Watch our short video on to learn more about what Louisiana A+ Schools and the arts can do to nurture creativity and prepare our students to succeed in 21st century Louisiana.
At Culture Connections Day in Baton Rouge, LA, on April 23, 2013, LAA+ Schools, in partnership with Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, announced the seven schools joining the LAA+ Network.
These schools have committed to whole school reform through arts integration. We could not be happier with our first set of members! Hear from experts in education from across the state about why this announcement is so important.
LAA+ is a program of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is seeking interns to assist with 2013 summer art camps. Interns will gain understanding in art education, arts integration and early childhood development while supporting a team of experienced art teachers and specialists.
GRFA summer art camps are designed to inspire students to create and develop their own unique artistic style while exposing them to a wide variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. Each class explores age-appropriate elements of art and focuses on building a strong foundation in creative design.
Qualified candidates should demonstrate a willingness to work with children ages three to thirteen. A background in the visual or performing arts is preferred, but not required.
Hello again. Jacques Rodrigue here. This is my second guest blog entry on Wendy’s blog. I hope everyone had a chance to read my first one about how I work to protect the Blue Dog from copyright infringement.
But today I am here to talk more about creativity and arts in education in honor of my recent TEDx Talk that posted last week and is embedded below.
There is no way that I could have pulled the talk off without observing how well my Dad and Wendy give their lectures and painting demonstrations. I learned so much from watching Wendy skillfully present my Dad’s career highlights in hundreds of presentations across the country (one school presentation pictured below).
So, over the years, I was pretty prepared to mimic her when I had to occasionally give speeches at museum openings and school presentations. But, giving a TED talk in a strict 12-minute time limit proved to be an extremely challenging experience and a whole new ball game for me!
Recorded talks at TED and TEDx (TED affiliated events) can get hundreds of thousands of views online and a few even have views in the tens of millions. TED started in 1984 as a conference under the concept of “ideas worth spreading” and has since expanded beyond its original topics of Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED).
For some time now, I had been hoping that someone great would give a TED talk on arts-integration and the A+ Schools Network. I first learned about A+ three years ago and their arts-integrated school network is in operation in 120 schools spread across North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas (now a National A+ Schools Consortium).
When we discovered A+ we found out what the true mission of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts should be. Our other programs like giving art supplies to schools and scholarships in an art contest looked like mere band-aids compared to the whole school transformation that we saw in these schools. A+ Schools embrace the arts in every classroom and every subject in order to “nurture creativity in every learner.” I couldn’t believe that not more people knew about the great things that these schools were doing. I knew a TED talk by an expert in A+ would be a great way to gain exposure for their program.
To my surprise, after we formed our own Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) network here this year (our seven member schools pictured above), a TEDx event at LSU invited me to give the lecture that I hoped someone else would give! To have the chance to be able to share our story and our vision for the potential for arts in our Louisiana schools was exciting!
Soon though, excitement gave way to dread (pictured, the stage at TEDxLSU).
If I nailed the talk, we had a real chance to let thousands of people hear about this arts-integrated school network. However, if the talk was bad or I failed to deliver, I would have just squandered a great opportunity. The pressure was overwhelming at times!
Luckily, the organizers of TEDxLSU gave my fellow presenters and me an organized plan to handle the pressure. The great TED talks look effortless. The organizers warned of how much time and effort it would take for our talks to look casual and composed.
So, I prepared myself for over a month. I read books on how to deliver a TED Talk. I outlined my thoughts, took notes and I watched as many other TED talks as I could to see a pattern of why some were more successful than others. Plus, I borrowed many of Wendy’s best ideas and slides from her many presentations on my Dad (pictured, the slide with "Don't Turn Your Back on Your Troubles, 'Cause They'll Just Mulitply" is always good for a laugh).
However, the talk that gave me the most inspiration and helped me was by Sir Ken Robinson. His talks have over 100 million views. It is a must see because, first of all, it is HILARIOUS! He could have been a stand up comic! Sir Ken’s delivery is impeccable and he really gets you to understand why teaching creativity (the process of having original thoughts that have value) is so important to our students.
