After the workshop, teachers will be able to:

• Implement the TAB/Choice pedagogy

• Design a student-centered classroom space and curriculum

• Develop mini-lessons to inspire students and facilitate creative thinking

• Integrate technology into the art studio, including social media for advocacy

• Advocate for the pedagogy to their stakeholders

• Build a network of resources to begin TAB/Choice implementation in their classroom

*Graduate credit hours via Lindenwood University for an additional fee.

Get more information and Register here!

The Executive Committee and Board of the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education creates an annual advocacy agenda directed toward the State Board of Education and the Missouri General Assembly.

In general, we encourage each of these entities to enact policies that support high quality arts education in Missouri.  

View Agenda Here

MAAE engages in arts advocacy by providing information and support for local level advocacy, maintaining communication with our colleagues engaged in national level work, and with a variety of arts advocacy work at the state level. From raising visibility, to gathering information and training, much of our work in arts advocacy is at the state level. This includes our signature advocacy programs: Fine Arts Education Day, Senate Student Arts Exhibit, and the Show-Me Arts Summit. Other activities include reporting to our allies about the activities of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the State Board of Education, pending legislation, and changes to administrative rules. We work with our allied organizations such as Missouri Citizens for the Arts, Missouri School Boards Association, and associations which support teachers, (MSTA, MNEA) school administrators, (MASA) principals (MAESP, MoASSP) and more to ensure arts education thrives in Missouri. 

For students who have completed grades 7-12

The University of Central Missouri will offer a Summer Arts Camp June 8-14, 2024! This will be a week-long camp involving all parts of UCM's School of Visual & Performing Arts: Theatre & Dance, Music/Piano, and Art & Design. Students will have the option to commute daily or choose to stay on campus for the week. All classes will be taught by UCM faculty and alumni and the week will culminate in final performances and showcases for family and friends.

Learn more and register here.

Visit DESE’s Virtual Art Gallery here, which features creations this month from Indian Creek Elementary of the Center School District under the instruction of art teacher, Jennifer Short and Stanberry R-II under the instruction of art teacher Natalie Strough.  For more information about how your school can participate in the art exhibit, please contact Dr. Kendra Franks, DESE’s Fine Arts Curriculum Director at Kendra.Franks@dese.mo.gov.

Artwork is on display in the Jefferson Building 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday (except for state holidays). Please contact Kendra Franks, Arts Education Director before visiting.

Started in 2004, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has invited public schools throughout Missouri to submit samples of their students' artwork. The art is displayed in the Department's main office in Jefferson City and in the room where the State Board of Education holds its regular monthly meetings. Artwork from each featured school is showcased for a month. The same artwork is now featured here. For privacy reasons, the full names of the student artists will not be published here.

Schools that will be featured in the Virtual Art Gallery are already scheduled for several months in advance. Please do not submit unsolicited artwork. For more information, contact:

Kendra Franks
Director of Fine Arts Education
573-751-9610
Kendra.Franks@dese.mo.gov

Image Credit: Ashlee - Indian Creek

The Art of Paper Sculpture: Let’s Build!

Thursday, April 4, 2024
4:30 PM 7:30 PM
JCCC (Regnier Center, Capitol Federal Room) (map)

Featuring Kay Thomas
For teachers of grades 2-8

Good design, like good construction, is an essential element in any engineering or art experience. In this workshop, we will be manipulating paper by folding, bending, and cutting to create 3-dimensional works of art that represent objectives from across the curriculum. Let’s Build! will actively engage you in a deep art experience to gain the knowledge and skills needed to give your builders and non-traditional learners a voice with paper sculpture.

REGISTER HERE

With an illustrious career spanning acting, directing, teaching, and community engagement, Thompson brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to advancing the mission of MTC.

Thompson's journey with Metro Theater Company is deeply rooted. From her early involvement in productions to her recent collaborations, she has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to youth-focused theater and community impact. Her vision aligns seamlessly with MTC's commitment to providing meaningful experiences for young audiences while amplifying diverse voices and stories.

"Jacqueline's passion for theater that inspires, challenges, and transforms fits perfectly with our mission," said Nancy Garvey, Board Chair of Metro Theater Company. "Her extensive experience, coupled with her profound understanding of the transformative power of storytelling, makes her the ideal leader to guide us into the future."

Thompson's extensive background includes an MFA in Acting from the University of Louisville and a BA in Speech Communication from Clark Atlanta University. She currently serves as a faculty member at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has held various teaching and directing positions across the country. Jacqueline is eager to connect students and community members to MTC’s mission through her continued work with UMSL.

