UPDATED March 28, 2024

LESS THAN 4% OF CALIFORNIA STUDENTS LEARN TO TAKE AN ARTISTIC PHOTO, CREATE A MOVIE OR ANIMATION, DESIGN A WEBPAGE, PROGRAM A VIDEO GAME, REPORT A NEWS STORY, ANALYZE AN AD, OR DESIGN A 3D ENVIRONMENT!

WHILE PROP 28 WILL SUPPORT DANCE, MUSIC, THEATRE AND VISUAL ARTS TO RAPIDLY GROW IN TEACHERS AND PROGRAMS

MEDIA ARTS WILL BE LEFT FAR BEHIND.

You may be aware that "media arts" now has legislation in California! 

SB 1341 (Allen) - Pupil Instruction - Media Arts, would list “media arts” in CA Educational Code Sections 51210 (5) and 51220 (g), alongside of dance, music, theater, and visual arts. If passed by state legislators and signed by the Governor, this would make media arts an official, separate arts discipline available to all California students, in parity with the other arts disciplines, as well as set national precedent! 

SB 1341 is supported by all four CA arts education professional associations - CDEA, CMEA, CETA, and CAEA!

Also support and promises from CREATE CA, CA Federation of Teachers, National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture, the National Association for Media Literacy Education, Americans for the Arts, Turnaround Arts, the National Association of Theater Owners, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and the Museum of Contemporary Art!!  

However, only CREATE CA, CMEA, NAMLE, NATO, National Media Alliance, NAMAE, LACOE and 4 individuals are listed in the bill analysis so far!  

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need to demonstrate a broad and overwhelming community of support from arts and education organizations, districts, higher-ed, the entire media arts industry, and community members!! 

Please submit your support letter by APRIL 19 to THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS!! 

• As an individual or organization, naming your org in the bill analysis, submit a signed letter of support to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations OR directly to the advocacy portal    (See NAMAE example)                                                     - - You must start an account, search for the bill, select Appropriations, Choose 'support', and upload PDF file

• Submit a letter or note of support to your CA Senate and Assembly representative!       (See SB 1341 Individual Template)

• Sign-on to our petition in support of SB 1341 here!

The language below will help you in writing a letter of support!

Please distribute this information to anyone who may support media arts to be an official subject area for all CA students!

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Dain Olsen

President, CEO

National Association for Media Arts Education

SB 1341 Media Arts – CA Ed Code

SB 1341 (Allen) - Pupil instruction: course of study: visual and performing arts: media arts

This Proposed Legislation 

SB 1341 would list “media arts” in CA Educational Code Sections 51210 (5) and 51220 (g), alongside of dance, music, theater, and visual arts. This designates media arts as an official arts subject area, in parity with the other disciplines, and available to all California students.

Background

CA now has PK12 Media Arts Standards and Framework, which were recently developed alongside the other arts disciplines. Media arts is described as a distinct arts discipline with unique products, productions processes, and tools, which are complex, sophisticated, and rapidly changing. Media arts’ diverse forms include: photo, imaging, film, sound production, video game design, web design, interactive design, virtual, augmented and mixed reality design, etc. These areas are a major component of CA’s $687 billion dollar “Creative Economy”. Currently, “media arts” is primarily under the visual arts category, but is also in Career Tech Ed (CTE) and tech-ed. LAUSD has approximately 150 teachers of diverse forms of media arts, 30% of whom are CTE teachers. In a survey taken by 60 of these teachers, 95% stated that they needed specific professional development. CTE media arts programs are limited to selected high schools, and are focused on vocational preparation. 

Why? 

Media arts’ diverse and versatile forms are the basis of our digital society’s communications, design, and social interactivity, and therefore are vital requisites for students’ academic, vocational and life skills preparation. Media arts empowers students to produce varieties of expressive and artistic media, to become equal contributors to the cultural discourse, and to be critical audiences and discerning citizens in a media-centered society. Media arts’ interdisciplinary nature can support students’ academic success. 

