Teachers, this one’s for you. Throughout February, connect with fellow educators through virtual professional development workshops led by Austin arts organizations.
Free Series Schedule
Mon. Feb 1 – Happy Hour Kickoff
Wed. Feb 3 – Activating Art in the [Virtual] Classroom
Wed. Feb 10 – Playing with Art on Zoom: Mindfulness and Self Care
Wed. Feb 24 (new date) – Exploring Identity and Personal Narrative in Contemporary Art
Wed. Mar 3 (new date) – Working with What You’ve Got: Objects, Spaces, Stories
Happy Hour Kickoff
Monday, February 1
6:00–7:00 pm CST
Hosted by ST.ART Pre-College and Visual Arts Center
Photo: Sandy Carson
Grab your favorite sips and snacks and join us for an evening of introductions, conversation, and fun with fellow teachers! Unwind with new friends, share highs and lows from this wild year, and get the run-down on what to expect from this month-long PD series & meet the folks from Austin arts organizations who’ll be leading weekly PD sessions each Wednesday in February. This session is worth one hour of CPE credit!
Led by: Amelia Fleming (ST.ART Pre-College), Clare Donnelly (Visual Arts Center)
Supplies needed: Device with access to emojis or emoticons 😊, paper, pen/pencil, and your favorite sips & snacks!
Activating Art in the [Virtual] Classroom
Wednesday, February 3
6:00–8:00 pm CST
Hosted by Blanton Museum of Art
Photo: Siobhán McCusker
Let’s explore how art, social-emotional learning and literacy can intersect in the [virtual] classroom. Join us for a session that includes close looking, hands on art making, and strategies for engaging your students in interpretive conversations in the virtual (or not so virtual) classroom. This session is worth two hours of CPE credit!
Led by: Neal Flynn, Stephanie Kent, Monique Piñón O’Neil (Blanton Museum of Art)
Supplies needed: TBD
Playing with Art on Zoom: Mindfulness and Self Care
Wednesday, February 10
6:00–8:00 pm CST
Hosted by Blanton Museum of Art and Landmarks
James Turrell, The Color Inside (detail), 2013. Photo: Paul Bardagjy.
Learn virtual strategies for mindfulness and introspection focused on works of art that can be used with students and teachers of all ages. This session is worth two hours of CPE credit!
Session led by: Christine Gwillim (Landmarks), Stephanie Kent, Siobhán McCusker (Blanton Museum of Art)
Supplies needed:TBD
Exploring Identity and Personal Narrative in Contemporary Art
Postponed to Wednesday, February 24
6:00–8:00 pm CST
Hosted by The Contemporary Austin and Women & Their Work
Deborah Roberts, The duty of disobedience, 2020. Mixed media collage on canvas. 72 x 100 inches. Artwork © Deborah Roberts. Courtesy the artist; Vielmetter Los Angeles; and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Image courtesy The Contemporary Austin. Photograph by Paul Bardagjy.
Explore identity and personal narrative through multimedia works from Texas-based, female artists Deborah Roberts, Betelhem Makonnen, and Stephanie Concepcion Ramirez. Media includes mixed media collage, photography and video. This session is worth two hours of CPE credit!
Led by: Emily Cayton (The Contemporary Austin), Diane Sikes (Women & Their Work)
Supplies needed: 2-3 pieces of paper and a dark writing utensil (marker, flair pen, etc.)
Working with What You’ve Got: Objects, Spaces, Stories
Postponed to Wednesday, March 3
6:00–8:00 pm CST
Hosted by ST.ART Pre-College and Visual Arts Center
Sarah Stellman, Special Forever, 2020. Oil on panel. 24 x 36 in. (61 x 91 cm). Image courtesy of the artist.
Open your junk drawers and engage your immediate surroundings in this session focused on meeting students (and yourselves) where they are. Looking at works in a range of media made by art students at UT Austin, we’ll explore how overlooked objects and spaces in our own homes can tell stories, spark inspiration, encourage collaboration, and actively engage students in the virtual classroom and beyond. This session is worth two hours of CPE credit!
Led by: Amelia Fleming (ST.ART Pre-College), Clare Donnelly (Visual Arts Center), Megan Hildebrandt (Studio Art faculty, UT Austin)
Supplies needed: TBD
Cheers to Teachers: Celebrating Educators Through the Arts is organized by ST.ART Pre-College and the Visual Arts Center in collaboration with colleagues at the Blanton Museum of Art, Landmarks, The Contemporary Austin, and Women & Their Work.
