ARTreach Texas

As the countdown quickens to the January legislative session, advocacy for quality fine arts education must increase. TMEA is leading that effort, in conjunction with the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education, by reviving the GoArts campaign that was so vital to our success with textbook funding in 2005.

As leaders of the GoArts campaign, we are advocates for education policies, primarily at the state level, that ensure all Texas students have opportunities to study music, art, dance, and theater. We provide the public as well as policy makers with information

You Can Help- Register Your Support

Help educate our state’s decision makers about the importance of protecting fine arts education by registering your support at www.GoArts.org. Pass this information on to all of your music group’s supporters and booster organizations and encourage them to do the same.

Link to GoArts.org

Add a link on your arts organization homepage to www. GoArts.org and encourage your website audience to register their support.

www.GoArts.org Because every Texas student should receive:

• A well-balanced education

• Quality fine arts instruction

• Protected instructional time for arts

education

• Opportunities to pursue their passion 

GoArts sends its supporters email updates about official actions and proposals that may affect arts education opportunities for students in Texas schools. GoArts also provides information about the benefits of arts education and suggestions for how supporters can let elected officials and policy makers know they support quality arts education in our schools. Visit www.GoArts.org  often for updates on our latest advocacy activities and to find out ways you can continue to help ensure every Texas student receives a quality fine arts education.

WOW! Outreach Worldwide –Mural project shares art and cultures with children around the world

November 11, 2008 - Children from around the world and in Texas will be working together this year to create a unique and very special mural that will be donated to the Texas PTA and their offices in Austin, Texas.  This is a Texas ARTreach Cultural Arts Project facilitated by professional artist Vickie McMillan of Katy, Texas. The mural’s design reflects the blend of unique cultures from Africa, Asia and Mexico with the melting pot of America as represented by our children, parents and teachers in Texas.

This is an ARTreach project running in concurrence with the National Reflections Program. The theme this year for the Reflection Program is “Wow!”  Vikki McMillan is an ARTreach mission artist inspired by the theme. McMillan will be traveling to Africa, the Philippines and Mexico this year to share American culture with families and children in impoverished regions of countries struggling with poverty and devastation.  She is combining her outreach with arts education that includes lessons that involve painting expressive works of art that focus on hope, health, world peace and understanding. Children, parents and teachers from around the world will be painting panels that will be installed as part of this WOW Mural to be unveiled in Austin summer 2009.

Texas is home to Vikki McMillan and when she returns to the state, ARTreach will offer a series of workshops organized in Austin, Katy and Lufkin to represent urban, suburban and rural communities and include Texas children, parents and teachers in the project. Vikki’s workshops share the stories, music and photos that detail her journey as an artist. Students are inspired to paint about their own unique American customs while exploring the customs associated with other cultures from around the world.  The project traces the combined journey of every student involved to create a statement that reminds us of the bigger picture. “We are all in this together!” says Texas PTA President Jan Wilkerson, “Texas PTA is excited to be a part of this project because it demonstrates that everyone is a piece of the puzzle and offering a part of the solution.” The WOW Mural will be unveiled in Austin in June, with plans in place for it to travel to Dallas to be featured as part of Texas PTA Centennial Celebration in October, 2009.  

This ARTreach Project is made possible by grant from the Allen Morris Foundation. Contact Terri Bieber for more information or to find out how your child can participate in the project when the WOW workshops come to your town.  To learn more about this WOW Outreach Worldwide Mural Project and other International ARTreach Projects visit www.artreachonline.org. 

December 4th, 2008 ARTREACH Mural Workshop at Agave Road in Katy
February 1, 2009 Workshop for Katy ISD Students /Local Campus Reflections Program Awards of Excellence at the ARTreach Studio
February 27, 2009- March 1 – Austin, Texas PTA and Mural Project Workshop
March

Cultural Districts and the Future of Katy

By Terri Bieber, State Arts-in-Education Chairman, Texas PTA Healthy Lifestyles and the Arts, Cultural District overview provided by Jim Bob McMillan, Deputy Director, Texas Commission on the Arts

