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Talk: What Still Matters?

Announcement

This is a virtual event; please join us via Zoom on June 6th 12:00 pm CST

Transcription of the event will be made available the week following.

About the event

A roundtable discussion between teachers, artists, and youth on the value of arts learning.

The world we reopen will not be the world we closed in March. This rupture has created a time of both uncertainty and insight, casting inequities in sharp relief, demanding we reevaluate what’s core and set new priorities. As we anticipate the extension of virtual learning into the fall term, we have a responsibility act on that inequality. The arts are essential to shaping our future, developing our shared humanity, and addressing the urgency of the moment. Despite our upended circumstances, what still matters? What educational values must we protect? What threads remain critical in arts learning? What’s still important or now more important than ever?

This talk features panelists from the MCA’s school, teacher, and youth programs. It was organized by Jeremy Kreusch, Manager of School Programs, Grace Needlman, Manager of Youth and Family Programs, and Lynne Pace Green, SPACE Manager, with production support by Sarah Adler, Learning Coordinator and Emily Gallaugher, Coordinator of Youth, Families and Schools.

Panelists

Panelists include:

  • Bridget Doherty-Trebing, Teacher Advisory Committee
  • Andres Hernandez, School Partnership for Art and Civic Engagement
  • Imani Joseph, Teen Creative Agency
  • Hisham Kysia, Teen Creative Agency
  • Jesus Sanchez, Teacher Institute

Val Xanos, School Partnership for Art and Civic Engagement

about the mca learning programs

The School Partnership for Art and Civic Engagement (SPACE) is a multiyear partnership with Chicago public high schools. Its goal is to empower Chicago teens to create positive change in their communities using contemporary art strategies and expanded civic understandings. SPACE embeds artists and their studio practices inside Chicago public high schools, physically transforming space(s) in the school into creative hubs for artistic and civic exchange.

The Teacher Institute is an immersive and collaborative professional development program for educators. The design of this free, year-long program is aimed at helping teachers investigate, design, incubate, and implement innovative, contemporary curriculum. The emphasis of the Teacher Institute is on supporting teachers in developing student-centered projects that give students an active role in the development, implementation, and documentation processes.

The Teacher Advisory Committee is a group of teachers with a longstanding relationship to the MCA and its programs. It is made up of Chicago area teachers who work together to advise on MCA Learning projects.

The Teen Creative Agency (TCA) is the MCA's creative, youth development program. Twenty-five young people, ages 15 to 19, from all over the Chicagoland area meet weekly to grow their agency and collaboration skills, build community, and develop creative projects and public events under the guidance of two Lead Artists. Weekly sessions include time in the galleries, visits to other cultural sites, meetings with artists and museum staff, and time to work on collaborative projects.