"I am honored and deeply humbled to take on the role of Artistic Director at Metro Theater Company," said Jacqueline Thompson. "I share MTC’s unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity within creative spaces. It's paramount to me that diverse voices are not only heard but actively included in the artistic process. I firmly believe in the power of engaging young audiences with programming that authentically reflects their lived experiences and celebrates their uniqueness."

Jacqueline is no stranger to Metro Theater Company, having directed notable productions like GHOST and LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET. Her involvement as an Associate Artist in recent years further underscores her deep commitment to the organization's mission.

Retiring Artistic Director Julia Flood commented, “Jacqueline's appointment as the new Artistic Director fills me with absolute joy and confidence for the future of Metro Theater Company. I am genuinely ecstatic to pass the torch to someone as talented and dedicated as Jacqueline. I have no doubt that under her leadership, Metro will continue to thrive and inspire for years to come.”

After several months of transition and overlap, Julia Flood will officially retire on June 30. As Metro Theater Company embarks on this new chapter, Thompson's appointment signals a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and artistic integrity. Her leadership promises to usher in a dynamic era of creativity and collaboration, further solidifying MTC's position as a vital cultural institution in the St. Louis community.

ANCIENT ODYSSEYS TOUR - Grades 6–12
This tour introduces students to the cultures of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. By using both primary and secondary sources, students are encouraged to think carefully about how ancient art objects communicate cultural beliefs and practices that are still relevant to the modern world. 

ART IS ELEMENTARY – TOUR A - Grades 3–5
Art is Elementary – A is the perfect introductory tour to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for grades 3–5. On this tour, students will visit the Asian and European art galleries. 

ART IS ELEMENTARY – TOUR B - Grades 3–5
Art is Elementary – B is the perfect introductory tour to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for grades 3–5. On this tour, students will visit the African and Contemporary art galleries. 

BEYOND THE BUFFALO - Grades 3–8
This tour familiarizes students with the material culture of Native American peoples from the Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, and Northwest Coast regions of North America. 

CHINESE ART TOUR - Grades 6–12
Students will have the opportunity to study China’s unique and enduring visual culture on this tour. By examining authentic primary sources, students will be exposed to the philosophical, artistic, and technological accomplishments of Chinese civilization. 

MAKING OF AMERICA - Grades 4–8
This tour visits the museum’s collection of American art from colonial times through the mid-twentieth century. Students will explore questions of identity and representation, as well as the interdependent relationship between artists and the country’s changing history. 

SACRED AND SECULAR - Grades 6–12
The Sacred and The Secular: European Art from 1100 – 1700 introduces students to four different periods of European art from 1100 – 1700. Students will learn how art is a reflection of the time and place in which it was made while looking at works from the Medieval through Baroque periods. 

SCULPTURE PARK TOUR - Grades 3-12
This tour introduces students to the wide variety of sculpture in the museum’s 22-acre Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. Focusing on modern & contemporary sculpture, students will explore a variety of artistic concepts and discuss the different ways in which artists convey meaning through their works. 

SECONDARY EXPLORATIONS - Grades 6–12
Secondary Explorations is the perfect introductory tour to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for grades 6–12. On this tour, students will visit the African, Contemporary, and Photography galleries. 

SEEN AND UNSEEN: IDENTITY IN PORTRAITURE - Grades 9–12
Identity is a deeply personal and multifaceted concept. Artists have long used art to celebrate and probe the depths of identity. During this tour, students will explore the art of portraiture and consider its role in revealing, concealing, and complicating identity. Historical and contemporary portraits will serve as a springboard for examining the concept of identity and its relevance in our lives. During Spring 2024, this tour will include a stop in the exhibition A Layered Presence/Una presencia estratificada, an exhibition of works by Kansas City artists with ties to Latin America.


All trips are free! 

Learn more about each option and how to schedule here.

The Bus Grant Program assists schools and nonprofit organizations with the transportation expenses of field trips and outdoor learning opportunities at Missouri state parks and historic sites. Bus grants have been made available to Missouri schools and youth-focused nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

The Bus Grant Program grant round is currently open and accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. This is a noncompetitive grant that is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants. Applications must be submitted by email or mail by May 8, 2024, for field trips planned for the 2023-2024 school year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).

Learn More Here

Locations include arts related sites like the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio! 

Art + History + Nature