More than 200 teachers and school administrators gathered for “Arts Build Community,” the 2001 VAAE Arts in Education Conference at the Bread Loaf Campus of Middlebury College.  Amidst early fall foliage, the conference on September 25 and 26 brought arts educators together for more than 50 workshops, a rousing keynote address, student performances, roundtable discussions, a Vermont Arts Council’s Artist Showcase, and plenty of opportunities to network and explore arts education resources.

Judith Conk, this year’s keynote speaker, is a popular guest speaker and educator trainer who specializes in assessment, infusing the arts in the curriculum, staff development, instructional strategies, and multiple intelligences in the classroom.  At the conference, Mrs. Conk spoke on the topic of Building Community Through the Arts.  Her comments were supported by research stated in Champions of Change, The Impact of the Arts on Learning .

• The arts reach students who are not otherwise being reached.
• The arts reach students in ways that they are not otherwise being reached.
• The arts connect students to themselves and each other.
• The arts transform the environment for learning.
• The arts provide new challenges for those students already considered successful.
• The arts connect learning experiences to the world of real work.

Other featured events included the annual VAAE Awards Ceremony and a student performance by the North Country Dance Company directed by Cheri Skurdall.  This year, Waitsfield Elementary and Catamount Elementary each received the “Creative Ticket—Schools of Excellence” Award, and Ruth Kaldor of the Cabot School received the “Arts Educator” Award. 

Arts educators attending the conference chose from a wide variety of workshops, including such noteworthy titles as “Creating Clay Buildings and Barns” with John Brickels, “The Art of the Zany” with Michael Zerphy, “The Temenos Book Project: Images for Global Healing, Peace & Gratitude” with Cameron Davis, “Speaking in Drums” with Todd Roach, and “Finding a Voice through Slam Poetry” with Seth Jarvis.  Other workshop topics included bookmaking, art therapy, movement improvisation, advanced directing, meeting curriculum standards, grantwriting, and papier-mache puppets.

Preliminary evaluation responses show that educators gain a wealth of experiences for use in their classrooms and exchange ideas with colleagues.  One music educator shared the following information: “I obtained my degree in music education at the age of 39 through a non-traditional program and originally had a degree plan for a dual major in art and music. Consideration of a deadline and finances resulted in my reducing the art component to an art minor and finally cutting it out altogether.  Your conference helps greatly in filling in the holes I have in my art techniques since I was unable to pursue them formally.  I can’t begin to tell you how much I learn at these workshops, from the exhibitors, and from the people gathered around for the two days.”

An artist’s comments summarized the conference for many who attended, “....I’m still glowing from my enjoyable and informative experience. I had such a wealth of non-stop, thought provoking, interesting conversations… Elaine Reed, a seasoned watercolor artist and teacher, shared some of her teaching techniques with me, which I may incorporate into my adult watercolor classes…. I had the opportunity to try water-soluable oil paints with an expert’s guidance, Bob Huntoon…. I reconnected with Mary Hepburn, head of the art department at Vermont Academy where I used to teach printmaking…. all the workshops that I signed up for were very informative and filled with learning....Ken Leslie’s color theory and his artist’s-one-of-a-kind books, both were so rich. I learned new information at the Vermont Arts Council information workshop. I could have happily attended the conference for a few more days!”

The VAAE thanks many groups for their financial support of the conference, including the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, the Vermont Department of Education, the Vermont Arts Council, the Vermont Millennium Arts Partnership.  Middlebury College, the Ellis Music Company, raffle/conference gift donors, exhibitors, and many others provided additional support. 

Elizabeth Seyler, M.Ed., is a dancer, freelance writer/editor, and VAAE board member