Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education: Action plan
sets creative pace for Wisconsin
Lawton and Burmaster unveil recommendations from Wisconsin Task Force on
Arts and Creativity in Education
Investment in the artistic and creative energy of Wisconsin students
throughout their education is the over-arching recommendation of the Wisconsin
Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education final report and action plan
unveiled today.
The 36-member task force, appointed in March 2008 by State Superintendent
Elizabeth Burmaster and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, was charged with examining
state-level policies and local practices to determine their impact on the scope
and access to quality arts education opportunities in Wisconsin. To develop its
recommendations for strengthening arts and creativity education in Wisconsin,
the task force conducted nine public forums and reviewed the status of arts
education in Wisconsin and research done by experts in the field.
“Every child has tremendous creative capacity; it is our responsibility to
develop and harvest it,” Lawton said. “Wisconsin’s competitive edge in this
global economy will be a workforce well-prepared to think boldly and work
innovatively, with that risk-taking confidence of an entrepreneur.”
“The arts have a potent effect on student achievement and engagement in
school,” Burmaster said. “Despite clear research that shows how vital the arts
and creativity are for all students, access to the full range of the arts is
continuing to decline in Wisconsin. Revitalizing our arts education programs
and infusing creativity throughout the curriculum is critical for our students’
success.”
A common definition of creativity, which describes the creative process as a
combination of imagination, creativity, and innovation to produce something
unique that has value and meaning, provides the foundation of the task force
recommendations. The group’s plan for action addresses four areas. The first
three, Legislative and State Policy, Creativity in the Classroom, and Community
Involvement, focus on strengthening arts education in Wisconsin schools. The
fourth, Business and the Creative Economy, focuses on engaging the business
community—especially those on the leading edge of the creative economy—to
propel business growth and economic development and to help strengthen arts and
creativity programs for students.
Specifically, recommendations call for:
- Revising standards and assessment to infuse creativity development into
class work;
- Ensuring that every Wisconsin school uses an interdisciplinary
curriculum that systematically integrates creativity development into class
work;
- Ensuring that all students have access to education in the full
spectrum of the arts taught by qualified instructors and abundant
opportunities to develop creativity throughout the curriculum;
- Identifying best practices and models for arts and creativity education
as well as methods for sharing successful practices;
- Increasing professional learning opportunities and support for school
staff to implement creative processes in the classroom;
- Continuing outreach to communities, business, and educational and arts
organizations to foster partnerships and collaboration that strengthen arts
education and the development of creative potential in all students;
- Fostering a climate of creative inquiry and innovation in the state
through business partnerships and endorsements that support the arts and
arts education; and
- Improving the arts and cultural environment—through state-level
government, business, cultural, and professional organizations—as a tool
for economic development, employee attraction and retention, and
competitive advantage in the global marketplace.
“This task force assumed a leadership role nationally with its vision to
essentially transform schools to more effectively prepare children for this
complex and fast-changing world we live in today,” Lawton said. “Creativity is
the renewable energy in a 21st century global economy; this well-wrought plan
maps Wisconsin’s course toward a sustainable and prosperous future.”
“All students can develop their creative capacities if they have access to
rich learning opportunities in environments that nurture and support their
creative development,” Burmaster said. “These task force recommendations set a
creative pace for our efforts to use arts and creativity education to increase
academic achievement and provide our students the 21st century skills they need
for success in our interconnected world.”
A full copy of the report may be downloaded at
http://www.creative.wisconsin.gov.
Updated:
January 22, 2009
Fax: 608/267-0380