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Partners in Education

Educators > National Partnerships | Partners in Education | Touring Programs & Resources

Overview of Seminars

[Partners in Education: Performing Arts Centers and Schools (fostering partnership among arts organization, schools and communities)]

Kennedy Center Seminars for Artist Development

The demand for artist professional development is growing and the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program has been working to meet the demand.

The Kennedy Center offers three Seminars to assist teaching artists in planning and presenting workshops for teachers, to assist teaching artists to plan effective artist residencies, and another to help artists develop educational performance materials.

All three Seminars draw on decades of Kennedy Center experience helping teaching artists develop their knowledge and skills for working more effectively in schools to reach all types of learners through the arts. Instruction is supported by live demonstrations, PowerPoint presentations, and in many cases, video examples. Seminar sponsoring organizations play a role in the presentation of each Seminar. To support the sponsoring organization in its commitment to planning and implementing ongoing follow-up support, the Kennedy Center provides a Guide for Sponsors that outlines all the Sponsor responsibilities.

For a printable version of the complete brochure about the Kennedy Center Seminars please refer to Professional Learning for Teaching Artists.

The three in-depth Seminars are:

Focus 1: Teaching Students
Designed for both novice and experienced teaching artists who work in the classroom with students and are interested in developing their knowledge and skills to effectively plan and lead instruction.
Focus 2: Teaching Teachers
Designed for highly-experienced teaching artists who want to learn to plan and lead workshops that transfer a part of their knowledge and practice to teachers—so that teachers can include the arts in their own teaching.
Focus 3: Writing Performance Guides
Designed for performing artists as well as arts and cultural organizations interested in developing or refining approaches to writing performance guides that prepare young people to be more knowledgeable and reflective audience members.

Recommended Seminar Sequence: Regardless of teaching artists’ experience and skills, it is recommended that sponsoring organizations offer the Focus 1 Seminar(s) before Focus 2.

To Host A Seminar

Availability of the Seminars is limited. Sponsors interested in more information about hosting a Seminar should send a letter of interest to Partners in Education, The Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566, or e-mail seminars@kennedy-center.org. You may also reach us at (202) 416-8806.