The Right Brain Initiative
The Right Brain Initiative, formerly Arts Partners, is a collaborative initiative involving arts organizations, school districts, governments, and private donors to develop a comprehensive solution for providing arts education opportunities for every student in the Portland metropolitan area. RACC is convening the visioning and planning phases of this project.
The Right Brain Initiatives’ purpose statement: To achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the region’s school districts.
To learn more about The Right Brain Initiative, to get involved, and/or to receive regular updates on our progress, please contact:
Marna Stalcup
The Right Brain Initiative Program Manager
503.823.4698
mstalcup@racc.org
Check out The Right Brain Initiative website
Latest News
June 22, 2009
More Right Brain Initiative Artists Selected
The Right Brain Initiative has added 16 artists and arts organizations as options for schools participating in The Right Brain Initiative during the 2009-10 school year. The list, now totaling nearly 70 professionals offers choices in dance, theater, music, visual and media to teachers in 20 tri-county schools where the arts are integrated with other classroom learning. Also check out the Initiatives one-year Progress Report.
May 22, 2009
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| Carol Smith, Chair of the Right Brain Initiative Governing Committe, rolled out the Progress Report. (Photo: Bill Barry) |
The Right Brain Initiative Celebrates a Successful First Year
On Wednesday, May 20th, The Right Brain Initiative culminated its inaugural year with an open house for the general public at The John Ross Penthouse at South Waterfront. Families, friends, educators and arts fans enjoyed exhibits featuring a sampling of student work and heard stories about what’s possible when artists, arts organizations, teachers, schools and the community collaborate on whole-brain education. All guests were invited to warm up their own right brains by contributing to an interactive sculpture. Prior to the public event, the Initiative’s first Progress Report was shared with funders and key partners at a special reception in their honor. Click here to download a copy of the Progress Report. To see photos by Bill Barry of the Celebration, click here.
May 15, 2009
5/20 The Right Brain Initiative Showcase
Families, friends, educators, and community art fans are invited to the Right Brain Initiative Year One Showcase to see the K-8 students' works on view from recent pilot projects in area schools, and hear stories about what’s possible when artists, arts organizations, teachers, schools, and the community collaborate in the name of whole-brain education. Paid and free parking is available throughout the South Waterfront area. From downtown, the Portland Streetcar may be taken to South Waterfront departed at SW Moody & Gaines. Free and open to the public. 6PM, John Ross Building, penthouse, 3601 SW River Parkway, Portland OR 97239. RSVP at http://event.pingg.com/ProgressReport. For more information on the Right Brain vist www.rightbraininitiative.crg.
6/22-24 Arts Without Boundaries
This 3-day program is
presented by Oregon Alliance for Arts Education, The Right Brain Initiative, OregonASK, Arts Work in Education (AWE). This program offers professional development opportunities in the Arts for all k-12 teachers, arts specialists afterschool professionals, parents, teaching artists, education and arts organization leaders, policy-makers and funders. Institute participants will be provided hands on authentic arts integration processes using big ideas and K-12 content standards. Presenters will showcase teaching approches for arts-integrated experiences in theater, music, dance and visual arts. Some presenters include Eric Booth, Deborah Brzoska, Annie Painter, Nick Rabkin, Barbara Shepard, Deborah Stuart, Cynthia Weiss, Rick Williams, and Dennie Palmer Wolf. At The Art Insitute of Portland, 1122 NW Davis and Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th in Portland. Cost 1 day-$100; 3 days- $250. To register download the Registration (pdf); Brochure (pdf); Flyer (pdf) or visit www.oregonarts.org.
March 20, 2009
Arts Provider Application Download
The Arts Provider Application is now available for download in two different fill-able formats. The word document may be completed using Microsoft Word, then saved, printed, or submitted via email. The PDF version may be completed using Adobe Acrobat and then printed or submitted directly via email. Application Deadline: 4/20/09. Find out details about upcoming Information Meetings 3/31, 4/2, 4/6.