Support

So far, SB 1341 is supported by all four arts education associations – CAEA, CDEA, CMEA and CETA. 

AB 37 (O’Donnell, 2016) authorized the development of the “Media Arts Standards and Framework”, and was supported by large majorities in the Assembly and Senate, and: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson (sponsor); California Alliance for Arts Education California; Art Education Association; California Association for Bilingual Education; California Dance Education Association; California Federation of Teachers; California Music Educators Association; California School Boards Association; California State PTA; California Teachers Association; and multiple districts across the state.

Benefits of Media Arts

Prepares diverse students for California’s growing creative workforce and 21st C society ● Creatively unlimited virtual-physical laboratories as a versatile makerspace ● Students of media arts can literally produce, invent and simulate anything imaginable ● A hub discipline for trans-disciplinary learning - media arts connects to and complements all arts and academic disciplines – e.g. core, STEAM, engineering, computer science, etc. ● An accessible and democratizing art form that reflects contemporary ideas, capacities and culture ● Increased learner engagement, self-direction, cultural empowerment, civic engagement ● Increased alternative access for all learners to other academic content and processes (e.g. Special Education, English Language Learners, socio-economically disadvantaged) ● Increased media presentation, documentation, and interactions between learners, schools, and communities ● School to work connections and pathways - complementing CTE media arts programs ● New, more effective, flexible, equitable, and adaptive approaches to learning, teaching and education – e.g. student-centered, project-based, etc. ● Comprehensive range of 21st century skill sets and competencies. ● Multi-literacies across media, technology and digital culture 

NEXT OPEN Media Arts Committee Meeting # 11 - Thursday, December 14, 2023, 6:30pm - 8:00 ET (90 min.)

(MAC/NAMAE Meetings will regularly be the 2nd Thursday of each month). RSVP Below to receive a link.

MEDIA ARTS EDU PODCAST - EVERY 3RD WEDNESDAY - RSVP HERE TO RECEIVE THE LINK

JOIN US - WED, NOV. 15, 6:30pm ET; 3:30pm PT (we may shift times occasionally to accommodate coasts and Hawaii)

First session will be brainstorming - “What can a MAE Podcast be and do?”

MAE FIELD SURVEY regarding this professional association: interest in involvement, benefits, dues, educator needs.

EDUCATORS SURVEY - details on your situation will help us to develop this association to better serve the field. (Including: K12 teacher, other arts, out-of-school, teaching artist, CTE, tech, part-time, computer science, other categories)

Notes from 10th MAC Meeting: 

NCAS - DEI Advisory Panel - Pause on educator recruitment until Steering Committee determines details

NAEA Convention 2024 April - MAE Historic 1st Physical Convening! Register Now! 

• Co-owned by NAEA/NAMAE; Not ‘closed’; All invited to attend! Hoping for a great event!

• 10 year anniversary of National Media Arts Standards; 35 yrs - Minnesota originated MAE!

• NAEA - 10 years of including/servicing media arts; Arts & Media Tech Group?

• Networking; MAE status, context, possibilities; Breakouts by disciplines, regions, issues/ideas

National Youth Media Arts Edu Expo (NYMAEX) - start in January with webpage listing all US exhibitions. Share your students’ work!

Representatives’ Updates

• CA MAE Legislation- Speaker Emeritus Rendon will enthusiastically support MAE proposal for legislation - author? Thanks Glenna Avila!

• KQED/PBS Partnership - 2nd meeting - several points of collaboration and alignment. Their educator resources.

National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE) 

• NMAEA, NMAE, NOMAE, AAMAE  These acronyms just weren’t working.

• Due to our small size; need for flexibility in governance; fluctuating participation; need to develop outreach, membership structures, services and resources, we are starting without membership governance structures 

• Olsen will serve as incorporator, filing documents in CA and getting the initial organization up and running.

