Beyond the Notes: One Man’s Journey
Giving Voice Laurie Schell Giving Voice Laurie Schell

Beyond the Notes: One Man’s Journey

Farzin Dehgan Manshadi immigrated to Nashville in 2011. This is his story — from his arrival at age 15 to earning advanced music degrees at two prestigious institutions. It is also a story of the adults who supported him along the way. And his growing belief that artists must step up and embrace responsibility for the health of their communities .

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Start From Where You Are: Advocacy Findings
Building Blocks Laurie Schell Building Blocks Laurie Schell

Start From Where You Are: Advocacy Findings

Advocacy for arts education has not been studied as a field per se. We can point to successful advocacy campaigns as case studies; yet we know little about the larger question of what works and why. What I thought might be a dry academic endeavor became a process of discovery. A synthesis of over 60 studies and publications is the basis for what works in advocacy, case-making, and systems change.

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Advocacy in a Time of Uncertainty
Giving Voice Laurie Schell Giving Voice Laurie Schell

Advocacy in a Time of Uncertainty

In the world of the arts in education, we feel the greater societal upheaval. We are uncertain about our work, the arts education field, and the education sector itself. Advocacy—and a relentless focus on positive outcomes for youth-- will help us feel less alone, less lost as we navigate the storm.

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Making the Case for Social Justice
Coalitions Laurie Schell Coalitions Laurie Schell

Making the Case for Social Justice

In the eighth article of the series Case-making and Systems Change in Arts and Cultural Education, developed in collaboration with Creative Generation, we explore how the principles of social justice may be applied to arts and cultural education.

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Systems Change in Arts Education
Building Blocks Laurie Schell Building Blocks Laurie Schell

Systems Change in Arts Education

The fifth article in the series Case-making and Systems Change in Arts and Cultural Education, expands on the theme of Advocacy for the Sector, describing how history has shaped the system of arts education, with a review of the components of our current system.

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