So, I borrowed some ideas from Ken Robinson’s speech (I hope he doesn’t mind!) and I focused on how my mentors (Jean Hendrickson from Oklahoma A+ Schools and Paul Leopolous from the THEA Foundation & Arkansas A+ Schools) would deliver this speech. I had a loose outline of the points I wanted to make and I thought I had pretty much everything ready to go.
About a week before my speech though, I found out how woefully unprepared I really was. I gave my first practice presentation to our team of Louisiana A+ Fellows at our first annual LAA+ Fellows retreat (pictured, the LAA+ Fellows are experts in every subject or art form that will be training our schools on arts-integration).
I stuttered and stammered and rambled through about 30 minutes of lecture that had no clear theme or message (more than twice my 12 minute time limit!).
For the next week, I went back to the drawing board and with the help of the LAA+ Fellows and our staff at the Rodrigue Foundation, the theme and structure of the talk came together. I typed out the entire speech as if it was a screenplay and for days worked on memorization, delivery and timing in conjunction with my slides.
I got to practice one time in the TEDxLSU venue on campus (pictured above) and then delivered my talk the next day. It wasn't perfect, but, in the end, I really am happy with how it came out. The organizers of TEDxLSU did such a great job organizing the event and as of this writing I have had more than 1,500 views! I hope everyone enjoys the speech and we would of course love to get your feedback.
We at the foundation and at Louisiana A+ Schools will need your help and support to try to change perceptions on arts and schools. But, we are in this for the long haul and we believe it can be done!
One of the best things you can do to help out is sign up for our mailing list and keep informed about the latest things that Louisiana A+ is doing. Or, if you represent a school or are a member of a community arts organization that wants to partner with us, please let us know!
Thanks again to all of my mentors and the staff of the Rodrigue Foundation I could not have done it without all of them.
And thank you to Wendy for letting me be a guest blogger again. She will be back soon!
We were so honored to have the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, stop by our Foundation Education Center in New Orleans in order to play and sign the Rodrigue Steinway on April 25, 2013!
Mr. Joel was in town to play for thousands at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The piano, donated by the Hall Piano Company in New Orleans, is slated to be sold to the highest bidder, with half of the proceeds going to the LSU School of Music and the other half to GRFA.
Using a 1913 Steinway Model A grand piano as his canvas, George Rodrigue donated his talent in creating this piece. It is a genuine Steinway, having been fully restored to Steinway & Sons standards by certified Steinway technicians. It will be used as a concert and performance piece to generate interest in and funds for the needs of the LSU School of Music.
On April 23, 2013, Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne and Gerri Hobdy, Chair of the Louisiana State Arts Council, presented Jacques Rodrigue, executive director of GRFA, with the "Arts Education Award."
The Arts Education Award recognizes the efforts of individuals or organizations that have helped, through educational efforts, to broaden people's understanding of the importance and value of arts and traditions in Louisiana.
From the Louisiana Culture Awards Program held at Culture Connection Day in Baton Rouge:
Jacques Rodrigue currently serves as the executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Armed with a law degree from Tulane, he originally planned a career in intellectual property law but changed focus when he and his father, famed Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, founded GRFA.
Under the leadership of Jacques Rodrigue, GRFA has built a reputation as a leading provider of arts integration and arts education resources in Louisiana. He began his work by implementing a number of programs important to Louisiana schools, including Scholarship Art Contests, George's Art Closet Grants, an Art Therapy Program and Summer Art Camps at the GRFA Education Center in New Orleans. He is implementing the exciting new A+ Schools program in Louisiana, continuing his distinguished work in arts education.
Lafayette, LA (April 17, 2013) – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and Capital One Bank today announced a $72,000 donation to support education and arts programs in Louisiana. The donation includes $41,500 to GRFA programs and $30,500 to non-profit organizations in Southwest Louisiana that align with Capital One Bank’s focus areas, supporting literacy, educational resources for teachers in high-need schools and financial education.