• DRAFT Bylaws & Incorporation docs posted for comment - https://bit.ly/3sBy50y 

• "Initial directors" are appointed. Serve 1 year, meet 4x 

• First NAMAE Board Meeting in mid-December or January - Adopt bylaws, appoint officers, organize development

• Nominate self or other for director or officer - President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer

  • Deadline: November 30

• Director Qualifications - Collegiality, flexibility and commitment to support, promote and advance the NAMAE and its mission, as demonstrated in service and/or resources.

• 501c3 App is next, but we are now 501c3 under fiscal sponsorship, Young Audiences

Attend the next MAC meeting! or support in other ways to advance media arts education for all learners and educators! 

RSVP at https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/rsvp-open-meeting. NO NEED TO RSVP AGAIN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY, as you will be on our Involved list. OPEN means that anyone is invited to attend. Meeting recordings and notes posted at Connect / Media Arts Committee.

October 19, 2023

INCORPORATION

Media arts education will soon be incorporated, and then the 501c3 application submitted to the IRS. It takes about 9 or 10 months for that. Late 2024?

Although we will be officially incorporated, with officers and a board, we will still be in ‘start-up’ mode. This ‘interim’ development period will last awhile before we gain full formal organization, including  funding, memberships, dues, state affiliates and a full convention and national exhibition. Our goal is to eventually mirror the other national arts education orgs, and to continue supporting media arts' establishment in K12 education. You do know that we already have 501c3 status? You can DONATE to us right now! Even $1.00 would be so appreciated to reach our goals!

OUR NAME? And a field survey regarding this professional association. PLEASE DO THE SURVEY! 

Our original idea for the name was the National Media Arts Education Association (NMAEA). My sister thinks the acronym doesn’t work. 

How about National Association for Media Arts Education (NAMAE) “Nay-may”? Or is there a better name? Society? Coalition? Organization? - NOMAE? Alliance? American Alliance for MAE (AAMAE)? Media Arts Education(al) Association MAEA “may-ah”. Do we even need “National"? Check out the other Arts Orgs - https://nationalartsstandards.org/content/who-we-are

VOTE FOR THE NAMAE HERE! As well as answer several other survey questions regarding our organizational development! THANKS!

MEDIA ARTS EDU PODCAST - EVERY 3RD WEDNESDAY - RSVP HERE TO RECEIVE THE LINK

JOIN US - WED, NOV. 15, 6:30pm ET; 3:30pm PT (we may shift times occasionally to accommodate coasts and Hawaii)

I am starting an informal zoom webinar/podcast every 3rd Wednesday of the month for open conversations around media arts and education - discussions, interviews, panels, professional development, org ideas, brainstorming sessions, exhibiting student work, lesson and project sharing, artist visits. 

Think of this as an incubator/ think tank/ professional learning session towards shaping our organization and our understanding of and support for the discipline. What are your latest media arts experiences? What do teachers and educators need right now? What do learners need and how do we deliver it? What are connections we need to make? What are our best practices? How do we organize ourselves to serve the field? What problem(s) are you facing in your classroom or out of school program? What solutions have you found? What are emerging ideas and issues for the field? Whom should we interview? Do you want to be interviewed, or organize a panel? Show us your program/classroom! What are the latest trends and research?

Notes from 9th MAC Meeting: 

Continued Working Committees

• Equity Inclusion Advisory - Process and timeline have been sketched out.

• NAEA/ MAE Mini-Convention 2024 - NAEA is hosting our meeting.  Join us! The basic considerations for a convening have been outlined. Hoping many can attend!

• NMAEA - Completing Bylaws and Incorporation documents. 501c3 application to come.

• NYMAEX (National Youth Media Arts Ed Expo) 

  • Start simple, basic with a webpage. Recruit and post all schools/orgs

  • We have a quote for basic web application that needs to be studied.

• Online Social Community Network -  TBD. Investigate applications and online groups to support peer to peer to org networks to instantly galvanize our organization

• Capacity (people/resources)- Measure / Build - TBD. How do we measure and build our capacity?

Other: KQED/PBS Partnership - We had an initial meeting to explore a possible partnership with KQED/PBS San Francisco. This could align with and complement several aspects of our developing organization, including NYMAEX, professional development, media literacy certification, etc. Check out their great educator resources!

