Arts Now MCOE

Access ~ Engagement ~ Interaction

Merced County Office of Education envisions a countywide effort that ensures

• all youth have access to high-quality arts education and experiences
• all teachers have resources and support to engage their classrooms in the arts 
• all community members have the opportunity to interact with public art. 

Recent Accomplishments (2022-2023):

“Shelter and Place”: Summer 2023

a multimedia humanities + arts project

supported by the California Humanities

WHO: 

• Students from the Migrant Education Program at MCOE

WHAT: 

• Students engaged with humanities faculty and arts professionals to complete a series of artwork

• Student artwork was based on an interview with a family member or friend about their experience in the Central Valley during the pandemic

• Students recorded a podcast to highlight important portions of their interview

WHEN:

• Students created work over the course of two weeks, a week in June and a week in July

• Student work (including a QR linking to the podcast) was displayed from 8/18-8/21

WHERE:

• Student work was created at the UC Merced 

• Student work was displayed for free in downtown Merced at the Multicultural Arts Center

WHY:

• The California Humanities chose to support this work because of the lasting effect of the humanities on participants

• Students gained skills in interviewing, storytelling, public speaking and art-making while developing community on the UC Merced campus

​"Crafting a Creative Merced County"​

 

 

Interested in bringing a multimedia humanities and artmaking experience to your campus? 

Email NChandler@mcoe.org with questions.

 

“Poetry Out Loud”: Winter 2022/2023

a statewide poetry recitation initiative  supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in collaboration with the Merced County Arts Council

WHO: 

• Olivia Bruner of Merced High School

WHAT: 

• Olivia and her competitors at 3 high schools across Merced County memorized, practiced and performed classic and contemporary poetry in a virtual competition

WHEN:

• January 2023

WHERE:

• The Merced County POL Performance was virtual in 2023, but will be in-person in 2024! 

WHY:

• Poetry recitation builds critical public speaking skills

• Poetry recitation supports neural pathway development through repetition and rehearsal

• Poetry recitation encourages creative interpretation and new lenses through which to view classic and contemporary literature

 

 

Start “playing with poetry” now and send your students to the January 2024 competition: POL date is January 27!

Email NChandler@mcoe.org or fill out this form to start receiving the monthly Arts Update!

 

“ECELA: Engaging California English Learners through the Arts”: 2022-2023 School Year in Los Banos USD

an arts integration professional development program by the LA County Office of Education

WHO: 

• Administrators, teachers, staff and students at Los Banos and Miano Elementaries

WHAT: 

• Staff and students were treated to in-class professional development in the form of drop-in “art talks” and accessible virtual modules and video lessons

• Strategies were developed to support ELD students in developing written, read and spoken academic language skills

WHEN:

• 2022-2023 marked the first year of implementation at school sites in LBUSD

WHERE:

• Los Banos Unified School District

WHY:

• “Art Talks” support student language development by providing continuous low-stakes assessment of their abilities and encouraging them to engage authentically with language

• “Art Talks” utilize art as text, increasing accessibility for readers of all levels and languages

• Integrating visual and performing arts into the classroom increases engagement, encourages the “5 C’s” (collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication and character development) and translates directly into higher test scores and happier students

Get a monthly “ECELAgram” (inspiration for interactivity) by signing up to receive the monthly Arts Update here.

Email NChandler@mcoe.org to learn more about ECELA opportunities!

 

“Merced County Honor Choir”: Spring 2023 

2nd annual collaborative concert at Merced Theatre

WHO: 

• High school vocalists from across Merced County, as well as elementary choirs

• Winners of the Merced County Arts Council’s annual High School Art Contest

• Players from Merced Symphony who accompanied over 100 students in “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman

WHAT: 

• A free one-time opportunity for high school vocalists from all high school choirs to come together and make music

• A family-friendly community music offering in an accessible location

WHEN:

• April 1, 2023. Read on for the 2024 date!

WHERE:

• Merced Theatre in Downtown Merced

WHY:

• It is a critical part of a young artist’s development to work with a wide variety of directors and conductors when preparing for future artistry

• Public showcases give the community a glimpse into what schools are offering by way of participating choral programs

• Including elementary choirs keeps younger students active and engaged throughout their educational career

 

2024 Honor Choir date is January 20th!

Email NChandler@mcoe.org to get more information or volunteer a choir for participation!

 

Arts Connected to Science