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January 2022 CONNECTIONS
PERPICH CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION

A Note from our Executive Director

Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!

Earlier this month, we sent our annual report to the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Legislature. The report covers outreach activities, enrollment trends, students’ academic achievement, etc.

Key Findings from Perpich’s FY21 Report:

  • Reached thousands of educators in multiple ways. Although the number of educators we had contact with is down slightly to 2,140, the number of overall contacts is up nearly 450. 
  • Professional Development Resource Programs (PDR) staff had contact with 314 school districts across the state, more than in any previous year.
  • More than doubled our recorded PDR events to 411. Specialists and Directors worked hard to provide more support during this year of COVID through more offerings.
  • Provided technical assistance and professional development for 1,738 arts educators.
  • Provided professional development for 402 non-arts educators who learned to integrate the arts into their classrooms. This represents a significant increase from FY20.
  • Representation in all nine Service Cooperative Regions, providing 24 Regional Workshops through the Regional Arts Teacher-Leader network.
  • Completed year two of the Comprehensive Arts Planning Program with eight school districts.
  • Even though the library was physically closed to external patrons, we continued to mail requested materials and opened for curbside service in August, 2020.
  • Student enrollment at Perpich Arts High School increased from 144 in 2020-21 to 173 in 2021-22.
  • Student enrollment distribution was 56% in the seven county metro area and 44% in Greater Minnesota.
  • Admissions hosted 121 individual tours of Perpich Arts High School and dorms for prospective students and families while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols.

The mission of Perpich Center for Arts Education is to provide all Minnesota students the opportunity to develop, enhance, and integrate their artistic and academic abilities to their highest potential. As a public educational institution, Perpich Center is uniquely positioned to fuse artistic passion and academic excellence to produce creative, critical thinkers. We do this by teaching in and through the arts. The agency operates two distinct divisions, Professional Development Resource Programs (PDR) and the Arts High School. Perpich Center maintains a traditional lending library for Perpich students, public patrons, and arts educators across the state of Minnesota.

Perpich Center for Arts Education continues to strive to achieve our mission and vision by the Board of Directors. In these times of uncertainty we continue to adapt to the changing environment of arts education to better serve our community.


Dr. Charles Rick
Executive Director | Perpich Center for Arts Education

The Value of Arts Education

Arts Education Included In UNESCO’s Futures Of Education Report from Creative Generation: "Education in the arts – music, drama, dance, design, visual arts, literature, poetry and more – can greatly expand students’ capacities to master complex skills and can support social and emotional learning across the curriculum. It can enhance our human abilities to access the experience of others, whether through empathy or the reading of non-verbal clues.

The arts also make visible certain truths that are sometimes obscured and provide concrete ways to celebrate multiple perspectives and interpretations of the world. Many forms of artistic expression traffic in subtleties and grapple with life’s ambiguities; students can learn that small difference can have large effects. Artistic experience often requires a willingness to surrender to the unknown; students can learn that everything changes with circumstance and opportunity. The arts also help us learn to say, show, and feel what needs to be said, shown, and felt, helping to advance the horizons of knowing, being, and communicating in and beyond the arts."
Arts Programs Boost Student Social Injustice Awareness from Futurity: "This study shows that arts programming can be an important place where students can develop awareness and action around injustice, and that art can help more privileged youth become aware of injustice and more marginalized youth take action against injustice in their communities."
Choreographer Anna Halprin, Who Redefined Dance As A Tool For Healing, Dies At 100 from NPR: "Halprin was fully conscious of the power of art in addressing social issues. In the late 1960s, she brought together Black and white dancers for her work 'Ceremony of Us'. Later works, including her 'Planetary Dance', are centered around the idea of community engagement and renewal; 'Planetary Dance' is meant to be performed by anyone who chooses to participate. In her vision, dance was a deeply democratic activity."

Perpich Center Included in Governor Walz's Bonding Budget

Governor Tim Walz announced his bonding bill, the 2022 Local Jobs and Projects plan, on January 18, 2022. Within the $2.7 billion bonding bill are monies connected to Perpich Center for Arts Education. The Governor recommends $3 million for asset preservation to update, repair, and replace various building
systems.

