In thinking about the topic of ‘Bridging’ I immediately remembered some of our sessions during ITAC 5 - the fifth International Teaching Artist Conference - led by the Korean Arts and Culture Education Service (KACES) in partnership with ITAC Collaborative. The theme of the conference was ‘Boundaries Into Pathways’ and we explored the different ways creative engagement can dismantle or address challenges/blockages. To me, this feels like another way of talking about Bridging - how do utilize the arts to develop new routes and paths through historically hard to navigate or neglected spaces? How do we reach the other side? In thinking about these questions, I approached our colleagues at KACES who, since ITAC5, have been developing the ITAC Korea Hub alongside us. In response to my invitation, KACES suggested sharing the below interview from their webzine called 'arte365. This one, which they have generously translated for us, explores Teaching Arist Oum Jeong Soon’s project, which is a “big picture” answering her childhood question of “what is seeing”. We think it touches on the interesting gaps which often appear when thinking about how you bridge preconceived perceptions, with other people’s lived realities.
Read moreYOUTH LEADER SPOTLIGHT: Luke Chacko | Musician & LGBTQ+ Leader
The first time I heard this song, its catchy lyrics got stuck in my head for days and made me think: “What a true testament to what young people are experiencing right now in this intense and rapidly changing world: anxiety, pressure, worry, and yet they are finding ways to stand up and bloom.”
Luke Chacko (he/she/they) is a 16 year old musician from Arlington, Texas who went viral after Idina Menzel invited Luke and other young audience members on stage to sing "Let It Go" in July 2017. Luke’s sudden internet fame landed them an appearance on The Ellen Show in September 2017. This provided Luke with a platform to shine a light on the effects of bullying, which they had endured and ultimately overcome.
Read moreNAVIGATING: How can we set ourselves up for success as we navigate turbulent times?
As the Director of ITAC I have the privilege of working with artists and changemakers from all over the world. We work together to find ways to connect them to peers in other countries, to develop the impact of their work, to amplify their voices and to showcase their exceptional (and often under-recognised) practice.
One of my closest and most valued colleagues/mentors is Eric Booth, who co-founded ITAC in 2012, and continues to play a leading role in our evolution. When I think of effective and long lasting change/impact/growth in the field of Teaching Artistry, I think of him.
Read moreLeader Interview: Celina Miranda, Recipient Of The Lewis Prize
The Lewis Prize for Music, which invests in music leaders to facilitate positive change and increase access to music education, announced its latest group of awardees in January of 2021.
We had the opportunity to connect with Celina Miranda, Ph.D., who draws on her extensive experience in youth development and philanthropy, as well as her own lived experience, in her current role as Executive Director of Hyde Square Task Force.
Read moreBoston-based media company Boston Compass Newspaper (BCN) announces debut web series “Defining Leadership: An Artist Interview Project.”
Since its inception in 2010, the Boston Compass Newspaper (BCN) has developed from a 1-page zine listing underground music shows to an 8-page paper featuring comics, articles, and art. The publication has always been about uniting underground art communities, and bringing people together in person. When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, we were forced to reckon with the safety of our community, and underwent a heroic effort to create an online space for our content. Last year we launched a blog, a new brand, and an online calendar application, and this year we are excited to launch our first ever web series!
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