Attend the next MAC meeting! or support in other ways to advance media arts education for all learners and educators! 

RSVP at https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/rsvp-open-meeting. NO NEED TO RSVP AGAIN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY, as you will be on our Involved list. OPEN means that anyone is invited to attend. Meeting recordings and notes posted at Connect / Media Arts Committee.

September 15, 2023

Notes from 8th MAC Meeting: 

Representatives’ Updates

• CA - Pending analysis CA Dept of Education; Help needed! Contact Dain Olsen

• MD - Prince George’s Co. - New media arts admin. position

Reviewed National Media Arts Edu Association (NMAEA) organization components/goals 1-3 years

Began Action Planning w/ Working Committees to achieve the above goals.

• Equity Inclusion Advisory - Need open-call process to recruit 8 Teachers and produce Model Lessons

• NAEA Mini-Convention 2024 - The National Art Education Association has offered the opportunity to stage a Media Arts event at their convention in April.

• NMAEA - We are still working on Bylaws, and now including everything for the Non-Profit, 501c3 application

• NYMAEX (Youth Media Arts Expo)  

  • Start simple, basic with a webpage. Recruit and post all schools/orgs

  • We have received a quote for a basic web app to automate this process - $3000 - 2 Weeks

  • YouTube codes (all forms: e.g. photo, video, music, game, design, etc.) would be shared from local schools/orgs to Regional/State curators. Then shared to National curator(s).

• Online Social Community Network - Investigate applications and online groups to support peer to peer to org networks to instantly

• Capacity (people/resources)- Measure / Build - How do we measure and build our capacity? 

Our partners at the National Association for Media Literacy Education want to hear from all media arts educators! 

Please take 15 minutes to complete the 2023 State of Media Literacy Education survey and a get a chance to win awesome merch! Survey closes 9/30.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NAMLE

Attend the next meeting! RSVP at https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/rsvp-open-meeting. NO NEED TO RSVP AGAIN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY, as you will be on our Involved list. OPEN means that anyone is invited to attend. Meeting recordings and notes posted at Connect / Media Arts Committee.

August 11, 2023

OPEN Media Arts Committee Meeting # 8 - Thursday, September 14, 2023, 6:30pm ET 

(MAC Meetings will regularly be the 2nd Thursday of each month). RSVP Below to receive a link.

Notes from 7th MAC Meeting: 

Updates

• • National Coalition for Arts Standards 

    • Equity and Inclusion Advisory Panel - Welcome to Media Arts Representatives!

      • Mike Uwandi, Concept Artist, 9B Collective, BRIC Foundation

      • Lekia Thorpe, Media Arts Teacher, Rocky River HS, Charlotte, NC

  • National Art Education Association - Possible Media Arts Pre-conference or Session(s)

  • Framing/Lead Committee -Draft Bylaws completed, under discussion

  • Representatives - 

    • CA - Attempting non-legislative maneuver for MAE establishment

    • MD- Prince George’s County - has a new Media Arts Administrator Position

    • PA - Reaching out to MACE members

  • Working Committee Reports

    • MAE Organization Strategic Planning

      • Discussed meeting results and determined 1 - 3 Year Goals

      • Next Steps - Action Planning

    • NYMAEX - Planning for National Youth Media Expo

      • Web Application Proposal 

Attend the next meeting! RSVP at https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/rsvp-open-meeting. NO NEED TO RSVP AGAIN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY, as you will be on our Involved list. OPEN means that anyone is invited to attend. Meeting recordings and notes posted at Connect / Media Arts Committee.

SchoolArts Magazine is looking for studio lessons that incorporate media arts in some way. Please contact Nancy Walkup at nancywalkup@mac.com for more information.