 Arts Provider Application 2009-10 (Word version)
Reference Form (Word version)
 Arts Provider Application 2009-10 (PDF version)
Reference Form (PDF version)
March 11, 2009
New On YouTube
If you're looking for a way to introduce friends and colleagues to The Right Brain Initiative, YouTube might have the answer! "Community Hotline" a program of MetroEast Community Media aired a 30-minute feature in December 2008 on The Regional Arts & Culture Council and The Right Brain Initiative. Posted in two 10-minute excerpts from the program, viewers learn about the The Right Brain Initiative and hear how it's impacting a school. Sharing the spotlight are Jeff Hawthorne, RACC Community Affairs Director, Right Brain Program Manager Marna Stalcup and Elaine Luckenbaugh, Principal of Gresham's Hollydale Elementary. Take a look, and then pass the link along to friends and colleagues.
March 3, 2009
The Right Brain Initiative Seeks Experienced Teaching Artists and Arts Education Organizations
The Right Brain Initiative, a partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community, is seeking experienced teaching artists and arts education organizations to support the goal to make arts education accessible to every K-8 student in the Portland tri-county region. Application materials for the 2009-10 school year will be available beginning March 16th at www.therightbraininitiative.org. Applications are due April 20, 2009.
Teaching artists and organizations of all disciplines including dance, literary arts, music, theater, and visual arts are invited to apply to provide performances, field trips and residency opportunities to K-8 students. Through The Right Brain Initiative, local teaching artists and arts organizations collaborate with classroom teachers and specialists to integrate the arts across the curriculum. Details about the program and the artist application process will be shared at Information Meetings scheduled in each of the three counties the initiative serves.
• Tuesday, March 31, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 East Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97213.
• Thursday, April 2, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Ledding Library Pond House, 2215 SE Harrison, Milwaukie, OR 97222.
• Monday, April 6, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97217.
The goal of The Right Brain Initiative is to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the tri-county area. The Right Brain Initiative is unique in that it places core emphasis on equitable access to arts education and gives artists and teachers new tools and approaches to engage students in a creative process that connects the arts with other learning. Currently, 10 teaching artists and 10 arts education organizations are bringing integrated arts experiences to over 9,500 students in 20 schools in four school districts: Gresham-Barlow, Hillsboro, North Clackamas and Portland Public Schools.
The Regional Arts & Culture Council (www.racc.org) is the managing partner of The Right Brain Initiative, which ties directly to RACC’s mission of integrating arts and culture in all aspects of community life throughout the Portland metropolitan region. Young Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington serves as implementation partner, coordinating the planning and scheduling of artists in schools. For more information visit www.therightbraininitiative.org/about.asp or contact Carin Rosenberg at 503.225.5900 ext. 229, or by email at crosenberg@therightbrain initiative.org.
Arts Provider Application Download
The Arts Provider Application is available currently available for download in both a fill-able Word document and a PDF. The word document may be completed using Microsoft Word, saved, printed, or submitted via email. The PDF version may be viewed using Adobe Acrobat and printed, for manual completion and mailing.
Arts Provider Application 2009-10 (Word version)
Reference Form (Word version)
Arts Provider Application 2009-10 (PDF version)
Reference Form (PDF version)
January 28, 2009
RACC Job Opportunity: The Right Brain Initiative Program Assistant
Provide general administrative assistance to Program Manager of a regional arts education initiative. Coordinate meeting details; database management; correspondence and recordkeeping on the project’s development; Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Fulltime; $14/hr plus benefits. Submit cover letter, resume, & 3 references to Right Brain Initiative, 108 NW 9th, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97209. DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
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The Right Brain Initiative at OHSU Brain Awareness Event
On Monday, February 2, as part of its Tenth Anniversary Celebration of Brain Awareness Season, OHSU Brain Institute’s lecture will focus on Learning, Arts and the Brain: The Latest Findings. The Right Brain Initiative video will be featured at what promises to be a stimulating evening.
The event begins at 7pm at the Newmark Theater in the Portland Center for Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway. The panel discussion will be moderated by John Frohnmayer, past Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and will feature two of the top researchers in arts and cognition, Drs. Michael Posner and Helen Neville, and two creative geniuses, advertising great Dan Wieden and Chris Coleman, artistic director of Portland Center Stage.
The Right Brain Initiative will also have a presence at the special “creativity reception” following the discussion, along with other major Portland and Oregon arts groups. Stop by our table to learn more about what we’ve been up to lately and pick up a Right Brain Initiative sticker! For more details on the evening, including how to purchase tickets, click here.
