AAEC holds 5 successful Arts Institutes!

During the summer of 2016, AAEC successfully held 5 Arts Institutes–more than ever in one summer.  These institutes were diverse in focus and geographically in Alaska.  They were (in chronological order):

Point Hope Inupiat Cultural Arts Institute.  One-week, 20 teachers from NSBSD and Nome, 3 wonderful Inupiaq teacher-leaders taught about the culture participants learned about the history, language, and traditional practices including dancing, carving, and sewing.  Partnering with AAEC was the North Slope Borough School District.

Sitka Advanced Arts Institute.  One-week, 16 teachers from Sitka, Kenai and Lower Kuskokwim School Districts, 4 teacher-leaders taught about Tlingit and Yupik cultures, dance/movement, visual art, and deep integration studies and research that would continue through the next school year.  Partnering with AAEC was the Sitka School District, Sitka Tribe, and Sitka Fine Arts Camp.

Juneau Basic Arts Institute, Two-weeks.  16 teachers, representing Juneau, Ketchikan and Kodiak School Districts.  4 teacher-leaders taught about S.E. culture, visual art, music, movement and theory. Partners with AAEC are the Sealaska Heritage Foundation and the Juneau School District, with support from the Kennedy Center VSA program.

Nome Basic Arts Institute.  Two-weeks.  20 teachers, representing Nome, Bering Straits, Kuspuk, Anchorage and Wasilla School Districts.  5 teacher-leaders taught Yupik and Inupiaq cultures, visual art, arts in technology, movement and had a strong strand in special education and the arts.  Partnering with AAEC was Nome and Bering Straits School District, Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation and support from the Kennedy Center VSA program.

Fairbanks ‘Arts are Exceptional’ Institute.  One-week.  45 teachers from Fairbanks, Bering Straits, Lower Yukon, Yukon-Koyukuk, Mat-Su, Alaska Gateway, Delta Greely, Northwest Arctic, Sitka, Valdez, Anchorage Districts.  4 teacher-leaders taught special education and the arts theory, visual art, movement, and music.  Partnering with AAEC was the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and the Kennedy Center VSA program