July 20, 2023

Notes from Strategic Planning and Open MAC Meetings:

MAC PROGRESS

• MAC expanded, representational

• 6 Open Meetings

• 3 Working Committees - Framing, NYMAEX, Strategic Planning

• Moving towards formal association; Shell 501c3Pro Assoc - NMAEA 

• ByLaws - Revising, getting advice

• We are 501c3 (Young Aud, fisc sponsor)

• NCAS DEI Advisory - 2 reps - will need 8 teachers by January - model lesson

• + Standards revision team

• NYMAEX update - other models, partners, app? Start with webpage listing all local sites. 

• Some local MAE progress across states

• CA Legislation or Ed Code Alignment

• MAE Symposium - Dec 22/22, LAUSD - 500

• 3 Arts ARE Ed Townhalls

• Partners - NCAS, AEP, NAMLE, NAEA, NAMAC, BRIC, AFA 

• NAEA- pre-conv, sessions 2024? “Mutually beneficial relationship

WHAT DOES OUR ORG DO?

• Professional development for MAE teachers

• Form committees and representation

• Assure comprehensive representation

• Assist professional artists to become credentialed teachers

WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Form an organization with regional reps, who hold PD events

• Have a convention just as other arts ed orgs do (e.g. NAEA) Lucas Museum 2015?

• Partner with other organizations to provide student experiences

• Professional learning webinars- recertification of media arts teachers

• Special interest groups - e.g. higher ed, private, etc. for in-depth conversations

• Social networking app - Circles.so, $500 yr, unlimited #s; Discussions, groups, peer 2 peer, etc.

• NYMAEX - Can start small

• Organized effort to develop regions, regional leaders, local corporate sponsors

• Host national meetings to hear from regions and support

Also, we began discussing AI in our last MAC Meeting! Very interesting!

Next MAC Strategic Planning Meeting, Tuesday Aug 8, 1pm ET

Next Open MAC Meeting, Thursday, Aug 10, 6:30pm ET

June 9, 2023

Updates from 5th, June 8 meeting: 

• NCAS

  • NEA Grant - Reimagine Standards - Equity & Inclusion - Open Call for media arts educators serving underprivileged students. To serve on National Advisory Panel. Application deadline June 23 - https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/media-arts-equity-inclusion-panel

• MAC Framing/Lead Committee

  • By-Laws initiated development - complete by August?

  • Donations for email platform and 501c3 “shell” - CA, “Digital Arts Studios”. Thanks to Dr. William Bronston and Maria Madril Hernandez!

  • Possible “mini-convention” in Fall to formalize the National Association?

• Representatives Updates 

  • CA - MAE Coalition meets, strategizes for proposed legislation

  • MD - Barbara Liedahl appointed to Maryland Edu Advisory Board

• Working Committees - Began planning with small progress. To meet again separately.

  • MAE Organization Strategic Planning Prep - Next Closed Meeting - Reps + Members

  • NYMAEX - Planning for National Youth Media Expo

May 12, 2023

Updates from 4th Open MAC Meeting: 

MAC Framing/Lead Committee

Potential strategic planning facilitation - Date TBD June/Summer?

By-Laws - initiated development - complete by June?

NCAS to undergo DEI process with standards review and new curriculum

Representatives Updates 

OH - Media arts licensure - needs development

CA - Organizing for MAE Legislation

PA - Met with Pennsylvania Arts Education Leadership Coalition

AL - Meet all arts education associations annual before the Alabama Arts Summit

AK - Connect with Alaska Society for Technology in Education festival

Outreach Effort

NH - Media arts group (pending)

Need Task Force to do strategic outreach - see Capacity Building Committee below

Planning for National Youth Media Arts Education Festival/ Expo NYMAEX?

View Google Prototype here https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/test-nymaex

View Jamboard here https://jamboard.google.com/d/1PLuEvObexLYu4xHnWZSplq9qnfv4wsVDCJlPNdaU-WQ/edit?usp=sharing

Proposed Working Committees - Look for future email to sign-up.

MAE Organization Strategic Planning Prep

NYMAEX Organization

Capacity Building

5th Open MAC Meeting, Thursday, June 8, 2023, 6:30pm ET

Tentative Agenda: 

Updates

Working Committees begin working

April 14, 2023

National Youth Media Arts Education Expo (NYMAEX) Approved!

