What did we learn this year?? Although we knew how beneficial arts integration was not only for student learning but for social and emotional well-being, as well, seeing our learners thrive throughout the year in response to our arts programming inspired us to dig deeper into this area.

Through the Arts Equity Reimagined Grant, we will be able to expand on those insights through the creation of a year-long Teaching Artist Workshop series that seeks to activate a group of teaching artists in Beaver County.

Teaching takes many different forms, but at the heart of it is always the student. In this professional learning series, we aspire to center equity, empathy, and creativity so we may all grow as artists, educators and humans. Over the course of 9 sessions, we will engage with a wide range of performing and visual arts as we discuss, question, and play with educational concepts and current teaching practices. This series is for anyone who would like to experiment with how they might expand their teaching skills through the arts, regardless of their education or skill set. Lisa Leibering will co-facilitate all workshops along with a specialized Teaching Artist chosen for their expertise in selected content areas. All workshops will be held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Neighborhood North Museum of Play, 716 14th St, Beaver Falls, beginning with locally sourced breakfast. Space is limited and tickets are $10/session. Ticket cost can be refunded after attendance if needed.

Below are the details for the first 3 workshops in this series.
October 9, 2021
The Sound of Shadows
Teaching artists: Dennis Garner and Lisa Leibering

November 13, 2021
It’s All About Perspective
Teaching artists: Randall Coleman and Lisa Leibering

December 11, 2021
I Would DYE for You
Teaching artists: Aaron Crutchfield and Lisa Leibering

The second part of the Playful Learning Initiative will employ some of these trained artists to create and install Playful Learning Landscapes’ recommendations for bringing art and playful learning into the community. These Playful Learning Landscapes will focus on multigenerational communication, collaboration, and social interactions known to support early language and STEM learning. By using art as an educational platform in the public space, we both combat the elitism associated with the arts and support early learning through arts-based play in communities that need it most. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting initiative!