RIVERSIDE – A full day of workshops, artist presentations, and arts-based speakers will be the focus of the first annual Artslift Conference organized by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RCOE Conference Center (4280 Brockton Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501).
“Fostering a love of the arts is important for all students, and this event will reinforce the power of the arts to uplift individuals and communities to help them see the beauty in their world and in themselves—no matter the circumstance or stage of life” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.
The event is open to the public and sessions will be offered on the following topics:
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Theater
- Stage Tech
- Dance
- Mindfulness
- Poetry
- Emotional Liberation
- Arts Leadership
- Arts Integration
The intended audience includes arts teachers, arts teachers on special assignment, school and district-level arts coordinators, artists in residence, arts organizations, and community advocates for the arts.
“This is a can’t miss event for anyone who is deeply involved in the joy and practice of the arts,” said Louisa Higgins, Arts Administrator at the Riverside County Office of Education. “In-depth arts learning begins with communities and educators who are focused on increasing access to standards-based arts education for all students.”
Artslift Conference keynote speakers include:
- Chad Sweeney (Professor of English/Creative Writing, CSU San Bernardino)
- Dr. Sweeney will be speaking on the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the arts. Based on his own experience as an autistic man, published poet, and creative writing professor, he will present on how the arts can be as inclusive as possible for all students.
- Katie Xin (Teen Poet Laureate, Spoken Word Winner, Amanda Gorman Young Voices Winner)
- Katie Xin was the inaugural Teen Poet Laureate for RCOE in 2021. Now, as she heads off to her choice of top colleges in the country, she will share how the arts, and the Teen Poet Laureate program influenced her path to success.
- Geena Fontanella (Professional Singer, Vocal Coach)
- Geena Fontanella is a young local artist on the rise. She will be performing several of her original and irreverent material, capturing the joy and spirit of the arts and the Artslift Conference.
Breakout sessions include the following:
- Elementary and Middle School STEAM Arts Integration Program
- Game On, Curtain Up: Mastering Theatre Fundamentals Through Play
- Mindful Nature Mandala and Aromatherapy Sachet Bags
- Museum Educators and Interpretation for Student Engagement at the Riverside Art Museum
- Poetry and Painting
- Social and Emotional Learning Through Art
- Beyond the Curtain: A Dynamic Journey in Arts Management for Inspiring Educators
- Music as Language: Applying Pedagogical Frameworks from Linguistics to Music Education
- (Non) Rhyming and Reason: The Reverberations of Poetry Instruction in the Classroom
- ACE It! – Arts, Culture, Events & Entertainment…and You
- Emotional Liberation
- Integrating Dance Into the School District Equitably
- Making Pop Art
- Tableau in the Classroom
- Music for the People
- Live Tech: The OFFstage Magic of Theater
Registration is $100 and includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Space is limited to 150 attendees, and the deadline to register is July 5, 2024, at https://events.bizzabo.com/ArtsLift24.
Sponsors for the event include:
- City of Riverside
- Riverside Art Museum
- UCR Arts
- Inlandia Institute
- Moxie
- California County Superintendents Arts Initiative
- Mission Pediatrics
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.
