Music teachers learning mariachi. Photo by Tina LaPadula. In the winter of 2023, The Creative Advantage launched the Seattle Theatre Education Coalition (STEC) to shine a light on theatre education in Seattle Public Schools and support collaborative learning between theatre specialists, cultural organizations, and teaching artists in our city.
We tapped The Fifth Avenue Theatre education staff to help us lead STEC in partnership with Intiman Theatre, South End Stories, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Seattle Rep. This project has resulted in professional development days drawing from the knowledge of certified teachers and leveraging the expertise of theatre professionals.
“Community organizations in The Creative Advantage are transforming our schools.”
Coalition Survey Respondent
Due to the success of STEC, in the 2023-24 school year The Creative Advantage launched 2 new discipline-specific coalitions. Each has their own summits and professional development days:
- The Seattle Visual Arts Education Coalition (SVAEC) in partnership with Seattle Art Museum, Wing Luke Museum, Gage Academy, and teaching artist leaders in Visual Thinking Strategies.
- The Seattle Music Education Coalition (SMEC) in partnership with The Rhapsody Project, Orquesta Northwest, Jack Straw Cultural Center, and Seattle Opera.
To date, more than 130 educators have participated in our coalitions! We’re grateful for everyone who has helped steward this collective work.
“There’s power in numbers. Artists tend to be solitary people but it’s so good to be around other visual art teachers.”
Coalition Survey Respondent
The Creative Advantage Summer Institute
The three coalitions are joining forces at The Creative Advantage Summer Institute on Thursday, August 22, with each hosting a 90-minute workshop. Institute attendees can join a theater session, including content around student agency and devising skills with Ian Bond; a music session exploring cultural heritage and identity with Jess Peña-Manalo; or print making in connection with the exhibition Poke in the Eye led by SAM teaching artist Alicia Betty.
Other Institute highlights include:
- Performances from Speak with Purpose scholars and the newly crowned Youth Poet Laureate Janae Lu.
- Inspiring recent findings from Dr. Samuel H. Leguizamon Grant and Charles Borom, our partners at Rainbow Research.
- Lunch time networking about partnerships and special projects, like our Seattle Youth Development Network pilot with TeenTix.
- Our popular “everybody dance break” led by Robbi A. Moore from Creative Dance Center.
- Networking opportunities between Seattle Public Schools and Community Arts Partners.
- Event coverage from in the incredible crew from Ground Zero Radio.
- Raffles to win tickets to partner events at places like Seattle Rep and SIFF, as well as art supplies from Painter Pals!
“We are connected. We share similar concerns. WE CAN DO IT! There’s hope.”
Coalition Survey Respondent
The Creative Advantage Summer Institute is on Thursday August 22 at the Seattle Art Museum (main downtown location) from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This is the creative kick off for the 2024-25 school year. It’s free to attend, but please make sure to register .