Members, Visitors and Representatives had final discussions regarding the proposed event/festival of student work. Representatives present and by proxy voted unanimously to approve proceeding to organize the event. We began a process of considering possibilities, practical implementation and challenges/solutions, to be continued.

Outreach Effort 

We are encouraging everyone to make an effort to spread the word and recruit new members to our organization. Go to the Recruit webpage to learn who to contact with example email queries. Let them know to put your name when they Sign-on in support, RSVP, and/or complete the Educator’s Survey.

New Framing Committee

A newly initiated Framing Committee will develop By-Laws for the possible formalization of this organization. The committee also serves temporarily in leadership capacity to manage operations, until the completed By-Laws allow the organization to nominate officers. Framing Committee volunteers: Robb Bomboy (PA), Helen Buck-Pavlick (OH) Joyce Huser (KS), Barbara Liedahl (MD), Dain Olsen (CA).

CA Proposed Media Arts Education Legislation

If you are interested in supporting this proposed legislation in CA, contact Dain Olsen. We will be meeting soon to organize this effort.

March 10, 2023

Our 2nd Open Media Arts Committee Meeting was yesterday. 

Exciting News! We are most likely going to organize a National Youth Media Arts EDU Festival (Film, Video, Anim, Music, Podcast, Photo, Graphics, TikTok…TBD)!!! This will motivate and catalyze the process of achieving our goals: Outreach, Recruitment, Networking, Advocacy, Attention, Exemplifying/Branding MAE, Amplifying Student Voice, Formalizing MAC, Organization, National Convention. Breakout groups very much supported the idea. REPs will vote on this at next meeting to make it official. Thanks to William Bronston, CA, for raising the idea of Film Festival in the last meeting. Ideas: Perhaps more of an exhibition than competition; Structure it to “self-organize" at Local / State / National (International?) levels; Possibly find high-profile partners to support, curate and exhibit national work.

NEXT 3rd OPEN Media Arts Committee Meeting - Thursday, April 13, 2023, 6:30pm ET (MAC Meetings will regularly be the 2nd Thursday of each month).  RSVP TO RECEIVE LINK at https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/rsvp-open-meeting. NO NEED TO RSVP AGAIN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY, as you will be on our Involved list. OPEN means that anyone is invited to attend. We will formalize later as we become more organized and gain Members and Representatives. Meeting recordings and notes posted at Connect / Media Arts Committee.

JOIN THE MEDIA ARTS COMMITTEE!  SIGN UP TO BE REPs and MEMBERS by this Monday, March 13 to represent diverse aspects of MAE in decision-making: Form, region, org, grade, out of school, gender, ethnicity, etc.  https://www.mediaartsedu.org/connect/join-mac. This window probably to open periodically TBD. You may continue to fill out the form in application with this possibility. 

February 10, 2023

NEXT OPEN Media Arts Committee Meeting - Thursday, March 9, 2023, 6:30pm ET (MAC Meetings will regularly be the 2nd Thursday of each month). OPEN means that everyone is invited to attend. 

Our first Open MAC Meeting yesterday was historic, and a great success! We had 60 attendees, 100+RSVPs, and 33 who signed-up for various types of involvement! We have 175 people who have stated that they want to be involved in some way. Our numbers are growing! The NMAEI is on the move. Thanks so much to the attendees and co-hosts, Barbara Liedahl and Robb Bomboy. 

Attendees at the meeting got a brief overview of the NMAEI and a lot of info on how to be involved. That is summarized on the Support/Help Out page on this site, along with a form to mark your interests in involvement (not a contract).  Also, breakout groups discussed their questions and other thoughts and presented. Very important ideas and issues were raised that we will continue to discuss. It was really gratifying to discuss these things, which we haven't been able to do anywhere else!  Find the video, minutes and transcript at Connect / Media Arts Committee. 

