Canvas E-Newsletter Fall 2019 - Creative Connections

Warm Greetings,

Creative Connections is excited to launch the 2019-20 school year and our 28th year of engaging young people around the world with an enriching curriculum that uses the arts to build bridges of global understanding.

As you know, for years our RainForest ArtLink program has enabled American students to partner with their peers living in the heart of the Central and South American rain forest regions, helping them expand their awareness and understanding of our natural world.

In light of the vital climate change debate now underway, we have decided to highlight the connection between the environment and culture in our 2019-20 programming, promoting the need for environmental stewardship amongst all participants worldwide.

Read on to learn more about this new curriculum and other important undertakings and global initiatives we have planned for the coming months.

Sincerely,

Alan Steckler,
Founder & President

For more information on Creative Connections, visit CreativeConnections.org, call 203-803-4376, or email Polly Loughran at ploughran@creativeconnections.org.

2019-20 ArtLink Theme:

Our Environment, My Culture

Creative Connections is proud to launch this school year’s ArtLink theme: ‘Our Environment, My Culture’.

We are asking students to explore how nature and culture are interrelated and how their natural environment influences their daily lives.

For the subject of their art, students will consider outdoor activities that mean the most to them. They will also be invited to address their concerns about the quality of the environment now and in the future.

“Keep Water Clean” by Arina, Kazakhstan

Summer Art Connections

#EcoKids Healthy Foodshed Summit in Norwalk

This summer, Creative Connections provided an art workshop curriculum for the Stepping Stones Museum’s 2019 EcoKids Summit- a gathering of 300 fifth and sixth grade students from Norwalk who explored issues impacting a healthy foodshed.

Norwalk students examined artwork and videos created by Guatemalan students, learning about the cultivation of their staple crop, maíz (corn). They learned how Guatemalans harvest corn, how they market it, the Mayan rituals behind it, and how important maíz is to their culture and livelihood. At the Summit, students had the opportunity to speak to one another via live video.

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Youth Enrichment at Stepping Stones (YES2)

In preparation for a Back-to-School evening on September 5th, Stepping Stones Museum’s 6th -12th grade YES2 students participated in a Creative Connections’ facilitated videoconference with Guatemalan students. In a public ceremony held at the museum on September 5, both groups of students pledged to one another to be good stewards of the environment.

Sponsor a Classroom!

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored an ArtLink classroom as part of our Sponsorship Drive. To date, over 20 classrooms will benefit from our sponsors’ generous donations. We’ve already surpassed last year’s total of 14 sponsored classrooms!

There is still time to sponsor a RainForest ArtLink class! Your gift of $1000 will help students in local underserved schools and their international peers better understand the need for environmental stewardship while celebrating each other’s cultures, customs and traditions through the exchange of art and ideas.

To make your donation, please call or email Polly Loughran, ArtLink Program Director. 203.803.4376 or click the button below.

Teacher Trip to Guatemala

To further the impact of our international classroom connections, Creative Connections is inviting teachers from local schools to join Miguel Barreto, our RainForest ArtLink Program Director, on a professional development trip to Guatemala

Over the first week of February 2020, participating educators will travel to the Petén Biosphere region to experience the rain forest, meet and work with local partner teachers, meet the students, and tour breathtaking Tikal and other Mayan archeological sites.

If you are interested in knowing more about this incredible opportunity, contact Miguel as soon as possible.

2020 International Young Performers’ Tour:

Mandala Theatre from Kathmandu, Nepal

A company of young Nepali actors will be performing two compelling plays about the universal themes of friendship and acceptance for local elementary, middle and high school students during their U.S. tour from April 22- May 6, 2020.

The performers utilize dramatic movement, humor, expressive music, dance and vibrant costumes to weave their tales! They also offer post-performance Q & A’s or theater workshops for students.

Schools should contact Alan Steckler soon to learn more or to book a date. Bookings made by November 1, 2019 will receive a 5% discount.

Flipgrid Lets Learners Share Art and Ideas

Creative Connections is pleased to announce plans to use Flipgrid video technology for our ArtLink programs to allow classes to easily create and share videos with one another.

This teacher/student-friendly video discussion app will allow classes to communicate asynchronously with one another over the full exchange period in a fun way.

We anticipate that the integration of this tool into all of our ArtLink classes will enhance student communication and drive an even better exchange between classrooms!