Simsbury Public Schools

SIMSBURY K-12 VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Simsbury K-12 Visual Art department is to provide the highest quality art education possible to all of our students. We feel strongly that art is a vital component of every child’s core education and is aligned with both the State and National Visual Arts Standards. The Simsbury K-12 Visual Arts Department provides challenging art experiences through the development of common assessments that are designed to cultivate creativity, innovative thinking, problem solving and personal expression. The Simsbury Visual Arts Curriculum exposes students, beginning in Kindergarten, to a wide variety of 2-dimensional media, the use of technology to create art and the creation of 3- dimensional art works. Upon high school graduation, we believe that students will possess the gift of visual literacy and will be articulate participants in a global and culturally diverse society.

Statement of Philosophy and Beliefs

Visual Arts education at Simsbury Public Schools teaches students to …

• Become literate in visual design elements and principles.

• Be aware of the importance of historical and cultural contexts of past, present and future visual works.

• Develop technical skills that translate ideas and intentions in a responsible, effective, clear and meaningful manner.

• Cultivate self-discipline and persistence and become creative problem solvers.

• Make the appropriate interdisciplinary connections necessary to create works with visual impact, relevant content and meaning to the world outside of the classroom.

• Be willing to explore different options, tackle open ended challenges, take risks, make choices and refine possible solutions through exploration.

• Be familiar with visual art vocabulary, different materials, techniques, technologies and processes.

• Use their imagination.

• Assess and reflect upon the characteristics of one’s work and the work of others with respect.

• Develop works that reflect awareness of local and global challenges.

• Learn how to effectively communicate while working independently and collaboratively.

• Explore the potential of visual communication to develop problem solving skills and innovative thinking

• Conceptualize, design, create, refine, complete and present original works of art that strive to be sustainable.

• Be familiar with the formal steps of art criticism: description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.

• Become aware of different art forms and styles through direct experience and authentic learning.

• Understand that there might be multiple solutions to one problem.

• Recognize that the visual arts play a vital role in society.