Our next meeting will clarify a few points about the NMAEI and MAE that came up in the meeting. We will then prioritize and form groups based on involvement interests to begin organizing. Thus, this grass roots work continues! Please join us!

January 27,2023

PROPOSED MEDIA ARTS EDU LEGISLATION CALIF 

- BACKGROUND INFO SUBMITTED TO STATE LEGISLATORS' ARTS COMMITTEE

Due to the urgency of Proposition 28 in CA, which substantially funds “media arts” along with all K12 arts subjects, we have hastily submitted background information for proposed media arts legislation to the State Legislator's Joint Committee on the Arts for their feedback. This is the initial step in developing legislation to establish media arts as an official K12 subject area. Your comments, even if you are not in CA, are necessary to make this legislation as effective as possible. We will be having another meeting in the very near future in order to discuss the revisions for resubmission of this important document. Stay tuned!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ma8TwzVJ5-OF5vx64KvnRp4lobFUd5m9/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108460860199417096579&rtpof=true&sd=true

January 11, 2022

INVITATION TO ATTEND THE OPEN MEDIA ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING!

In order to establish "Media Arts" (e.g. digital arts, multimedia, video, game design) as an official K12 subject area across the US, the Media Arts Committee (MAC) of the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, is launching a National Media Arts Ed Initiative. If you would like to be involved in this effort, we are having a special Open Meeting, Thursday, February 9, 6:30pm ET.  Please RSVP at this link to attend.  You will receive a reminder and link to the Zoom meeting. Also, please read the Initiative and FAQ tabs on the website prior to attending.  Email mediaartsedu01@gmail.com for more info. 

Please distribute this information widely!

Media Arts Committee,

National Coalition for Core Arts Standards

December 21, 2022

OPEN MAC MEETING!

The Media Arts Committee (MAC), who is responsible for this site and the National Media Arts Ed Initiative, are having a special meeting in early February for those who want to be actively involved in these efforts. Also, we are opening the Committee to new members and representatives of local groups and areas from around the country to organize and coordinate these efforts. See the Connect/Join MAC page for more details. If you would like to attend, sign up at this Doodle Poll (deadline Friday, January 6) to select the date. Email mediaartsedu01@gmail.com to be in updates for the meeting. 

SIGN THE PETITION!

We have started a petition at Change.org. This is in addition to our current Sign-on form on this website. This duplicates this process, but Change has extended the effort for a bit more outreach. It relatively quickly has gathered 100 signatures, so has been more effective than this website and our periodic social media and emails. However, Change limits our access to those supporters who opt in to announcements only. 

SYMPOSIUM SUCCESS!

The Symposium at Grand Arts High School, LAUSD, CA, on December 3,  was a great success! We deeply appreciate all the presenters, organizers and school personnel who contributed to making it happen. Students, parents and educators who attended were able to experience a wide range of media arts training and presentations so they have a better understanding of media arts in education. We hope to have another Symposium in the near future. Stay tuned!

$ FOR ARTS EDU AND MEDIA ARTS! You may have heard that arts education in California received a stupendous boost in our last election. Proposition 28 guarantees 1% of the total educational budget to be dedicated to arts education in that fiscal year. This amounts to about $1 billion each year! Also, the legislation names “media arts” specifically to be included. 80% of the funding is to go to funding new arts teachers, so that means teachers of media arts will be in greater demand. We will need to develop ways to work with this momentum in advancing the discipline. You can find more details at this site. 

September 22, 2022

Media Arts Committee, NCCAS is organizing the process by which new members, representatives and a general audience will be invited to attend our monthly Zoom meetings. Stay tuned for the prerequisites necessary to join MAC. 

NATIONAL MEDIA ARTS ARE ED TOWN HALL - October 25, 6:30pm ET, 5:30pm CT, 3:30pm PT (Zoom link to come)

Media Arts Committee, NCCAS, in conjunction with Arts ARE Education, will conduct its first national webcast this October. This will be a basic introduction to media arts education (MAE), and the National Media Arts Education Initiative (NMAEI). We will provide an overview of MAE, the Initiative and goals and status and an open Q & A. The entire MAE community of teachers, artists, parents, students and supporters is invited to attend. We will make an effort to conduct regular webcasts after that. 