Funded by proceeds from the recent auction of an original George Rodrigue Blue Dog painting, 11 Lafayette area schools and multiple local non-profits will benefit from the donation.
GRFA agreed to auction off the painting after Capital One Bank donated a Festival Acadiens 1983 poster painted by Rodrigue to the foundation. The classic poster had been displayed in the Vermilion Street location of Capital One Bank since the 1980s.
The $41,500 donation to GRFA programs includes:
•$16,500 for the George’s Art Closet program at 11 local schools.
•$25,000 to underwrite the school fee for a Lafayette-area A+ school during the 2014-15 school year. The school will be determined through a selection process by GRFA next spring.
The $30,500 donation to non-profit partners in Southwest Louisiana that align with Capital One Bank’s focus areas includes:
•$10,000 for The Reading Clinic at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As a major component of the Reading Center, the clinic provides individualized literacy instruction to students at area schools. The financial donation will be paired with a book donation for participating students.
•$10,000 for Junior Achievement of Baton Rouge and Acadiana. The donation will be designated to financial literacy programs in Acadiana.
•$10,500 for the Lafayette Education Foundation (LEF). The donation will be designated to LEF’s Teacher Grant program that rewards innovative and exceptional classroom strategies for learning.
“With the help of community partners like Capital One Bank, we’re able to work through George’s Art Closet to bring valuable art supplies into the classroom,” says George Rodrigue. “Though this is something many schools in Louisiana lack basic funding for, we’re able help these classrooms become innovative learning environments.”
“Through an approach called ‘Investing for Good,’ Capital One Bank works to generate lasting, local community impact through our delivery of core banking services and specialized community development, philanthropic and volunteer support. As part of this work, we’re proud to work with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to support educational initiatives throughout southwest Louisiana,” said Michael Wack, Capital One Bank’s Southwest Louisiana Market President.
In 2013 - French Quarter Festival celebrates its 30th Anniversary in New Orleans! Chevron is the fest's title sponsor we have partnered with them to help introduce a new STEM Zone (STEM: science, technology engineering and math initiative), a unique and interactive environment built to inspire students to inquire and foster a passion around the science, technology, engineering and math in every arena, including arts and culture!
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chevron Children’s Headquarters on the Natchez Wharf (Toulouse Street at the River)
GRFA has designed three take-away activities in order to incorporate visual art standards and STEM. It will take each student 30 minutes to complete all 3 projects.
Activity 1: Blue Dog Geometric Shape Collage
Students will identify and use shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, etc) to create a Blue Dog collage.
Activity 2: Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Students will begin by sectioning cardboard circle in 1/4. Each ¼ will represent a different stage in a butterfly’s life cycle. Students will cut out labels for each stage and be challenged to draw a picture that will represent that stage. They will then glue each label and picture in each ¼.
Activity 3: Exploring Symmetry through a Butterfly Sculpture
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of symmetry by creating three-dimensional butterflies using Model Magic.
We are very excited to be working with Chevron for the French Quarter Fest this year! These activities give just a glimpse of what arts-integrated lessons can look like to help students better understand traditional subjects. Plus, our entire area will be decorated with Blue Dog and Butterfly artwork by George Rodrigue! We hope you can join us!
UPDATE: Thank you for your interest in the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. The application period for the following positions is now closed. (5/1/13)
Louisiana A+ Schools Program Coordinator
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts seeks applicants
for the Louisiana A+ Schools Program Coordinator position. This position will provide
administrative leadership and coordination for Louisiana A+ Schools, a research-based
whole school network with a mission of nurturing creativity in every
learner. The Louisiana A+ Schools
Program Coordinator will design and implement professional development for
pre-k to 12th grade teachers, supervise contracted staff, plan special events,
and assist with grant writing.
B.F.A. or B.A. and a minimum of five years pre-k to 12th grade education
experience required. Applicants must demonstrate a history of arts
integration/innovative learning strategies, collaboration and creativity. This position is domiciled in Baton
Rouge and will require both statewide and national travel. Visit www.aplusla.org for more
information about Louisiana A+ Schools.
