The Workshop has met its Fundraising Goal, Thanks to You!
by Brian Wiedenmeier

Thanks to a great response from a generous community of donors, the Workshop was able to raise $2,000 in just two days, helping us meet our target goal of $50,000 in individual gifts for fiscal year 2009-2010! This crucial support ensures that schools and communities that need quality arts programs the most are able to receive them, particularly in this difficult economy. Make sure you read Artist Mentor Matthew Clark Davison’s account of teaching creative writing at Paul Revere Elementary School in this issue of Workshop Notes for a better idea of the impact your gift has in the lives of young people. Together, we’re helping students develop the problem-solving skills they’ll need to be successful in the 21st Century. We couldn’t do it without your support—thank you once again!

Join the Fight for High-Quality Education!
by Jessica Mele

Arts programs are an essential part of a child’s education: they make youth more innovative, creative, and better critical thinkers – vitally important skills for the 21st Century. Through our advocacy efforts, Performing Arts Workshop will hold school districts, local, state and federal governments accountable for providing instruction in the arts. This year, the Workshop developed our 9-point Advocacy Plan formulated with help from the Metropolitan Group, and is forging ahead with building a strong arts education coalition base in San Francisco to accomplish goals set on a local, regional and national scale. As part of that plan, the workshop hired Melissa West to work as our part-time, temporary Advocacy Campaign Manager from April-June 2010. During that time, Melissa has been working hard to build support for arts education in our public schools.

Locally, we have focused on the upcoming budget for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Superintendent Carlos Garcia’s budget proposal is a two-year plan (2010-2012) that would “flex” all state Tier III categorical funding, which includes the ongoing Arts & Music block grant, to make up for cuts to the general fund. Of the $715K/year in block grant funding, the Superintendent has proposed “flexing” (a.k.a. cutting) $680K per year which totals approximately $1.36 million in cuts to the arts over two years.

In order to stop the raiding of the State Arts and Music Block Grant, Performing Arts Workshop has brought together a broad coalition of teachers, youth groups, parents and arts advocates to form the Partnership for Creative Learning. This unique arts education advocacy group will work to find solutions within the SFUSD’s upcoming budget and will fight to stop the Board from “flexing” the state Arts and Music Block Grant.

The time to act is now. We cannot allow the arts to be second class subjects in our schools and in our education budget any longer. Take a stand for San Francisco youth and join the Partnership for Creative Learning now to make a difference.

Follow the Workshop On Facebook
by Anne Trickey

The Workshop recently waded into on-line social networking! Our Facebook page is now administered by Milo Sarvis, a friendly pup who likes critical thinking, creative expression, and sunbathing on the dining room table.  Keep track of what Milo and the Workshop are up to by saying that you LIKE the Workshop and sending Milo a FRIEND REQUEST. Facebook is a great tool for our new Advocacy initiative. If you want to know the most up to date information on the Partnership for Creative Learning, Arts Education funding in San Francisco, or the amazing diversity of performances and events in which our artistic staff take part - then check it out!

Creative Writing at Paul Revere: My Favorite Day of the Week
by Matthew Davison

Teaching Creative Writing at Paul Revere After School has not been easy. Luckily, I don’t like easy. But this challenge went beyond difficult. With what very much seemed like a complete lack of results in most of the classes, I wondered if there was any purpose in what I do at all. I nearly gave up, and now I’m so glad I stuck it out. Mid-way through, the residency took a turn. After listening to suggestions from both the site teachers and my colleagues at Performing Arts Workshop, I rethought my approach. More than anything, I got over myself. Stopped being so attached to the outcome. Relaxed a bit and concentrated more on establishing relationships than imparting craft tools. (At one point I started laughing, realizing I was trying to get fourth graders to write their autobiographies).

Suddenly students are happy to see me. (A couple of my students and two of my colleagues can be seen in this great video) Notebooks are out when I arrive at the classes. And kids who usually don’t speak or participate are suddenly opening up, writing stories.