CA - We are examining the process for legislation to fully establish MAE in CA - inclusion in ed code and credential, to align with existing standards, framework and course codes.

MEDIA ARTS EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM 2022

“The State and Future of Media Arts Education”

As Presented by 

The Media Arts Academy 

Ramon Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts 

Los Angeles Unified School District

4:30pm - 6:30pm, Saturday, December 3, 2022

The Media Arts Education Symposium will

• Share current instructional practices

• Exhibit student journeys and work

• Exhibit industry tools, practices and reflections pertinent to education

• Present the current state and envision the ultimate promise of MAE

• Discuss and organize the means to advance and scale up the discipline across education

Invited to participate and attend: Students, educators, parents, community members, industry, artists, higher-education, arts organizations 

Save the date! CALL FOR ENTRIES! Let us know as soon as possible your interest in involvement, presentation or participation (email below) Subject Line: "LAUSD Symposium"

PA - The Media Arts Coalition of Educators (MACE) community has been reactivated and is beginning to plan a meeting, and potentially a future convention.

June 1, 2022

We have sign-ons and surveys from many different states! I just talked to a beginning teacher in Hawaii, and she is enthusiastic to assist in her area! We are beginning to see some results of our connecting network! People are forming small groups to at least discuss the topic of MAE in CA, OR, NE, MD, and PA! If I get a group of educators from one area or region, and they have stated their interest in connecting,  I'll introduce them in a group email.  The initial conversation could be something like, "What do we have in common? What makes media arts unique, exciting and beneficial for students? What are our needs, goals and dreams? What is the ultimate promise of this subject area for learning and education? What would be our dream convention?"  

Other updates:

Media Arts Committee has non-profit status under the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and our fiscal sponsor, Young Audiences.  We can begin to fundraise and consider what we want to accomplish. Organizing for this dream convention, possibly in the next school year, will provide us an inspiring, concrete way to begin thinking about the answers to these questions and beginning to meet and organize. I think that once the idea of MAE establishment and a professional association is really considered, this movement will gain momentum and a growing network. 

PA - The Media Arts Coalition of Educators with a network of about 200 teachers and strong leadership is going to be revived from a pandemic hiatus. They had convened several times before the pandemic, and so provide solid ground to build on. 

MD - Prince George's County, has a media arts specialist position, 102 media arts teachers, and several distinct courses. They are considering forming an association, possibly under their state visual arts association.  

CA - LAUSD has 120-150 media arts teachers, with probably 100's more across the state. But it will be difficult to reach out to them because there is no solid means of finding them! This will be an ongoing challenge. LAUSD teachers have had one small meeting, with another to come soon.  99% of 60 teachers who answered the survey stated they would join a media arts educator association. That percentage holds with this website's survey. 

Media Arts Committee is beginning to consider how MAE relates to and interrelates with existing arts associations - NAEA,  NDEO, etc. We need input from media arts educators on this sort of statement.  All the more reason for regional collectives to organize and provide their input.

May 6, 2022

We are continuing to make efforts to reach out to educators across the U.S.  You can now see who has signed-on to support on that page. We are considering different ways to find media arts teachers and invite them into our community. For example, we are looking at social media groups and beginning to post there; downloading principal email lists and contacting them  to relay a message to teachers.  We are considering  organizing for a future event  or convention where we can share and learn from one another. Please join us!

March 23, 2022

We are just beginning to organize this effort to establish media arts education across the U.S. 

Our first steps are to begin connecting with and organizing media arts educators across the U.S., finding out about their situations, informing them of the emergence of media arts education, and gauging their interest in forming a professional association. Please sign-on in support AND take the Educator's Survey. This is how we move forward!

 Stay tuned for developments as they occur. Sign-on if you wish to receive email updates on our progress.  

Thanks for your interest and support!