January 21, 2009
RACC taps key partners to help The Right Brain Initiative expand arts education in the region
RACC has selected three key partners to help integrate the arts into the education of every K-8 student in the region’s school districts by 2012. Young Audiences, Deborah Brzoska and Dr. Dennie Palmer Wolf join the collaboration of artists, arts organizations, school districts, parents, governments, businesses and donors who are working together as agents of change for arts education in the Portland tri-county region. RACC is the managing partner of this effort, and a Governing Committee of community leaders oversees all aspects of the program. Read the press release.
December 12, 2008
RACC and THE RIGHT BRAIN INITIATIVE Featured on Cable TV. On Wednesday evening, RACC was the subject of a 30 minute segment on Community Hotline, a live weekly cable access program of MetroEast Community Media serving east Multnomah County. RACC Community Affairs Director Jeff Hawthorne reviewed for viewers the many services RACC provides and the benefits to the east county community. The Right Brain Initiative was the focus of the program. The Right Brain video provided the introduction, then Marna followed with program details and discussed the impact on schools through an interview with Elaine Luckenbaugh, principal of Hollydale Elementary in the Gresham-Barlow School District. The show will be rebroadcast according to the schedule below, and soon we will post segments on our You Tube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/RegionalArts.
Sat., December 13, 6:00 PM, Ch. 30
Sun., December 14, 7:30 PM, Ch. 30
Mon., December 15, 9:00 PM, Ch. 11
Mon., December 15, 12:00 PM, Ch. 22
Tue., December 16, 12:00 PM, Ch. 22
Wed., December 17, 12:00 PM, Ch. 22
Thu., December 18, 12:00 PM, Ch. 22
Fri., December 19, 12:00 PM, Ch. 22
(You may or may not receive all of these channels depending on what part of the county and region you live in.)
November 25, 2008
“Arts Partners” Selected. The Right Brain Initiative has selected its 2008-2009 “Arts Partners,” i.e., the 10 artists and 10 arts organizations who will provide services to 20 tri-county schools during the program’s initial year. These Arts Partners will provide a variety of services for K-8 students, including performances, field trips to arts and cultural sites, and classroom residency and workshop experiences. Arts Partners will meet with school planning teams prior to delivery of the services to connect the arts experiences with the school’s curricular goals. In preparation for the work ahead, the Arts Partners participated in full-day professional development workshop on November 14th; the school planning teams’ corresponding professional development session was held on October 7th.
November 18, 2008
New funding received. RACC has received $140,000 in new grants to support The Right Brain Initiative. RACC is the managing partner of this effort, which now includes support from the following businesses and foundations:
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$75,000 (over three years) from the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, whose principal purpose is to assist with Jewish, cultural, youth, education, medical, social service, and community activities in Oregon and Clark County Washington;
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$25,000 from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, which focuses on improving the quality of life in Northwest Oregon through community investments that provide lasting benefits consistent with the culture and values of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde;
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$25,000 from the William Swindells Sr. Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation, whose mission is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, and businesses to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about.; and
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$10,000 from The Standard, a leading provider of financial products and services whose philanthropic priorities include cultural development, education and advancement, disability and empowerment and healthy communities.
Click here to read the complete press release.
October 2, 2008
Call for Artists and Arts Organizations. The Right Brain Initiative, with RACC serving as the managing partner, will connect teaching artists and arts organizations as “Arts Partners” (i.e., arts service providers) with 20 tri-county schools during the 2008-2009 academic year. These Arts Partners will provide a variety of services for K-8 students, including performances, field trips to arts and cultural sites, and classroom residency and workshop experiences. Artists and arts organizations will meet with school planning teams prior to delivery of the services to connect the arts experiences with the school’s curricular goals. Artists and organizations from all artistic disciplines are invited to apply. Learn more about the role of these Arts Partners in The Right Brain Initiative by downloading an Artist Application (WORD doc). For additional copies of the reference form only (two references are required), download here (WORD doc). Applications must be RECEIVED by 5pm, Wednesday, 10/15/08, at the e-mail or street address on the application form.
September 22, 2008
CALL TO ARTISTS
The Right Brain Initiative will connect teaching artists and arts organizations with 20 tri-county schools during the 2008-2009 academic year. Join us to learn more about the role of artists and arts and culture organizations in The Right Brain Initiative as we announce the application process to become an arts service provider in these schools.
