NEA Fine Arts Task Force Meeting—Webcast –December 8, 2010

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. ET

Meeting Participants: (1-Absence Andrew Corbin)

• Princess Moss (Co-Chair)- NEA Exec. Committee, elementary school music teacher
• Greg Johnson (Co-Chair)- NEA Exec. Committee, high school choir director
• Tom McLaughlin- a high school drama teacher
• Jennifer Roberts- a high school art teacher
• Christopher Thomas, NEA Staff Liaison
• Derrick Johnson, NEA Staff Liaison
I.  E-Survey conducted by NEA-Research NBI 2010-52

A. Clarification on 2-yrs of loss of fine-arts members. Is this membership loss or position loss?

B. Understanding how the e-survey was disseminated, who the respondents were, how they were chosen to participate
i. According to Tom not a single member of his caucus received the e-survey
ii. None of the other task force members present at the meeting received the survey.
iii. Tom raised concerns about the low response rate of 8 of 382 (about 2%)eligible completed surveys were of other fine arts teachers (fine arts other than art and music i.e. drama and dance)

C. Broadening the scope of the survey
1. Defining what is a fine art (Princess)
2. Moving the survey beyond NEA membership
3. Identifying external research as it relates to arts educators as a whole

II. Data Review and Discussion

A. NCLB Study

B. Access to Arts Education

1. Decreased funding in the arts

2. Decreased instruction time

3. Transformative Power of Arts in Closing the Achievement Gap
a. The ability of the arts to influence positive academic achievement in students who have historically been marginalized due to their socioeconomic conditions
b. Offered a great link with the work the association already conducts with Priority Schools

III. Emergency Jobs Bill Discussion

A. Concerns expressed about School districts stock-piling funds received from the Jobs Bill

B. The arts have been disproportionately affected due to this stockpiling

C. Arts programs aren’t necessarily being eliminated they are, however, being de-funded almost to the brink of elimination.

IV. Recommendation Ideas

A. Greg: Utilize the RA as a kickoff to a year-long emphasis on the arts (July 2011 – July 2012) throughout the Association, beginning with a big Arts-focused event.
1. Greg in preliminary talks with John Wilson about possible events and performances (perhaps even some special guests)

B. Establish an Arts Education Day during American Education Weekc. Devote portions of NEA Today to the arts during Art Education Month

C. Devote portions of NEA Today to the arts during Art Education Month

D. Work with regional planning committees to highlight student performances during RLCS

E. Develop workshops on Arts Education to be conducted at RLCs

V. Recommendation Implementation Timeline

A. July 2011 – July 2012 (RA 2011 – RA 2012) Year long association-wide arts education emphasis

B. Identify calendar touchpoints throughout this 1 year period (ideally every two months, perhaps even more frequently)

VI. Advocacy Campaign

A. Can be designed as a tool to grow membership or a tool to raise the profile of the organization

B. Campaign should involve students to assist in campaign messaging (i.e. a Poster-Contest)

VII. Next Steps

A. Determine recommendations to move forward.

B. Determine what materials/information to provide to state and local leaders for arts advocacy at the RA to coincide with our recommended kickoff.

C. Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 10, 2011

The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. ET.