District Fine Arts
"The Arts are the Soul of Education"
For information on Artist In Residence, Artistic Legacies and Vancouver Biennale read below.
District Fine Arts
The District Fine Arts Coordinator supports a wide range of activities in the arts.
District Performing Arts Festivals
District events promote the sharing of music across the district. Though Vancouver supports a non-competitive philosophy, events are often adjuicated with the goal of helping students improve their skills. These events occur annually and include both elementary and secondary activities involving multiple schools and up to 3,000 students. District events are scheduled for the band, strings, choral, recorder, ukulele, drama, and dance programs.
Information on Performing Groups and Ensembles
A guide of approved performing groups and ensembles is sent to each school in late spring. These groups have either been screened at the extensive Artscan auditions held at the Roundhouse each April or have favorably demonstrated their work over the years in Vancouver. The guide gives an indication of the nature of the group, suitability of grade level, and fee. Copies can be obtained from District Learning Services or school principals.
Fine Arts Professional Development
Each year a series of workshops are planned throughout the year for teachers in all areas of the arts. Workshops are offered on a wide range of topics. Refer to Pro-D Connections or call District Learning Services for more information.
Art Resource Book
The art resource book is an excellent teaching guide which includes ideas, descriptions and samples of student art work from both elementary and secondary art programs throughout the district. The book retails at $20 per copy and the money goes into a trust fund for future projects involving art students. A new district art book has been compiled involving collaboration between elementary and secondary schools. This book is entitled "Portraits of Our Culture" and also retails at $20 per copy. Copies may be purchased from District Learning Services, VSB.
Daily Music Listening Program
So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form
will accompany and sustain it and give it expressive meaning.
Aaron Copland
Many schools are involved in a school wide music listening program. This is a five year program that involves students in a daily five minute listening activity that fosters appreciation for classical music and enhances listening skills. For more information on this program contact District Learning Services.
Vancouver Schools Music Teachers Association
The VSMTA is an organization composed of persons who teach one or more music classes in Vancouver schools. Its purpose is to unify and strengthen the program of music education in the Vancouver district. It does so by acting as an advocate to the Vancouver School Board, Ministry of Education, BCMEA, and post secondary institutions. It sets and implements policies, provides support to new and continuing teachers, provides information and promotes discussion on important topics concerning music education in Vancouver, assists teachers with networking for the purpose of making new professional contacts and mentors, assists with district music events, and coordinates two music awards. The Roy Peter Hudson Memorial Scholarship is for an outstanding elementary student and the Dennis Tupman Music Award is for an exemplary secondary student continuing on in music education. The association meets a minimum of twice a year in October and in June.
Secondary Schools with String Programmes:
Byng, Churchill, Hamber, Killarney, Kitsilano, Magee, Prince of Wales, Van Tech
Elementary Schools with String Programmes:
Begbie, Cavell, Cook, David Lloyd George, L'Ecole Bilingue, Jamieson, Jules Quesnel, Kingsford-Smith, Kitchener, Laurier, Maquinna, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, Secord, Sexsmith, Tennyson, Van Horne, Waverley, Weir
Elementary Schools with Band Programmes:
Beaconfield, Britannia, Brock, Bruce, Carleton, Carnarvon, Carr, Champlain Heights, Douglas, False Creek, Franklin, Hastings, Henderson, Hudson, Kerrisdale, Livingstone, Mackenzie, McBride, McCorkindale, McKechnie, Maple Grove, Nelson, Nootka, Oppenheimer, Osler, Quilchena, Secord, Selkirk, Seymour, Shaughnessy, Southlands, Thunderbird, Trafalgar, U. Hill, Wolf
Miscellaneous
In addition to the above topics, information regarding questions on Resources and Materials, Instrument Repair, Itinerant Music Programs, the String Programs, Band Programs, Workshops and Arts Advocacy is also available from District Learning Services.
