Hamilton County Schools and ArtsBuild have announced a new partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in an effort to give all children better access to arts education.
Chattanooga and Hamilton County were selected as the 26th site for the Kennedy Center’s Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child program, which has helped communities across the nation create long-range plans for providing art to students in grades K-8 for almost a decade.
In an era when student scores on math, reading and science tests are heavily tracked, some researchers say arts education – music, visual arts, and theater – can contribute to student success.
Walace A. Smith teacher Dustin Dotzler, top center, leads a group of fifth grade students in the Heel to Toe Polka during a break from choral practice for Tuesday’s Hamilton Sings performance at First Baptist Church in downtown Chattanooga. Fifty teachers and 170 students participated in this years event.ANY GIVEN CHILD CHATTANOOGA-HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY ARTS WORKING GROUP
› Claire Stockman, related arts lead teacher, Hamilton County Schools› Isaac Duncan III, artist and ArtsBuild board member› Kathy Lennon, school board member, Hamilton County Schools› Laurie Melnik, executive director, Southeast Center› Rodney Van Valkenburg, director of grants and initiatives, ArtsBuild› Rowena Belcher, community volunteer and ArtsBuild board member› Alex Loza, artist and founder of Center for Latin American Visual Artists› Amy Medley, dean of Fine Arts, Chattanooga High Center for the Arts› Ana VanCura, executive director, Ballet Tennessee› Ann Law, founding director, Barking Legs Theatre› Ashley Conrad, director of policy and research, Unified› Charlie Newton, individual artist and founder of SPLASH› Dawn Oakes, artistic director and choral director, Chattanooga Boys Choir› Edna Varner, educational consultant and ArtsBuild board member, Project Inspire› Geoff Millner, tech equity officer, The Enterprise Center› Jason McKinney, youth and family development, City of Chattanooga› Jayne Griffin, director of education, Creative Discovery Museum› Jennifer Andrews, program and engagement manager, Chattanooga 2.0› Juana Wilson Roberts, fine arts coordinator, Barger Academy of Fine Arts› Karissa Barclay, community volunteer› Kate Skonberg, teacher engagement coordinator, Public Education Foundation› Katherine Clem, research and grants specialist, Hamilton County Schools› Kris Bespalec-Davis, education, Hunter Museum of American Art› Kristy Huntley, program manager, Benwood Foundation› Mary Tanner, ArtsBuild board president› Rebecca Suttles, director of scholarships, Community Foundation› Rondell Crier, artist and founder of Studio Everything› Staci Spring, director of education, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera› Sybil Tobel, vice president marketing and communications, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce
Arts education fosters critical deeper learning skills, such as collaboration and perseverance, in students, according to a report by the Education Commission of the States published in September 2017. Arts education can help students master academic content, think critically and solve complex problems, work collaboratively and communicate effectively – which is why local supporters are seeking to expand arts education’s reach in Hamilton County.