     Across the nation, many cities have successfully created communities that provide an environment that promotes a full spectrum of human needs and desires that contribute to a happy and healthy lifestyle. Businesses that cater to physical and mental well-being, parks and green spaces, outdoor activities, heritage centers, fine arts and culture, quality employment, and educational opportunities comprise these cohesive communities. Among other things, communities known as Cultural Districts work to stimulate the economy, improve opportunities for social networking, and get individuals involved in the grassroots efforts of an interconnected community.
     These Cultural Districts are meant to attract both new-comers and long time residents, bring in tourists, and encourage startup businesses by giving people a chance to easily improve the overall quality of their lives without having to leave their own community. The most successful cities in Texas are linking their unique culture and history, quality educational institutions, health, physical environment, and arts and culture to offer residents a lifestyle that offers the “total package”—all of those people, places, and things that play a major role in determining the condition of our daily lives.  One of the biggest draws of these cultural districts is that they offer something for everyone; people in every stage of their lives can reap the benefits. Katy, with its population and residential density, interesting history, and its ideal location at the intersection of three counties could be the next city in Texas to benefit from the development of a Cultural District.
     A cultural district can serve as a visual, geographical, and emotional reference point for residents. These districts offer an attractive and clear architectural landmark that includes a mixed-use concentration of cultural facilities that serve as the heart of that landmark. Cultural Districts can be found in communities of various sizes, from small towns to large and urban cities. The inclusion of cultural arts and heritage facilities can be appealing to families and individuals who desire having easy access to a multi-dimensional life experience. Perhaps it’s the novelty of small town convenience combined with the big city activities that attracts these residents to a community that might have a world-renowned hospital right next to the fine arts center.
     The establishment of cultural districts in the Katy area will boost the economy and create one of these utopian-esque communities. “Right now the city of Katy is in a good position to explore the benefits of a cultural district”, said Carol Adams, City of Katy Council Member. “I think we recognize that as the area grows we have to nurture ideas like this. Cultural and historic districts help establish a destination and promote economic development. In the heart of old town Katy this could be a unique opportunity to improve lifestyle, support existing and new businesses, and attract visitors”.
The development of such a district will support the cultivation of the arts and entertainment industry including children’s museums, science and discovery centers, galleries, community theaters, and artists’ studios. Cultural Districts could also expand Katy’s very successful Heritage Society approach to promote cultural and historical preservation and tourism.
     Katy’s exemplary and award-winning schools are already in position to naturally and positively merge with a proposed Cultural District. The Katy Independent School District is responsible for high educational standards that support the city’s growth and this is already one of the major draws to the city. New state of the art medical centers are addressing the full scope of health needs, and large and small businesses in the area are driving a strong economic engine, making Katy highly successful. How do successful cities like Katy design long term growth plans that will continue to catapult them into the next stage of development? The answer for cities like Katy could be found in the formation of Cultural Districts, as authorized by H.B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature. This bill allows cities to seek support from the Texas Commission on the Arts to designate Cultural Districts within a city.
     An expert on the subject of Cultural Districts is Jim Bob McMillan, Deputy Director of the Texas Commission on the Arts. He describes the impact of cultural districts on communities such as Katy in terms of tourism activity, artist advancement, job creation, property value enhancement, and downtown revitalization. Cultural districts boost urban revitalization in many ways:
Beautify and animate cities
Provide employment
Attract residents and tourists to the community
Complement adjacent businesses
Enhance property values
Expand the tax base
Attract well-educated employees
Contribute to a creative, innovative environment
     No two cultural districts are alike, and Katy’s would be distinctive in its own right. Each district reflects the community’s unique environment, history, and use of land, growth, and cultural development. Cultural District designations include Historical and Cultural Districts, Arts and Entertainment Districts, Museum Districts and Theater Districts. These kinds of districts facilitate the development of performance spaces, museums, galleries, artist studios, arts-related retail shops, music or media production studios, dance studios, high schools or colleges dedicated to the arts, libraries, arboretums and gardens.
     Cultural districts with an arts and entertainment focus offer popular attractions for younger audiences and tend to have a more bohemian feel than the major museum districts. Small theaters, private art galleries, and quaint restaurants are the primary anchors of attraction, but major arts facilities, or a community center may also be present. Arts and entertainment districts tend to be located near the central business districts and major tourist sites in communities.
     A Cultural District that encompasses most of the downtown area, including the central business district will use all of a community’s cultural attractions, like the heritage park to attract citizens and visitors. “Culture” in these districts is broadly defined and includes major arts institutions, popular attractions, restaurants, parks and tourism sites. This model tends to be established in smaller communities where the downtown can be more easily packaged as a destination.

     The most important thing to note about cultural districts is that, despite the fact that a downtown or City of Katy approach would be unique, the development of this kind of cultural legacy does not necessarily just apply to cities or a city proper. Developers, investors, and non-profit organizations with determination and a plan can all jump on the bandwagon to make cultural improvements to any area around a city - even unincorporated ones. The benefits of this kind of community enhancement would no doubt lend a hand in cementing Katy’s bright future. “Cultural Districts help to reflect the character of the communities they reside in and provide them with the sense of authenticity and originality that all great towns exhibit,” said Texas State Senator Glenn Hegar. “It was my pleasure to vote in favor of the law that authorized their formation because I know that the charm and warmth that they lend to communities is just what people look for when vacationing or choosing a place to live.”
     More information on Cultural Districts is available online at the Texas Commission on the Arts website www.arts.state.tx.us.org under Arts Business Development. To learn more about the Texas PTA and the conversations linked to Healthy Lifestyles and the Arts visit www.txpta.org

ARTreach partners with Texas non-profits across the state to bring the arts to communities in need

These unique partnerships are working to expand outreach capabilities and improve funding availability for art non profits

ARTreach is a 501c3 Texas non profit organization established to bring the arts to underserved communities. The organization is focused on increasing community awareness for the value of the arts-in-education and the importance of providing equal access to the arts for the underprivileged. ARTreach serves targeted populations including children at risk, troubled youth, special needs children and adults, victims of crime or catastrophe, and the elderly.

ARTreach is an outreach organization with social, educational and expressive art programs and services accessible through social service agencies, children and family protective services, juvenile justice departments and school districts. ARTreach works through grant writing and donations to offset the expenses associated with bringing professional artists, musicians and dance groups to underserved communities and partners with Texas art non-profits across the state to deliver quality and professional art programs to needy communities.

Building strong partnerships to serve in 2008-09

ARTreach is facing a rapid increase of needs through social service and school districts for quality art programs that support educational objectives and social skill development and is focused on building stronger partnerships to serve the higher numbers.

ARTreach is inviting Fine Arts Museums, Symphonies, Operas, Ballets, cultural arts societies, art leagues, local dance and music companies, art studios, and district approved arts-in-education and after school program providers that offer outreach as component of their mission to partner with ARTreach this year to serve the higher numbers.  

ARTreach Partnerships work to expand outreach capabilities, support grant writing and improve funding for the art groups involved. As an advocacy organization ARTreach supports implementation, delivery and evaluation of art programs, and measures and records the impact a quality art program has on targeted populations to support better funding and improved legislation. ARTreach offers these services in exchange for donated programs, professional artist’s time and/or subsidies offered by other quality art non-profits, district approved program providers, art, and music, and dance companies. 

Goals to increase Arts Funding

The goal through ARTreach Partnerships is for involved art groups to be able to serve the higher numbers without increasing already overwhelming needs associated with fundraising for more and more hard earned art dollars aimed at outreach. The backdrop associated with fundraising issues represents Texas’ overall need to increase community and individual’s awareness of the importance of the cultural arts and arts in education, and encourage through grassroots campaigns and advocacy much better legislation that would ultimately increase public arts funding available across the state. 

If you are board member or director involved in a Texas non-profit art organization and wish to expand your organization’s outreach into needy communities. Please visit www.ARTreachonline.org and contact Terri Bieber, executive director at art.reach@earthlink.net to discuss partnerships ideas that will serve the neediest communities and help bring more art to underserved communities, including children at risk, troubled youth, special needs children and adults and the elderly in Texas.

ARTreach works with a variety of Texas art non-profits to deliver quality and professional art programs to needy communities across the state. ARTreach non-profit partners are arts-in-education program providers, after school program providers, fine art centers, symphonies, opera, ballet companies and community theaters . Through collaborative grant writing and donations ARTreach offsets the expenses associated with bringing professional artists, musicians and dance groups to communities in need.  If you are involved in a Texas non-profit art organization thats offers outreach as component to its mission, please contact ARTreach for information about the ways we can partner to serve the neediest communities and help bring more art to children at risk, troubled youth, special needs children and adults and the elderly in Texas.

ARTreach Texas joins the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts-in-Education (TCQAE) to promote the arts in Texas. www.tcqae.org

State and local art partners, along with the Texas Parks and Wildlife will be in Katy, Texas on September 20th to participate in the Texas PTA WOW! Festival being held at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.  The WOW Festival highlights the efforts of local PTAs with a focus on Arts-in-Education, Healthy Lifestyles and the Environment. Visit www.txpta.org to learn more about healthy and creative lifestyles and the PTA.