Why do I belong to RIAEA?

Recently I was asked why it was beneficial for me to be a member of RIAEA.

Simply stated….RIAEA validates my commitment to my profession.

Because of RIAEA, I’m informed and up to date on the state of Art Education in Rhode Island and at the national level. Because of RIAEA, I’m committed, I have a voice, I’m inspired, informed, not stuck in a rut, continuing to learn new things, networking with my peers, and advocating for the art’s in my learning community.

 

The Mission of the Rhode Island Art Education Association is to offer opportunities for professional development, leadership and service in order to advance the quality of art education. Now, more than ever, we as visual art educators and supporters of art education need to encourage and advocate that passion, not just for us, but for all those around us.  Now more than ever we need to express what art education means for our students, our peers, our communities and our lives in general.

 

RIAEA is a community that works “together” Being a member of RIAEA and NAEA allows you to be part of one of the largest professional educational organizations in the US. This year’s Conference in Baltimore had 5,000 attendees! Take a new look at NAEA’s website. It’s interactive, filled with numerous resources, very easy to log into, and allows its members abundant benefits. http://www.arteducators.org/  Grants, lesson plans, blogs, advocacy ideas, the most relevant research,  free easy to create websites through digication, and many other opportunities that are free to its logged in members.

 

Look forward to spring…

As we progress into spring we find ourselves looking forward to warmer weather and longer days. We contemplate our student and personal successes, and think about what we will do to make next year even better than this one. We consider new professional development opportunities, ideas, and summer courses that will continue to inspire our need to learn, as we also look to the summer months ahead to recharge, re-energize and relax!

Reflection…

Many of you participated in scholastics, came to the Members show in March and displayed fabulous work, have taken courses, and put up numerous YAM displays.

Many of you have attended and presented at RIAEA’S roundtable events, GSE workshops, and Tech squad workshops. You have attended and or presented at the National Art Education Conference in Baltimore and many of you helped to get the RI Art’s GSE’S adopted. That’s right! The new Art’s GSE’S are law! Thank you to Rosemary Burns , the arts fellows, VSA, RISCA, and the Art’s learning network, who  have done an enormous amount of work, planning and facilitating numerous state sponsored workshops to educate RI Art Educators on what the new art’s GSE’S entail and how they will be applied. You have all done a great deal to be proud of! Congratulations!

What’s Next….

Don’t miss RIAEA’S all member spring members meeting! It will be held in Wakefield Rhode Island at the Bagalz Café which houses the Herra Gallery on May 12^th at 4:00PM Come join us for some fine refreshments, good times, plenty of networking, and to find out what is happening within your association.  Keep these dates open as well!

Our Fall All Membership meeting “Cook Out” at the North Kingstown town beach will be held on Monday August 23rd  at 5:00 PM. All are invited…members and non-members! We had a great time last year! Lots of freebies, workshops and special events.

Mark your fall calendar for RIAEA’S Conference “Art + Spirit” at West Warwick High School on Saturday, October 16^th

 

Enjoy the rest of your school year and take care

Susanne