“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein is an acknowledged expert on science, physics, mathematical expression and the list just goes on.  And yet, he clearly valued the arts and creative expression as a means to happiness and excitement in learning!  The Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Foundation of Broward, Dillard Center for the Arts, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the School Board of Broward County and the Broward Education Foundation definitely agree with him as they present their fifth annual conference on arts integration – Exercising Creativity: Developing the Whole Child through the Arts on Wednesday, August 13, 2008.

It is always easy to understand the value of performance, the delight of musical accomplishment, the beauty of a painting or sculpture, but this conference seeks to use instruction in the arts to help teachers lead their students to healthy lifestyle choices.  Through creative activities, the conference will show teachers innovative and exciting ways to use drama, music, painting and dance – to name only a few – to energize and enhance their students and their students’ learning.  If teachers can stimulate and empower students both physically and mentally, it becomes a win-win situation for everyone involved while students move on feeling positive and thus productive.  The expansion of instructional styles for educators is another important outcome of this conference.

This conference - the only free event of its kind in Broward County - is a project of the 1993 Kennedy Center Partners in Education Team.  Additionally, workshop leaders from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be presenting sessions along with local teachers, artists and faculty members from various universities.  The presenters are nationally recognized arts integration experts who specialize in different curriculum areas.  For example, Dr. Maria Barbosa will be presenting new ideas in English as a Second Language.  Dr. Karl Schaffer will link movement to teaching math concepts, while Luctricia Welters will be connecting science ideas with dance.

Each workshop is designed to show how the power of the arts can be used to create better learning in all academic subject areas.  Other workshop opportunities include Reaching the Kinesthetic Learner through Creative Movement, Team Work Through Movement, Storytelling & Involving Students in African Tales, Setting Shakespeare Free, Writing by Storm: Overcoming Common Obstacles to Writing, Rhythms of Africa, and Physical Problem Solving – Math Dance.  All participants will be able to take two three-hour workshops, choosing from a menu of 17 choices.  Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The Cultural Division locations for the conference on August 13, 2008 are the Dillard Center for the Arts, located at 2501 NW 11th St. in Fort Lauderdale, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave.  The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at approximately 4:15 p.m.  You may register for the conference online at www.broward.org/arts and click on “Workshops.”  If you need more information, contact Patricia Zeiler at 954-357-7321; or e-mail her at pzeiler@broward.org. 

Bravo to all the agencies involved in bringing this fabulous opportunity to both teachers and teaching artists in Broward County.  Special thanks to Kaplan University, Bank of America, Henderson Foundation, Arts 4 Learning, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Young At Art Children’s Museum, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Museum of Art ½Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University and the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood.