Teaching Creativity: Is Art the Answer?

How important are activities like painting, band, choir or dance in Oregon's cash-strapped schools? Advocates say that the arts help students think creatively and prepare for the job world. But making time for the arts is a controversial issue. This half-hour Oregon Art Beat special visits schools in Milwaukie, Prineville and Portland, and makes some interesting discoveries.

Premieres Thursday, May 27th at 8:00 pm on OPBTV

Art Beat Stories

Oregon Art Beat has featured many artists over the years who value arts education. Some are stories about an artist who works with students, in a school or another setting. Others showcase ways that students learn about the arts. You can explore the entire video archive from our first eleven seasons at the Oregon Art Beat site.

• p:ear

  p:ear uses the arts, education, and recreation to build relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15 to 23.

• Milagro/Miracle Theater

  Milagro/Miracle Theater has an original school outreach program designed for bilingual and underserved students.

• Ballroom Dancing

  A group of Portland fifth graders overcome their fears to learn ballroom dancing, and gain valuable classroom skills at the same time.

• Thom Bray

  After years in Hollywood, Thom Bray loves his newest role, teaching acting to middle school students in Beaverton.

• Duck Stamps

  Oregon students are learning to draw ducks in school, and competing for a national prize.

• Jefferson Dancers

  The Jefferson Dancers are a nationally known high school dance ensemble. Meet them and learn why they spend long after-school hours on their art.

• Marimba player MyLinda King

  Marimba player MyLinda King says anyone can learn the marimba, and she's proving it with the youngsters at Buckman Elementary School.

• Sunriver Young Artist Scholarship

  The Sunriver Music Festival gives scholarships to students from Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties who show exceptional promise in classical music. Listen as they rehearse and perform.

• Lake Oswego Ceramics

  As other schools are cutting back on art classes, Lake Oswego High School has a new arts wing, including a ceramics studio.

• PlayWrite

  Playwrite empowers marginalized youth through a carefully structured, two-week playwriting workshop.

• Americana Project

  In Sisters, the Americana Project teaches kids about America's rich folk heritage, and encourages them to write their own songs.

• Wheeler County Kids Bluegrass Festival

  Musician Chick Rose teaches a group of young musicians the joys of bluegrass and Americana music.

• Willamette Kids Arts Festival

  Salem fourth graders spend a week at Willamette University learning about arts and music.

Resources

• Oregon Department of Education - Arts

  The Oregon Department of Education resource page about the arts in our statewide public educational system.

• Oregon Arts Commission - Arts Education

  The Oregon Arts Commission supports activities that promote arts education opportunities and life-long arts learning for Oregonians. Includes the Arts Education Congress, and Arts Education Network.

• Young Audiences, Inc.

  Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington connects classroom teachers with over 200 skilled residency & performing artists who provide programs in multiple artistic disciplines and cultures.

• Arts Education Partnership

  The Arts Education Partnership provides information and communication about current and emerging arts education policies, issues, and activities at the national, state, and local levels.

• Americans for the Arts

  Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

• Oregon Art Education Association

  The mission of the OAEA is to advocate for the advancement and expansion of quality visual arts education in all schools.

• Oregon Alliance for Arts Education

  The Alliance was established in 1997 with a mission to champion, strengthen, and celebrate the arts as an integral part of education for the people of Oregon.

• Arts Central

  Our purpose is to inspire creativity through arts education and to advocate for integration of the arts in all aspects of community life in Central Oregon.

• Regional Arts and Culture Commission

  Through vision, leadership, and service, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) works to integrate arts and culture in all aspects of community life.

Discovering Creativity

Would your life be different if you never had art in school? We asked Oregonians to share the role the arts play in their work and everyday lives.

Steve Oppenheim, Hippo Hardware co-founder

See how Steve applies his creativity to selling hardware.

Share your creativity story >

Finding Solutions: Arts Education

What's the value of the arts in Oregon's public schools? Think Out Loud continues the conversation as part of their "Finding Solutions" series.

Airs Friday, May 28th, 9:00 a.m. on OPBRadio

Join the discussion now >

In the Classroom

Bring Oregon's artists into the classroom. Explore a searchable archive of arts related video with educator-focused video descriptions and lesson plans.

Visit the Art Beat At School site