For further information call (604) 713-5206
The AIR Program aims to achieve the following goals:
- to give students the opportunity to meet local professional visual and performing artists who will share their expertise
- to have local professional visual and performing artists share ideas and thereby help students and teachers deepen their understanding of the arts
- to have local professional visual and performing artists lead students in activities which encourage personal exploration and development through the arts
- to integrate the Fine Arts across the curriculum
- to enrich curricular areas
This program brings professional artists into the classroom for five sessions or one day to develop artist led workshops with students in the following areas: drama, dance,music and visual art.
This successful program is administered with funding from the BC Arts Council, Vancouver Foundation and the Vancouver School Board.
Vancouver Foundation is Canada's largest and one of its oldest community foundations. Its mission is to create positive and lasting impacts in communities in British Columbia. It does this by bringing together generous donors (large and small, individuals, groups and corporations) and linking their contributions to important work that addresses the needs and improves the lives of communities across the province.
Today, the Foundation manages an endowment worth approximately $700 million. In 2007, the interest from that endowment allowed the Foundation to distribute about $60 million to communities. To find out more visit: http://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/
Educators: For more information on the Artist in Residence Program please click on the links below:
- Artist in Residence Criteria
- Artist in Residence - Application for schools
- Artist List 2010
- Artist in Residence Progam Brochure 2009-2010
- Artist Evaluation Form 2010
- 2009-2010 Artist Payment Form
Artistic Legacies
.... awards to ignite innovation
Betty Wellburn - Artistic Legacies (enhancing visual arts in Vancouver schools)
Betty Wellburn was a visionary teacher and art coordinator in Vancouver Schools, where she created innovative programs in Visual Arts across the district.
She has left a financial legacy, making it possible to have enhanced Artist-in-Residence programs in Vancouver public schools.
With an overall goal to celebrate the visual arts in Vancouver schools, Artistic Legacies is an ongoing program in its sixth year of implementation for the 2008-2009 school year. This program will provide students with further opportunities to work in depth with eminent artists and leave a lasting creative legacy.
Artistic legacies will provide funding for teachers to work with eminent artists to design projects for collaborative work which will leave a lasting impression in our schools. One purpose of this work is to ignite innovation.
Artistic Legacies was created to promote meaningful and innovative artistic experiences for VSB students that result in the perpetuation of unique and distinguishable projects that emphasize the visual arts. Applications for this grant are due in June each year. Principals have received brochures in Spring 2010.
Artistic Legacies APPLICATION FORM 2010
Application Submissions - DUE June 11, 2010
Betty Wellburn Grants Awarded
2009-2010
- MacDonald
- Tyee Elementary
- Vancouver Technical Secondary
- Portable canvas mural 4ft x 8 ft - "Drama"
- Portable canvas mural 4ft x 8 ft - "Fine Arts"
- Portable canvas mural 4ft x 8 ft - "Music"
2008-2009
- Bruce Elementary outdoor garden project titled "Peace"
- Tupper Secondary
- Hudson Elementary
2007-2008
2006-2007
- Kitsilano Secondary
2005-2006
- David Thompson
- Eric Hamber
- Magee
- Sexsmith
2004-2005
- David Thompson
- Churchill
- Lord Roberts
- Mount Pleasant
2003-2004
- McBride Elementary
The Vancouver School Board is working collaboratively with the Vancouver Art Biennale to offer curriculum workshops and lesson plans designed to encourage active, engaged, inquiry based learning utilizing the 2010/2011 Vancouver Biennale installations. Moving curriculum topics into the community stimulates a sense of real inquiry for both teachers and students. Experiential learning touching on student knowledge and multiple intelligences is at the core of VB curriculum and lesson plans.
The Biennale also offers a hidden object learning game for age 8 and up set in beautiful English bay. The player will find clues and unlock rewards to recover 5 stolen Vancouver biennale sculptures.
The Biennale www.vblearn.ca is a biennial public art exhibition that brings sculptures, new media and performance works by celebrated and emerging international artists to Vancouver area public parks, beaches and urban plazas, transforming the city into an open-air museum. The exhibition promises a diverse mix of interesting and important works of contemporary art all completely free of charge for the entire community to enjoy throughout the seasons.
Workshops are available through the Vancouver School Board and Biennale Vancouver. See workshop registration links below:
