist Residencies
Artist Residencies: Powerful and Possible
Artist residences offer schools a number of benefits. Learn More.
Rural Schools Defy Size and Geography Missiniwa, Botkins, Miami View
Mississinawa Valley Elementary School, Miami View Elementary School and Botkins High School—three of Ohio's rural schools—are showing that size and location need not limit opportunities for K-12 educators to work with the arts community. Learn More
A Bridge to Transformation
Creative drama sessions with Jean Howat Berry, a theater artist and mask-maker who serves as an Ohio Arts Council artist in residence, helped troubled girls in Portsmouth find hope. Learn More.
The Dance of Learning and Growing Artist Residencies with Inlet Dance Theatre Captivate, Inspire and Teach Inlet Dance
Members of Inlet Dance Theater in Cleveland believe in "furthering people through dance." Recent residencies in Columbus and Ashtabula show how they realize that mission. Learn More
Building Nests, Creating Meaning
A three-week Ohio Arts Council Arts Learning Residency, conducted in April 2008 by visual artist Kate Kern and teacher Patrice Trauth, gave students at Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati an opportunity to make visible the school's history across generations and to weave their own unfolding stories into that history. Learn More.
Industrial Design Where Fine Arts and Engineering Meet
Patrick Walker, an industrial designer with Priority Designs in Columbus and an Ohio Arts Council Artist in Residence, recently shared his thoughts on the value of arts learning in preparing students for design careers. Learn More.
Filmmaking: A Different Frame for Learning
(Also listed above under "Arts Integration")
Filmmaking both engages and teaches. Find out how making a film about hunger in their community helped third-graders in Pickerington, Ohio, meet academic standards in fine arts, language arts, social studies and technology, as well as gain such important skills as inquiry and collaboration. Learn More.
Finding Everyday Treasures in Kent
Through an OAC Artist Express grant, artist Michelle Pajak-Reynolds and community members in Kent considered how making art can transform the way we see our everyday environment. Learn More.
Surrounded by Learning
A residency with OAC teaching artist Patty Mitchell helped a preK teacher expand her repertoire of approaches for integrating arts learning with literacy development. Learn More.
—Poetry Out Loud
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with U.S. state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, a contest that encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
After successful pilot programs in Washington, DC, and Chicago, Poetry Out Loud was launched in high schools nationwide in the spring of 2006 with tens of thousands of students participating. Jackson Hille from Columbus, Ohio, was the first national champion. POL has grown every year with over 365,000 students competing in 2010-2011. For more details, visit the Poetry Out Loud website. Read the articles below to see how the program has grown in Ohio.
Poetry Out Loud Reviving an Ancient Art
Sandra Miller, a critically acclaimed poet, an educator and Ohio's first Poetry Out Loud coordinator shares her thoughts on the value of memorizing poetry. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2006: Ohio Student Wins National Poetry Out Loud
Jackson Hille of Ohio, a senior at Columbus Alternative High School is the first Poetry Out Loud national champion. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2006: Reflections from Students
Four students spoke with Links & Threads about the challenging and transformative experience of memorizing and reciting poetry. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud Far-Reaching Value
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation launched Poetry Out Loud (POL) "to give schools and students the opportunity to experience their literary heritage in a new way and to learn the skills of public speaking and performance," says Dan Stone of the NEA. Read how that vision of success was evident even in the first year of the program. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2007: Seven Students Compete; POL to Go Statewide in '08
Tony Jackson of South-Western City Schools represented Ohio at the national finals. Learn More.