Summer Camp Instructor
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) seeks
certified art teachers or teaching artists to lead summer art camps in New
Orleans for students in preK-3 through third grade. GRFA summer art camps are
designed to inspire students to create and develop their own unique artistic
style while exposing them to a wide variety of two-dimensional and
three-dimensional media. Each class explores age-appropriate elements of art
and focuses on building a strong foundation in creative design. B.F.A. or B.A. and minimum of five
years teaching experience are required, and early childhood training is
preferred. Teachers must demonstrate a history of arts integration/innovative
learning strategies, collaboration and creativity.
GRFA is an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including age, sex, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
Congratulations to all the junior and senior winners!
On March 23, 2013, GRFA awarded over $45,000 in college scholarships and art supplies to ten high school seniors and five juniors at an awards luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans.
High school juniors and seniors were asked to create a unique piece of work based on our theme "Louisiana's Culinary Heritage" in partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association's Education Foundation (LRAEF) .
Winning entries will be used in a new Louisiana Cookbook. The Fall 2013 cookbook will showcase 100 recipes from Louisiana's greatest chefs, with proceeds benefiting GRFA and LRAEF programs.
These 15 finalists were chosen from over 600 entries and over 120 cities from across Louisiana! Thank you to everyone that entered!
As part of our Art for Healing Program, GRFA with the support of St. John United Way, United Way of SE Louisiana and the Brees Dream Foundation hosted a community art making workshop.
These fifteen (15) finalists were selected by our first round of judges from nearly 600 entries from across the state. These high school juniors and seniors will share in $45,000 in college scholarships and be featured in a new Louisiana Culinary Heritage cookbook in partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
Awards will be given out at our awards luncheon on March 23, 2013, at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans. For the first time, tickets to the event will be open to the public. Ticket information will be posted soon!
Thank you to everyone who entered and for all those that made this year's contest our biggest yet!
On
February 19, 2013, George Rodrigue visited the Kindergarteners of SJ
Montgomery Elementary in Lafayette, LA. On the visit, George painted
with the students and the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts in
partnership with Capital One Bank presented the school with a year's
worth of art supplies.
16 Schools from Across Louisiana Learn More about How to Join the A+ Whole School Arts-Integrated Network
WHAT:
100 principals and teachers from 16 schools across the state will attend Louisiana A+ Schools’ (LAA+) first annual Pre-Institute to learn more about how to join the LAA+ network on Friday, January 11. LAA+ is a program of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). Rosalynn Wade, Program Director for Oklahoma A+ Schools, and Bethany France, Director of LAA+, will conduct the Pre-Institute.
The network provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best. A national trend, arts integration involves infusing some type of art (music, visual art, dance, etc.) into the traditional subjects of math, science, history, etc. in order to fully engage students and enhance learning. Arts integration is achieved through continuous practitioner-led professional development, nationwide support networks for teachers and administrators, and partnerships with parents, community resources, media and universities.
“I have two school-age children,” says Bethany France, Director of LAA+, “and when I close my eyes and imagine the type of school I want for them, I see an A+ School. Plus, as a former classroom teacher, I know schools and educators are under tremendous pressure to perform. The A+ program provides schools with a framework that leads to proven success, and I believe that is why Louisiana schools are excited to come and learn more.”
Every school in Louisiana (pre-k through 12, urban, suburban, rural, public, private, parochial or charter) was invited to begin the application process to become an A+ school in 2013. LAA+ plans to add five to ten schools to the network each year. Schools must have 85% commitment from their faculty to apply and agree to a three-year implementation process involving whole school training each summer and customized professional development throughout the school year.
WHEN:
Friday, January 11, 2013, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Sheraton Hotel New Orleans, 500 Canal Street, Rhythms Room
WHY:
A+ Schools started in North Carolina in 1995 as a research-based, whole school professional development program with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. In addition to North Carolina, A + Schools has been successfully implemented in Oklahoma and Arkansas and currently has over 120 schools in the network nationwide. The program’s success in other states has prompted GRFA to partner with Oklahoma A+ Schools to bring A+ methods to Louisiana.
