MEDIA RELEASE: R00212 – 30 September 2016

It’s a way to keep art inspiring the imaginations of Canadian youths.

Entering its seventh year, the Arts Matter: Integrating the Arts Across the Curriculum event at Brock University remains the only conference of its kind in Canada. This year’s conference will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brock’s Hamilton campus.

“Arts Matter offers Brock University’s teacher candidates a unique experience in all four arts disciplines: dance, drama, music and visual arts,” says education professor Shelley Griffin. “Workshops led by respected arts educators assist teacher candidates to delve into the power of the arts through hands-on, experiential learning. Such a conference allows Brock’s future teachers to enhance their learning by developing increased knowledge and skill regarding the vital importance of infusing the arts in and across the school curriculum.”

Launched in 2010 by Brock Faculty of Education professors Peter Vietgen, Kari-Lynn Winters and Griffin as a solution to the decline in funding for the arts and subsequent lack of participation in Ontario classrooms, the event has become a unique and vital component to the Brock teacher education experience.

"The arts allow our students to look within and to explore and make comments on issues that often words just can’t express,” says Vietgen. “The Arts Matter conference gives our teacher candidates the tools to help develop these skills; the grammar of the language of the arts."

The full-day conference is interactive and participatory with powerful, live performances. The teacher candidates leave with skills they can add to their portfolios and resumes, and a bulk of resources to include in future lesson plans.

One of the most important features of the conference is the ability to learn from arts clinicians in the field.

“The Arts Matter conference committee brings in artists and art educators from all four arts disciplines,” says Winters. “These clinicians are rarely Brock employees, meaning that the teacher candidates get to experience a completely new learning style and approach to teaching the arts in the primary, junior and intermediate grades. The aim of these four workshops is to offer a hands-on and creative learning environment where exploration and critical thinking are emphasized, building the confidence and knowledge-base of today’s teacher candidates.”

What: Arts Matter: Integrating the Arts Across the Curriculum conference
When: Wednesday, Oct. 5 — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Brock University Hamilton Campus, 1842 King St. E., Hamilton

For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
* Marc MacDonald, manager of communications & development, Faculty of Education, Brock University, 905-688-5550 x5385; mmacdonald@brocku.ca

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