Poetry Out Loud 2008: Dayton Student Is State Champion
Rachel Chandler, a student from Dayton's Chaminade-Julienne High School, will represent Ohio in the national Poetry Out Loud finals. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2010: Follow the Journey
This two-part story describes the benefits of Poetry Out Loud and follows some Ohio teachers and students as they prepare and compete. Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2011: Shaker Heights Student Wins 2011 Poetry Out Loud State Finals
Record participation and the presence of First Lady Karen Kasich added to the excitement of the 2011 state finals Learn More
Poetry Out Loud 2011: Poetry Out Loud Opens New Dimensions for Ohio's State Champion
Learn about the insight and talent of 2011 state champion Caira Lee Learn More
—Arts Integration—
Arts Integration: A Powerful Way to Learn
Elementary school students in the Lima City Schools understand culture and community more deeply after a month of learning activities that integrated the arts, social studies and physical education. Learn More
Successful Arts Integration by Eric Booth
Eric Booth is the author of The Everyday Work of Art and the artistic director for The Juilliard School. He shares what he thinks are the most important lessons being learned in sites around the country. Learn More.
The Art of Essential Questions (based on an interview with Patricia Stuhr)
Professor Patricia Stuhr, chair of The Ohio State University's Art Education department, answered some questions you may be asking about essential questions. Learn More.
The Art of Curriculum Connections (based on an interview with Carol Myers)
According to Carol Myers, a retired Columbus music educator now consulting with the Ohio Department of Education, possibilities for connections between music and reading are many. Learn More.
Arts Integration: Taking the First Steps
Mary Campbell-Zopf offers advice for schools interested in trying arts integration. Learn More
Arts Integration Research Highlighted at Forum
(Also listed above under "Research")
The Arts Education Partnership introduced a newly published arts integration literature review at its 2007 Forum in Cleveland. Learn More.
National Forum Held in Cleveland
The Cleveland Public Schools introduce their Art is Education initiative at AEP Forum. Learn More.
Filmmaking: A Different Frame for Learning
(Also listed above under "Artist Residencies")
Filmmaking both engages and teaches. Find out how making a film about hunger in their community helped third-graders in Pickerington, Ohio, meet academic standards in fine arts, language arts, social studies and technology, as well as gain such important skills as inquiry and collaboration. Learn More.
—Arts and Literacy
Arts and Literacy in Cleveland and Columbus
The Cleveland and Columbus Public Schools often integrate language arts and fine arts. Administrators say this research-based strategy produces notable results. Learn More.
David Bloome on Arts and Literacy
"Integrating the arts with other subjects can be beneficial across the board," says David Bloome, Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture in The Ohio State University's College of Education. Learn More.
—Arts and STEM
STEM Professions AND the Arts: The Genius of Both
Two STEM professionals at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland discuss how arts and innovation are intertwined in their work. Learn More.
ODE Introduces CAIT at AEP National Forum
Nancy Pistone tells AEP Forum attendees that ODE seeks "synergy between the arts and broader education priorities" and introduces the Committee for Arts and Innovative Thinking. Learn More.
A Spiraling Vision of Learning at Columbus Metro High School
Faculty at Metro often integrate arts learning with a rigorous, accelerated STEM curriculum. Learn More.
Ohio STEM Education Leaders Value Arts Learning
(Also listed above under "Arts and Careers")
Gregory Bernhardt, a leader in the The Dayton Regional STEM School (DRSS), and Shaun Yoder, executive director of the Ohio Business Alliance for Education and the Economy, say the arts are an essential part of STEM education. Learn More.
—Arts Partnerships—
NEA Arts Partners Grant Enhances Projects
(Also listed under "Exemplary Arts Learning Programs in Schools")
The Lima City Schools and Joseph F. Landis Elementary in Cleveland took advantage of the NEA-funded Arts Partners Program to enhance visual arts and music projects. Learn More
Some Compelling Questions by David O'Fallon, President, MacPhail Center for Music
With all the arts mean to us, why don't we do more? Learn More.
What Leadership Accomplishes (based on an interview with John Eby)
Eby discusses leadership strengths that led to the success of Cleveland's integrated literacy lessons. Learn More.
Partnership Conversation with Two Cleveland Arts Leaders
Marsha Dobrzynski, Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio and Karen M. Clark-Keys, Ph.D., discuss how Cleveland's ICARE program benefits from their partnership. Learn More.