Extensive university research in A+ Schools reveals dramatic improvements including:
oElevated student achievement
oBetter student and teacher attendance
oDecreased discipline problems
oStronger parental and community involvement
oA more creative and enjoyable educational environment
For more information visit www.aplusla.org or contact the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts at 504-324-9614 or bethany@georgerodriguefoundation.org.
GEORGE RODRIGUE FOUNDATION INVITES SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE "LOUISIANA A+ SCHOOLS" ARTS-INTEGRATED, WHOLE SCHOOL REFORM NETWORK
Proven A+ Network Already in Operation in Oklahoma, North Carolina and Arkansas
LOUISIANA - December 3, 2012 - The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) announces the launch of Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+), an initiative to bring the proven success of the A+ Schools program to schools across Louisiana.
"We are very excited to bring LAA+ to Louisiana because it is the first whole school arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind for our state," says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA. "We believe LAA+ has the potential to influence the way that all Louisiana students are taught."
Started in North Carolina in 1995, A + Schools is a research-based whole school network with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. The network provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best. Arts integration is achieved through continuous practitioner-led professional development, statewide support networks for teachers and administrators, and partnerships with parents, community resources, media and universities.
Extensive university research in A+ Schools reveals dramatic improvements including:
Elevated student achievement
Better student and teacher attendance
Decreased discipline problems
Stronger parental and community involvement
A more creative and enjoyable educational environment
In addition to North Carolina, A + Schools has been successfully implemented in Oklahoma and Arkansas and currently has over 120 schools in the network nationwide. The program's success in other states has prompted GRFA to team up with Oklahoma A+ Schools to bring A+ methods to Louisiana.
GRFA hired Bethany France to serve as Director of Louisiana A+ Schools. As a champion for arts integration in Louisiana, Bethany France served under the Lieutenant Governor as the Director of Arts-in-Education for the Louisiana Division of the Arts from 2007 - 2012. In that capacity, she spearheaded arts learning initiatives and administered arts education grants to schools, nonprofits, and social service agencies statewide. Originally from Massachusetts, Bethany served as Assistant Director of Readmissions at The New England Institute of Art and Communications Boston. In 2002, she relocated to Louisiana to take part in Teach For America, where she taught second grade at Progress Elementary School in Baton Rouge.
"I have two school age children," says Bethany France, Director of LAA+ Schools. "When I close my eyes and imagine the type of school that I want them to attend, that school is everything that the A+ method represents. I am excited that thanks to the Rodrigue Foundation, my children and many students in Louisiana will have the opportunity to benefit from the arts-integrated education that LAA+ will provide."
Every school in Louisiana (pre-k through 12, urban, suburban, rural, public, private, parochial or charter) is invited to begin the application process to become an A+ school. LAA+ plans to add five to ten schools to the network each year. Schools must have 85% commitment from their faculty to apply and agree to a three-year implementation process involving whole school training each summer and customized professional development throughout the school year. Additionally, LAA+ is actively seeking corporations and individuals to serve as sponsors and partnerships with local arts organizations across Louisiana.
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization advocating the importance of the arts in the development of our youth through a variety of art educational programs.
To
benefit LSU's School of Music and the arts in education initiatives of
the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), Louisiana artist
George Rodrigue created a unique, iconic piece of art: The Rodrigue
Steinway.
The piano, donated by the Hall Piano Company in New
Orleans, is slated to be sold to the highest bidder, with half of the
proceeds going to the LSU School of Music and the other half to GRFA.
Visit www.RodrigueSteinway.com to learn more!
THE GEORGE RODRIGUE FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS PARTNERS WITH THE LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TO PUBLISH A COOKBOOK ILLUSTRATED BY STUDENTS Louisiana high school students compete in an art contest for individual college scholarships and
awards totaling $45,000
WHAT: The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) announce its Call for Entries and 4th Annual Art Contest in
partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF).