The Perpich Center's capital budget request to the Executive Budget Team was for $4.1 million. Of that amount, $4 million was requested for asset preservation and $100,000 was requested for school building work predesign to address: 1. safety and security, 2. ADA improvements, and 3. Performance Hall expansion. View the Governor's budget recommendations here.

News from Perpich Arts High School

Two Perpich Seniors Named College Board
National Recognition Programs Awardees

Two Perpich seniors have been named College Board National Recognition Programs awardees! Bryne Croyle Johnson (Literary Arts 2022) has received the National Indigenous Recognition Award. Elle Hall-Holt (Visual Arts 2022) has received the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award.

The College Board National Recognition Programs create pathways to college for underrepresented students by awarding them academic honors and connecting them with universities across the country. These academic honors can be included on college and scholarship applications.

Carol Syvertsen, School Counselor, said, “It is so wonderful when excellent students are acknowledged. Both of these young people are exemplary humans who I have loved getting to know since they joined the Perpich community. Their intelligence and diligence are now nationally recognized!”

Croyle Johnson is originally from Wyoming, Minnesota and previously attended North Lakes Academy in Forest Lake. Hall-Holt is originally from Northfield, Minnesota and previously attended Northfield High School. Read more here.

Studio Arts Presents Meet Me Halfway: Curriculum Exhibition & Beyond The Classroom Exhibition

Perpich Studio Arts students presented two exhibitions, Meet Me Halfway: Curriculum Exhibition and Beyond The Classroom Exhibition, on Thursday, January 27, 2022. The exhibitions are showing in the Upper Gallery and Lower Gallery through March 11, 2022. Meet Me Halfway features artwork by every studio arts student at Perpich during their 2nd quarter. The artwork was made for classroom assignments and showcases the range within the Perpich studio arts curriculum. Students selected their favorite piece from one of their two arts classes. Works include prints, sculptures, photography, cinematography, animation, drawings, paintings, etc. Beyond The Classroom Exhibition features artwork from students produced on their own time, outside the classroom. It offers viewers a glimpse into the young artists’ personal interests. During the opening, a screening of cinema and animation work took place in the Performance Hall.

In the exhibition statement, the students said, “Our second curriculum show continues our development as Thinking Artists. We have built our foundation, gotten our feet wet, and dived deep to show the range of our capabilities. In trying new mediums, we have discovered favored techniques and processes, allowing us to show a variety of thematic self interests and broader visual perspectives. As we have gained comfort, familiarity, and control of these new mediums, our artistic voices are boosted in confidence and our work complements, challenges, and inspires our peers. We have discovered the benefits to being in a like-minded community of artistic colleagues who support, illuminate, push, encourage, and lift each other to be their best artistic selves at this moment. In our classes we are continuing the journey of artistic dialogue, self expression, learning, and knowledge creation. We continue to discover, delve, discard, dedicate, expand, refine, learn, awaken, heighten, embrace, let go, gain, and gather more tools, experiences, and greater community by moving in, forward, and through this halfway mark.” Read more here.

February 1, 2022 Admissions Deadline for the 22-23 School Year

Do you know someone who may be thinking Perpich Arts High School is the place for them? We welcome a visit with them to learn more! We have many ways for prospective students to find out everything they would want to know about Perpich!
Learn More About Upcoming Admissions Opportunities
Apply Now for Perpich Arts High School
Click Here for Upcoming High School Events

News from Professional Development & Resource Programs

The Professional Development and Resource (PDR) Programs staff actively
support arts teachers from across the state.

PDR Staff Reaches Educators Statewide

In the FY21 Annual Report to the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Legislature, key findings from our PDR staff were shared. Perpich Arts Specialists provided professional development for arts educators in all five arts areas: Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. Regional Centers and CAPP supported their RAT-Ls and districts through the planning and implementation of the arts in their region and schools. The map to the right represents all of the districts served directly by PDR specialists and programs in FY21. There were over 3,300 contacts with individuals throughout the state, many of them served multiple times and in multiple ways. The PDR staff worked with 314 districts across Minnesota, more than in any previous year.

