There is a place reserved just for you!

"Creative Solutions"
RISE ABOVE In and Through the Arts

Friday, May 7, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
&
 Saturday, May 8, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts
Meridian, MS

Sponsored by
The Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education
in partnership with
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Attention Educators:
 CEUs and SEMIs are offered for this event.

Consider this . . .

What will the future require of our children?
Creativity, Innovation, Imagination . . . and More
Are we ready?

Forum Audience:

K-12 Superintendents and school administrators, K-12 teachers, higher education faculty and administrators, K-12 students, arts and education employees from state agencies, arts education professional organization leaders, community arts organization and cultural institution leaders, arts presenting organizations, teaching artists, parent organization leaders, community and business partners

Forum Goal:

To consider the challenges and embark upon creative and innovative solutions in education that will support our mission to RISE ABOVE the dropping test scores, funds, and attitudes; to commit to RISE ABOVE the problems by lifting our children’s lives both IN the arts and THROUGH the arts as they learn to fly and soar… to RISE ABOVE.

Forum Purpose:

To recognize that tough times call for action… to recognize the importance of rejuvenating our schools, our communities, our lives, as we strive to RISE ABOVE and offer solutions to place considerable emphasis on informing administrators, funders, parents, and the general public as to the many outcomes and value of arts in education.

Forum Objectives:

1. Raise awareness and appreciation of the impact of an arts education on a child’s life.
2. Gain new insights and understanding how schools can become more involved in arts education.
3. Broaden parent and community understanding and involvement, investment, and support for arts in education.
4. Recognize and honor teachers, students, parents, administrators, and community for their contribution to the education and advocacy support of the arts across Mississippi.

The Age of Creative Solutions

"We have an historic opportunity to drive change and lift education to a new level. For the first time in decades, we have the funding to achieve our goals and committed leadership in Washington and in the broader education community. The question is whether we have the courage to face the truths about our current state of education and to pursue fundamental change. ...By working together and staying focused on children, we can create an education system that instead of leaving too many children behind, takes all children forward. Let's get to work."

— U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan CNN: 4/30/2009

Keynote Speaker and Presenter:

John Abodeely
Program Manager, National Partnerships
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Forum Agenda and workshop information

Friday, May 7th
  1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Registration
  1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Exhibits
  1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Welcome & Opening Session
  2:00 PM – 2:15 PM Break
  2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Break out Sessions
  3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Session Wrap–up
  5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Forum Dinner & Presentation of Awards
  7:30 PM – Oak Ridge Boys – MSU Riley Center

Saturday, May 8th
  8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Registration
  8:30 AM – 12 Noon Exhibits
  9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Workshop
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Workshop
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
  1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Workshop
  2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Workshop

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To participate in the Arts Front and Center Forum, please click the appropriate links below which contain additional information and forms:

For Forum registration information, click here  (on-line registration now closed. Registration at the conference is still available, May 7-8)
For Forum Exhibitor's registration information, click here
For Forum Student Art Exhibit information, click here
For Awards Program Ad Sales information, click here

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The Arts Front and Center Forum is partially funded by a grant from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network

The Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education is funded in part by The Mississippi Arts Commission and The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.