The 2013 art contest theme is “Louisiana’s Culinary Heritage” and winning artwork will be used in a new cookbook
published by GRFA and LRAEF. The annual GRFA scholarship art contest offers one-time college scholarships and
awards totaling over $45,000 to the top ten (10) senior and top five (5) junior winners. The top winner will receive a
$6,000 college scholarship. Since 2009, GRFA received 1,179 entries from 125 cities across Louisiana, awarding 52
students a combined $130,000 in college scholarships.
“Louisiana is an international culinary melting pot,” says George Rodrigue. “For centuries our food reflects a cultural
history of adventurous cuisine. Uniquely, Louisiana yields seafood, wild game and produce, providing home cooks and
chefs with a wide variety of fresh local ingredients. These indigenous resources complement Louisiana’s cultural
‘gumbo’ of French, Spanish, African, Italian and German flavors, influencing the food we ‘live to eat.’ Our beloved
Creole and Cajun culinary traditions encourage a vibrant restaurant industry, impacting our state’s economy with jobs
and tourism. We invite Louisiana’s high school juniors and seniors to create a work of art representing our state’s
unique culinary heritage while honoring its festivals, dishes and local ingredients.“
A blind, two-part judging process focuses on three categories: interpretation of theme, creativity and design. GRFA
requires that submissions be between 11 x 14 and 18 x 24 inches. Acceptable mediums include oil or acrylic paint,
charcoal, pencil or graphite, watercolor, photography, mixed media or digital media. All Louisiana high school juniors
and seniors are eligible, regardless of test scores, grade point averages or declared majors. GRFA regrets that we are
unable to accept framed canvases or three-dimensional work.
WHEN: Taking applications now at www.rodriguefoundation.org/artcontest. Deadline February 20, 2013
WHO: All Louisiana juniors and seniors attending public and private high schools, home schooled students and GED students.
WHY: A Fall 2013 cookbook showcases winning artwork, including 100 recipes from Louisiana’s greatest chefs, with proceeds
benefitting GRFA and LRAEF programs.
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization advocating the importance of the arts in
the development of our youth through a variety of art educational programs. www.georgerodriguefoundation.org
Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting the restaurant
industry as a career choice to a current and future workforce. LRAEF offers scholarships and professional development while
supporting state-approved foodservice programs. www.lra.org
For additional information, contact Emily Reimsnyder at emily@bondpublicrelations.com
Announcing the addition of "A Number One Tiger Fan" to our "Print Donation Program!"
Fundraise for your non-profit organization with a signed Blue Dog print by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue!
These prints are no longer for sale to the general public and can only be bought at charity auctions or raffles.
These
prints are specifically designed as a fundraising vehicle for
non-profits to raffle or auction directly to their supporters. They are
not for sale in any Rodrigue Gallery, and are only accessible to the
general public through a donation to a non-profit organization.
Originally
produced to commemorate George Rodrigue's exhibit at the LSU Museum of
Art in 2011, these prints raised over $1 million for the LSU Tiger
Atheletic Foundation's education programs and GRFA.
Congratulations to all the junior and senior finalists!
On February 4, 2012, GRFA will award over $45,000 in college scholarships and art supplies to ten high school seniors and five juniors at an awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.
From a great Huffington Post article by Inderpal Grewal entitled "A Lesson From Steve Jobs: Arts and Technology Education Are Related" about Steve Jobs and how his expertise in calligraphy taught him about innovation and the benefits of arts in education:
Calligraphy is both aesthetic and technical and these two facets cannot be separated. It is also a lesson in history, where Chinese scrolls, Islamic arts and the Illuminated manuscripts of the European Middle Ages can all be examined together. It provides a history of power of religion, monarchies and of communication and technologies at different periods of time. It also suggests that laborious and meticulous writing has its pleasures and can also be used as innovation. For Jobs, it was in his recollection of the Calligraphy course in his commencement address that made the difference that marked the Mac from other computers, and this difference was what millions of people and consumers‹appreciated. . . .
Humanities and arts cannot be pigeonholed as unnecessary or extra, as luxuries that we cannot afford now, as simply being about pleasure rather than about productivity. They are central to innovation, and to separate these is to the detriment of all of us.
