lesley university/NECAP Teaching Artist Cultivating the field institute 2009

Final date: April 17, 2009
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

Increasingly, artists are being called upon by educators and by funders to provide adequate documentation and evaluation information. A recent survey conducted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council revealed that 50% of teachers polled thought that teaching artists needed deeper familiarity with evaluation and documentation. A similar survey, conducted by the New England Consortium of Artist Educator Professionals of teaching artists in New England, indicated a similar desire for a deeper knowledge of exemplary evaluation and documentation.

Chances are that you are already doing some documentation and evaluation, but have not necessarily "named it." Strong documentation and evaluation strategies can give you powerful feedback on the effectiveness of your work with young people and help you enhance the quality of your residencies and school visits. As a side benefit, familiarity with excellent documentation and evaluation can also enhance your marketability.

The 2009 Cultivating the Field Institute will focus on program evaluation and documentation using a hands-on approach featuring keynotes, in-depth sessions, "showcases," and reflection and planning time. The first day, which took place December 1, 2008, provided an overview of the philosophy and strategies of effective evaluation and documentation. You will emerge at the end of the second day on January 16th with a documentation and evaluation plan that you can implement in a real-life environment. During the third and concluding session on April 17th, you'll share your successes and difficulties with other teaching artists, teachers, and experts in the field. Although you can attend individual sessions, we strongly recommend that you attend all three for the most powerful effect.

Special emphasis will be focused on the emerging concept of "documentation as assessment and evaluation." Jacob's Pillow artists, Celeste Miller, Kimberli Boyd (January 16 only) and JR Glover will examine how the Source Material for Assessment lies within your own Artistic Process. Through presentation, discussion and hands-on experiences with Kristina LaMour of AIB, we will explore how the Reggio Emilia approach and graphic design pedagogy can illuminate a studio-practice to strengthen relationships between the infinite languages of communication. VSA Arts will present a powerful curriculum map template that will guide you in planning, documenting and evaluating your work in a way that meets the needs of all students.

As you are working at the Institute you will also be contributing to the development of the teaching artist field nationally. All activities will be documented and edited into forms that can be shared on the web with teachers and other teaching artists.

Institute Resources

• Cultivating the Field BROCHURE [pdf]
• Cultivating the Field AGENDA  [pdf] --coming soon!

REGISTRATION (to attend April 17th)

In order to register for the Cultivating the Field Institute, please fill out this registration form [pdf] and mail to:
Lesley University
Creative Arts in Learning
29 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

The early registration fee is $50 for each person who submits a registration form before April 6th.  After April 6th, the cost will be $60.  A continental breakfast, lunch and reception are included in the Institute fee. The Institute runs from 9:00am-5:00pm, followed by a reception from 5:00-6:00pm.

Cultivating the Field has been designed and presented by Lesley University's Creative Arts in Learning Division in cooperation with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival and VSA Arts.

For more information contact:
Kate Frothingham
617.349.8596
kfrothin@lesley.edu