Lt. Governor Lawton and State Superintendent Burmaster
Announce Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education
 |
|
Photo: Wisconsin Department of
Public Instruction. |
MILWAUKEE—At a press conference today at the Milwaukee Institute of Art
and Design, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and State Superintendent
Elizabeth Burmaster announced they will co-chair the Wisconsin Task Force on
Arts and Creativity in Education, convened to ensure Wisconsin the creative
workforce and entrepreneurial talent necessary for the state to compete well
in a 21st century global economy.
In an unprecedented collaboration, the two constitutional officers will
invite members from a broad cross-section of the business, arts, and
education communities. The Task Force will accept expert testimony from
others in public forums to be held around the state.
Lawton chairs the Wisconsin Arts Board, and was recently invited to
represent the states’ interests on an exclusive National Arts Policy
Roundtable convened by Robert Redford and Americans for the Arts at the
Sundance Preserve last fall. Their policy recommendations, forthcoming, will
address the topic “Thinking Creatively, Working Globally: The Role of the
Arts in Building a 21st Century American Workforce.”
Burmaster recently led a Wisconsin delegation to the Education Leaders
Institute, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, to bring a
national focus to the importance of arts education.
“Creativity and innovation will be the cornerstone of Wisconsin
competitiveness in the years ahead,” Lawton said. “We must make strategic
investments now to ensure Wisconsin has the bright innovators and
entrepreneurs we need to drive our state forward.”
“The arts build 21st century skills. From my experience as a music
teacher, drama director, district fine arts coordinator, and principal of a
creative arts magnet school, I know that the arts not only boost student
achievement in school, they reinforce the knowledge and abilities business
and industry needs today and for the future,” Burmaster said. “The work of
this task force to improve access and equity in arts education as part of a
balanced curriculum is vital for our students and the future of our state
and nation.”
The task force will examine state-level policies and local practices to
determine their impact on the scope and access to quality arts education
opportunities in Wisconsin; recommend refinement and changes to DPI, as well
as new initiatives, to support arts education, creativity, and innovation;
and identify state and local agencies, organizations, and businesses that
can collaborate to provide leadership and resources in support of arts
education, creativity, and innovation.
Updated:
April 07, 2008
Fax: 608/267-0380