Partnership, Power, Promise: Youngstown's SMARTS Program
SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts) is a partnership between Youngstown State University's College of Fine and Performing Arts and Beeghly College of Education. SMARTS helps the community's most underprivileged students experience the joy and discipline of arts learning and exemplifies what strong nonprofit arts education programs in urban centers can mean to students, teachers and communities. Learn More.
Wings to Fly: PNC Grant Brings Learning, Culture and Fun to Children
About 2000 children per year will experience Cleveland's cultural richness and benefit from arts-enriched instruction designed to help prepare them academically, socially and emotionally for kindergarten thanks to a grant from the PNC Foundation. Learn More.
Leadership Voices: NEA Holds Summer Institute in Ohio
The arts can and should play an important and effective role in the results-oriented, accountability-driven arena of school improvement. That was the central statement when about 50 Ohio school leaders, as well as state and national policy makers and scholars, gathered in August 2004. Learn More.
A New Canvas for Education
Governor Ted Strickland's education plan emphasizes a well-rounded curriculum. Learn More
A Woman of Vision Ohio's First Lady Sees Vital Role for Arts Learning
First Lady Frances Strickland reflects on why the arts are vital to Ohio. Learn More
Superintendent Shares Educators' Values
State Superintendent says arts education is essential in today's curriculum. Learn More
Time to Lead
ODE fine arts consultant Nancy Pistone says arts education in Ohio has reached a time of opportunity. Learn More
Alliance Director Demonstrates the Power of One—and Many
Donna Collins, Executive Director, Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and Ohio Citizens for the Arts keeps Ohioans aware and active in promoting the arts. Learn More
—21st Century Skills—
Promoting Creativity
Columbus Museum of Art Hosts Ohio's Imagination Conversation
The panel for Ohio's culminating Imagination Conversation, all with Ohio connections, reflected the range of creative contributions that affect our lives in important ways. And the CMA Center for Creativity was a perfect seting. Learn More.
Ohio's Imagination Conversation Builds
Ohio's Imagination Conversation, part of a nation-wide project initiated by the Lincoln Center Institute, explores the role of imagination in fueling innovation. Learn More.
Promoting Creativity: An Economic Imperative
Addressing Ohio educators and artists at the 2006 "Promoting Creativity" conference, Sir Ken Robinson said the time is long overdue for "a fresh understanding of intelligence, of human capacity, and of the nature of creativity." Learn More
Promoting Creativity: Ohio Educators and Teaching Artists Convene in Columbus
Teams from Ohio schools and OAC artists in residence met at the 2007 Promoting Creativity Conference to explore the significance and potential of their shared interest in creating powerful arts experiences for students. Burns Hargis, founder of the Oklahoma Creativity Project was the keynote speaker. Learn More.
The Imagine Nation: Ohio Called "Groundbreaking"
A growing number of Americans believe that public education focuses too narrowly on the basics while neglecting imagination and innovation, according to the imagine nation poll. Ohio is taking action. Learn More.
Arts and the Innovation Equation
America's only competitive edge will come from creativity and innovation, according to the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. The Commission's report, and other widely cited publications, say arts learning will be integral. Learn More.
A Call for Commitment
Former Ohio State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman reflects on the NEA Summer Institute and her subsequent trip to India. Learn More.
The Arts: Essential for All Students
Dayton artist and former OAC Council member Willis "Bing" Davis shares his insights on arts learning. Learn More.
Arts Learning and Careers
Ohio STEM Education Leaders Value Arts Learning
(Also listed above under "Arts and STEM")
Gregory Bernhardt, a leader in the The Dayton Regional STEM School (DRSS), and Shaun Yoder, executive director of the Ohio Business Alliance for Education and the Economy, say the arts are an essential part of STEM education. Learn More.
Arts Learning and 21st Century Skills: Three Perspectives on the Work of the Future
Ohio State University Professor Terry Barrett, artist Migiwa Orimo and Melissa Obenauf of Zivili Dance share views on how arts learning promotes critial thinking, imaginative problem-solving and global awareness. Learn More
Playing to Strengths: Tech Prep Program Unites Artistry and Ingenuity
At Centerville High School, a technical theater program promises an exciting range of career possibilities. Learn More.