2022 Minnesota Dance Summit - Saturday, February 12, 2022

This event is hosted by Perpich Center for Arts Education in collaboration with Dance Educator’s Coalition of Minnesota.

DATE AND TIME: Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This year’s Dance Summit will be divided between two dates. This first date, February 12, will focus on community and identity. It will include movement sessions, research presentations, and discussions. Presenters include Dr. Betsy Maloney Leaf, Gabrielle Abrams, Colleen Callahan and guests, and a Strong Movement class with Darrius Strong!

LOCATION: Perpich Center for Arts Education – Dance Studio
6125 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55422

(Part Two of the Dance Summit will happen this spring. More information coming soon!)

Register here for 2022 Minnesota Dance Summit – Saturday, February 12 (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Click Here for the Take Note! News for MN Music Educators newsletter
Click Here for the Behind the Scenes! News for MN Theater Educators newsletter
Click Here for the Visual & Media Arts Update newsletter
Click Here for all Upcoming PDR Events

News from Perpich Library


The Perpich Library is a resource for Perpich students, staff, and the people of Minnesota. Any resident of Minnesota can join the library for access to our resources. Browse the Perpich Library collection of over 13,000 books, special collections, DVDs, CDs, and more by clicking here.

Remembering Artists We Lost in 2021

The world lost several amazing artists, authors, and musicians this past year. While we mourn their loss, we also celebrate the legacy of art, words, and music that they left behind. Librarian Anne Dennison compiled a list of just a few of the artists who passed away in 2021, and a taste of what they created while they were alive. All items on this list are available at the Perpich library. Read more here.

Remembering Artists we Lost in 2021
New Library Materials – Fall 2021
Click Here for the most recent Perpich Library Newsletter

News from Alumni

Minneapolis native and 'Sundance virgin' hopes for a hit at film festival
Andrew Semans' "Resurrection," starring Rebecca Hall, has its world premiere Saturday.

 
By Chris Hewitt Star Tribune
January 20, 2022

Last week, Minneapolis native Andrew Semans was pulling all-nighters to finish the sound edit and color correction of "Resurrection." On Saturday, the drama will debut at the Sundance Film Festival.

"We certainly got it done in time to show at the festival, but we were racing," said Semans, 45, who graduated from what's now called the Perpich Arts High School after spending his first two years of high school at Minneapolis South.

"Going to a school that encouraged you to make work and create stuff and gave you the freedom and time to do it was really helpful," said Semans. "Had I not gone there, I would not have spent nearly as much time learning how to write. And that's what I've been doing ever since.

Read the full story here.

Faculty & Staff News


Wendy Barden Presents at
The Midwest Clinic


In mid-December, 2021, Dr. Wendy Barden presented at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The Midwest Clinic seeks to provide educators and musicians of all skill levels with the opportunity to learn and grow in their field while also networking with other artists. The title of the presentation was "3-D Assessment in Young Ensembles: Reflecting, Assessing, and Giving Feedback in a Changing Environment". Close to 300 educators attended the session.

Barden is the Music Education Specialist at Perpich Center for Arts Education.

Barden described the clinic in the following synopsis: "Student reflection, assessment, and teacher feedback are invaluable in developing ensembles. Towards that end, the tools we create and use must be easy to understand and time-efficient, and might look different depending on the current learning environment. In this session, consider three factors for determining a best approach to student reflection and teacher feedback—think rubik’s cube—then interact with several ideas that can be adapted or used immediately in your own ensembles."

Perpich Center for Arts Education, #WednesdayWhyArtsEd



Every Wednesday, Perpich publishes social media posts on the theme of why arts education is important. Music, theater, dance, visual arts, media arts, and literary arts are all covered. Follow Perpich on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and use the hashtag #WednesdayWhyArtsEd
Click Here for the most recent Perpich Center News
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