Two high-need school districts in Jersey City, NJ and Long Beach, CA shared their findings regarding integrating the arts into the core curriculum at an April 6th Education Policy Briefingat the U.S. Department of Education.Read their stories and successes here:
The article is a brief look at the research, resources, programs and initiatives in arts integration that have evolved in the 34 years since a national panel convened by David Rockefeller Jr. issued its 1977 report Coming to Our Senses: The Significance of the Arts for American Education.
The article compares and contrasts the findings from the 1977 report with those presented in the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities’ 2011 report Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools.
One lucky Louisiana high school junior or senior will get to work with George Rodrigue to design Louisiana's Official Bicentennial Poster! Plus, 15 winners will share in over $45,000 in scholarships and awards. For more information visit www.rodriguefoundation.org/artcontest
The report does a great job of presenting the current state of the arts in schools and then looks at specific examples of school systems that have improved when they made the arts a priority.
Be the first to see Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River opening at the LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center in Baton Rouge!
All area educators are invited to attend a FREE workshop and exhibition preview presented by George and Wendy Rodrigue on Thursday, July 21, 2011 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The workshop will include a lecture, walk-through and presentation of education resources for the k-12 classroom.
This event is free, but pre-registration is required.
To commemorate the exhibition "Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River: George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and other collections" from July 23 to September 18, at the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, LA, artist George Rodrigue now starts a campaign to benefit arts and education in Louisiana.
Presenting
A Number One Tiger Fan A signed silkscreen print by George Rodrigue Open Edition $500 + Tax and Shipping
"Arts 4 Education" is a new art campaign created by Louisiana's Artist Laureate and creator of the Blue Dog series, George Rodrigue, in order to help art and education in Louisiana. After learning of his exhibit at the LSU Museum of Art, Rodrigue decided that he wanted to create a special silkscreen print in order to raise funds to help his home state.
Since 2001, Rodrigue has embarked on similar campaigns to help after the attacks of September 11 and after Hurricane Katrina. Through these efforts, Rodrigue raised millions of dollars for charity through his "Blue Dog Relief" print sales campaign.
Additionally, in 2003, together with the Tiger Athletic Foundation, Rodrigue raised more than $1 million to help build LSU mascot Mike the Tiger a new habitat. Following that success, Rodrigue and his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), and TAF now join efforts with the LSU Museum of Art to promote and assist arts and education in Louisiana.
In 2009, Rodrigue founded the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts in order to bring attention to an issue important to him. Through GRFA, Rodrigue advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth. Programs include an annual arts scholarship contest, art supplies for Louisiana schools through “George’s Art Closet,” free access to nationally accredited lesson plans, school visits and art therapy and more.
"Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River: George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and Other Collections," is an exhibition highlighting the progression of George Rodrigue's forty-year career. The exhibition features Rodrigue's Blue Dog paintings from a state-wide traveling exhibition organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as additional works from the artist's personal archives and local private collections.
The Tiger Athletic Program (TAF) is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting LSU and its Athletic Program. Proceeds from this campaign will help to improve educational programs for student athletes on LSU's campus. The LSU Museum of Art collects, conserves, exhibits, and interprets the fine and decorative arts entrusted to its care and stewardship, providing opportunities for research, education, and enjoyment to students, scholars, and visitors. For more information about the museum and the "Cajuns and Blue Dogs on the River" exhibit visit, www.lsumoa.com
Announcing the opening of our NEW Foundation Offices in New Orleans, LA at 747 Magazine Street! We are officially in our new space and operating from our new location in the heart of the New Orleans Arts Districts (NOAD).
With over 3,000 sq. ft. we will be able to host student field trips, summer camps, teacher workforce development workshops, fundraisers, and many other events! Our space features some of George Rodrigue's most famous original paintings and we will have a Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Ceremony in July.
Until then, please enjoy some preview photos of our space.
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth.GRFA encourages the use of art within all curriculums and supports a variety of art educational programs.
