Missouri Fine Arts Academy 

In June, I had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Fatih Benzer and students at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy on the campus of Missouri State University.  I shared information about our advocacy work, Fine Arts Education Week, as well as the Senate Student Fine Arts Exhibit. I attended morning classes, the afternoon assembly, and enjoyed watching several performances by academy attendees. This year’s academy theme was Experiences! The curriculum of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy is divided into three distinct categories of study: interdisciplinary artistic studies, discipline-specific artistic studies, and elective classes. 

MAC Council Meeting: 

I attended the Missouri Arts Council quarterly board meeting in June at the Garnett Library on the campus of Missouri State University–West Plains. The city hosted the meeting to celebrate its official designation as Missouri's 2026 Creative Community. I had the opportunity to provide MAAE updates, visit with the Executive Director and board members, and tour the Ozarks Heritage Research Center.

Music Education Summer Conferences: MBA and MCDA
I traveled with our exhibit booth to both the Missouri Bandmasters Association (MBA) and Missouri Choral Directors Association (MCDA). The theme for MBA was “Building Better Bands” The theme of MCDA was “Ties that Bind: Choir and Connection”.  I always enjoy the opportunity to connect with music educators across the state and share the variety of ways Missouri Alliance can support their programs!

When I started at Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) in May, I quickly learned that there was no better opportunity as a high school art student to build skills and cultivate connections. By the end of two weeks, I had the opportunity to exhibit my work at the Carolla Art Gallery and to reflect upon the value of my time at MFAA. In my Interdisciplinary class, “Lineage,” with Dr. Heather Nelson and Kevin Hughes, we examined society and traditions and composed our own culture of music, art, and written history. During this class, I made friends—far more than I anticipated—with singers, composers, instrumentalists, writers, and visual artists, each with vivid imaginations. In my Discipline-specific class, “Make Your Mark: Public Art Exploration” with Meganne Rosen, we designed a nature-themed mural for Ray Kelly Park in Springfield. Painting an array of local flora and fauna on thick wooden boards, this class offered me the chance to become a commissioned artist for my home city’s Park Board. 

For my electives, I started with “Diction for Dummies,” led by Tanner Munson. I was artfully taught the basics of reading the International Phonetic Alphabet, and I practiced translating Latin into its pronunciation with a few choral students. In Dr. Shaylin Montgomery’s “Publishing Process,” I practiced writing query and cover letters, and was given an exhaustive list of resources and reference materials to help me publish my work. MFAA, through each of its classes and their respective mentors, has imbued me with a sense of pride for my creativity and a story to tell. It is a privilege and a pleasure to have received this opportunity without cost. If this program were not fully funded, I would not have been able to attend, and I would never have encountered the talented communities brought together there, forged the friendships I did, or been able to participate in an enriching educational experience like no other I've encountered. State funding for the arts gives me and thousands of other students like me the chance to shine regardless of where we come from. I hope that the Missouri Fine Arts Academy will continue to remain free to attend in the future.

Basic Guidelines 

• Brevity

• Address by their title: Senator… Representative…

• If you get a “no” - be aware that there may be little you can do in that moment to change their mind.

• Be courteous to maintain a positive relationship and leave behind a brief list of talking points with evidence and contact info.

• Respect boundaries - briefly greet at a grocery store of such, but set an appointment to discuss issues.

In Person Meeting Guide

• Schedule 1-2 weeks in advance if possible

• Dress: Business or Business Casual

• Show up 5 minutes early

• Developing a positive relationship with staffers can support your goals - Staffers not only perform secretarial duties, but they also serve as scheduler, policy advisor, chief of staff.

• Leave behind a clear concise position paper with your contact info.

Phone Call Meeting Guide

• Be brief

• State the following

  • your name

  • who you’re representing

  • if you’re a constituent

  • why you’re calling and

  • what response you would like: (return call, email, support for a bill.)

• If there is background info, are talking points - send them via email and refer to that email in the voicemail.

• Thank them for their time.

• Don’t call back repeatedly, or leave an angry voicemail.

EMail Guide

• Be brief

• Include an attachment with no more than 1-2 pages to back up your case.

• If a large group is sending the same email, take a moment to add a personal touch.

• Copy staff on emails.

Hello Missouri Educators,

I’m reaching out to share an exciting opportunity for your school: America’s Field Trip: Virtual Artist Residencies with Focus 5, made possible by Crystal Bridges celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the arts. These residencies are FREE/NO COST for schools and bring high-quality, arts-integrated learning directly to your classroom—virtually.

To learn more about these Free Virtual Artist Residencies please go to: https://tinyurl.com/CrystalBridgesResidencies.

Taking place through December 2026.

While you are there, be sure to check out my virtual residency: Warhol’s Wild Adaptations (Grade 3- 5).

In this three-day high-engagement residency, students investigate how Warhol adapted and abstracted images in his animal series—and ask: How do animals adapt to survive, and how can we abstract that idea into movement? Studying the two strategies of adaptation and abstraction, they create original movement phrases that embody real animal adaptations. The result is pop-art thinking meets life-science insight—students don’t tell you what an adaptation or abstraction is; they show you.

Participation requires a minimum of 4 classes to take part. If you don’t have 4 classes, we can pair you with another school.

If you’d like to secure a spot, you can register here:

• Register: https://tinyurl.com/WarholAdapt 

You can also learn more about Focus 5 arts integration at www.Focus5ArtsIntegration.com

If you have questions I’m happy to help.
- Harlan Brownlee

Contact Harlan via email here.

The Missouri Arts Council Big Yellow School Bus grants provide up to $500 in transportation assistance for K-12 school field trips to arts education programs.

Eligible Projects: Field trips that demonstrate direct exposure to or integration with arts education. 

Maximum Award Amount: Up to $500 per year in transportation costs.

Application Deadlines: Rolling deadlines (must apply at least two months prior to the scheduled event date via Missouri Arts Council).

Eligible Funding Period: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Learn more here.

Now more than ever, we need arts heroes. We need arts teachers who inspire a child for a lifetime; the communities where the arts make it a great place to live, work and create; leaders who make the arts happen; artists and arts organizations whose creativity makes us glad to be alive; and the philanthropists whose generosity makes it possible.

Categories include: Arts Education, Arts Organization, Creative Community, Individual Artist, Leadership in the Arts, and Philanthropy.

Deadline: Noon, Tuesday, September 8, 2026 

Learn more and nominate here.

ARTEFFECT Ambassadors is an online fellowship for educators working directly with students in grades 6–12 to foster the visual arts. 

Ambassadors learn alongside other high-level practitioners through visual arts-focused, project-based lessons centered on the inspiring and diverse stories of Unsung Heroes from history. During the school year, Ambassadors participate in a series of online professional development sessions and complete an innovative capstone project that engages their classrooms and communities.

Applications are due Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Learn more here.