It makes sense. One hour per week in the classroom isn’t very much time to establish trust with anyone, never mind kids who have good reason not to trust many adults. I’m so glad I didn’t resign. Now Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week.

This story is featured in the March 2010 edition of the Matthew Clark Davison Newsletter. Click here to read more about Matthew's work in San Francisco as a Teaching Artist, Creative Writing Professor, and Novelist.

The Workshop Shares Artists-in-Schools Findings with NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman
by Tom DeCaigny

In March, Performing Arts Workshop was invited to share evaluation findings from our nationally-recognized Artists-in-Schools program model with NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. Chairman Landesman was invited to San Francisco at the behest of the James Irvine Foundation and foundation CEO Jim Canales as part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Arts Works” tour. The national tour aims to explore how the arts work in communities across the United States. The guiding principles of Chairman Landesman's "Art Works" initiative include a focus on the role of the arts in education as well as in creating and sustaining livable, vibrant urban centers.

Workshop Executive Director, Tom DeCaigny joined San Francisco community leaders and education experts at the Community Music Center in San Francisco’s Mission District to discuss the role of the arts in improving student learning.  He presented the most recent findings from the Workshop’s Arts Residency Interventions in Special Education (ARISE) Project which is investigating the impact of the Workshop’s Artists-in-Schools program model on students with special needs.

Read Rocco Landesman's blog post about his visit to California:
Postcard from California, Part 2

Learn More About "Art Works":
http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?page_id=79

Read the NEA press release on Chairman Rocco Landesman's Visit to California
http://www.arts.gov/news/news10/california-schedule.html

Photo 1: Executive Director, Tom DeCaigny and San Francisco Supervisor, Bevan Dufty

Photo 2: NEA Chairman, Rocco Landesman; Irvine Foundation President, Jim Canales; Executive Director, Tom DeCaigny and San Francisco Supervisor, Bevan Dufty

Photo 3: Executive Director, Tom DeCaigny; NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman and San Francisco Supervisor, Bevan Dufty

 

Artist Spotlight: Jesse Bliss
by Anne Trickey

The Artist Spotlight gives the Workshop a chance to showcase artists currently igniting young minds in schools and communities. This month we are featuring Jesse Bliss.

What brings you to Performing Arts Workshop?

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Performing Arts Workshop in 2003 in both the public schools and homeless shelters. It was an extraordinary experience. I have deep appreciation and respect for their mission, using the arts to cultivate creative expression and critical thinking. Also, they take great care in creating a working relationship with their artists that is supportive and communicative. The organization has an all-around amazing staff, including Artistic Director Gary Draper for whom I have the highest respect. His rich history with the organization combined with a keen and rarely found sense of what it means to bring the arts to youth make for highest quality programming. The staff ensures each and every Teaching Artist is doing work in the classroom that is directly in line with what Performing Arts Workshop is striving to achieve, continuously checking in to ensure this is happening on all levels. Ultimately, the students benefit immeasurably from this kind of attention and care. The artists and work that comes to them is of the highest quality. Since my initial days with Performing Arts Workshop, I have been living and working in Los Angeles as a Playwright, Actress, Director, Producer, Poet and Teaching Artist. Never once did Performing Arts Workshop leave my heart or mind in my work as a Teaching Artist. In fact, it set a precedence. It has been, once again, a great honor and joy to reunite with Performing Arts Workshop and experience each other's growth in this work.

Where can we see you in action?

My full length play, Tree of Fire, recently had a highly successful reading at the historic monument Lincoln Heights Jail in Los Angeles. I am currently doing a rewrite to the play and want to get it in full production in both the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles as soon as possible. I believe deeply in this story and have been so lucky to have incredible talent and support behind the project.  We need further assistance in getting the play into full production. For more information, please visit www.therootsandwingsproject.com. You can go to PRESS and then CLICK HERE for a full page article from the Examiner about Tree of Fire.