- Wednesday, October 1, 2008
4:30-5:30pm, Central Library, US Bank Room, 801 SW 10th Ave. Portland
September 19, 2008
“Arts Partners” is now “The Right Brain Initiative”
Nearly 200 arts advocates joined us on Thursday, September 18 to celebrate the launch of The Right Brain Initiative, formerly known as Arts Partners. This community-wide collaboration is working to integrate the arts into the standard curriculum for every K-8 student in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties.
> Read the Press Release
> Download The Right Brain Initiative Fact Sheet (PDF)
> Visit TheRightBrainInitiative.org
September 15, 2008
Arts Integration Facilitators sought by Arts Partners. Arts Integration Facilitators will coordinate services in four to six schools during the project’s pilot year. Working directly with School-Based Arts Teams AIFs will help identify school arts needs and interests and facilitate co-planning between community artists/arts organizations and schools. See the AIF position announcement (pdf) for a details and information about applying. Deadline: 9/24/08, 5pm.
September 8, 2008
Three New Grants
The Regional Arts & Culture Council has received $310,000 in new grants to support Arts Partners. RACC is the managing partner of this effort and is pleased to announce this new round of funding, which includes:
$150,000 from the Collins Foundation -- $50,000 each year for the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
$150,000 from the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation -- $50,000 each year for the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
$10,000 from the Bank of America Foundation for the 2008-09 school year.
Read the press release
August 29, 2008
U.S. Bank Lends Major Support to Arts Partners
U.S. Bank and the U. S. Bancorp Foundation have awarded $25,000 to the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to support Arts Partners, a collaboration among artists, arts organizations, school districts, governments, and donors to develop a comprehensive solution for providing arts education opportunities for every student in the Portland metropolitan area. RACC is the managing partner of this collaborative effort. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States. Read the press release.
Arts Partners’ Governance Structure Streamlined
As we move out of planning and into implementing the Arts Partners’ Year One program model in the schools, the initial Governance Structure cried out for “dynamic re-design” to reflect the output of the working committees to date and the nature of the work ahead.
As shown in the revised Arts Partners Governance Structure, the two original program-based committees (Design & Implementation) were transformed into three—Service Delivery, Professional Development, and Assessment & Evaluation—reflecting Arts Partners’ primary program model components.
The other key change is that the Operating Partners [originally known as “Implementation Partner(s)”] have been divided into three distinct yet interrelated roles: Implementation Partner (service delivery in the schools); Professional Development Partner (training of arts service providers and school staff); Evaluation Partner (assessment and evaluation of overall program). These operating roles mirror the functions of the revamped program model committees. Arts Partners’ emphasis on collaboration will continue to flourish as Operating Partners and their corresponding program model committees work together to develop the best program for our region’s students.
First Arts Partners Schools Named
A total of 20 schools from four districts (Gresham-Barlow, Hillsboro, North Clackamas and Portland) will participate as Arts Partners development sites in 2008-2009. An inquisitive and enthusiastic group of principals from these initial partnering schools gathered at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center on August 18th to hear firsthand how Arts Partners’ Year One program will enhance arts education for their students. Upcoming September visits to the schools will mark the first step of on-site planning with school faculty to implement Arts Partners’ program in their buildings.
June 13, 2008
Implementation Partner Sought For Portland Metro Arts Partners. The Regional Arts & Culture Council and Portland Metro Arts Partners seek applications from organizations or consortia of organizations/individuals to be a contracted Implementation Partner for Arts Partners. Responsibilities include the daily execution of this arts education initiative in the tri-county Portland metropolitan region. Responses to this Request for Qualifications (pdf) are due at the RACC offices by 12pm on Friday, July 18, 2008.
June 11, 2008
The PGE Foundation has become the first private sector supporter of Arts Partners by awarding $25,000 to help bring arts education to every K-8 student in the Portland metropolitan area. The Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is the managing partner of this collaborative effort, now entering its second year of planning. PGE Foundation is the corporate foundation of Portland General Electric. Public funding has come from City of Portland, Clackamas & Multnomah County, Oregon Arts Commission, City of Hillsboro, and Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council. Public funding has come from City of Portland, Clackamas & Multnomah County, Oregon Arts Commission, City of Hillsboro, and Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council. Read the press release.
June 9, 2008
Carol R. Smith has been named the chair of the Arts Partners Governing Committee, a group of community leaders appointed by the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) to oversee the design and implementation of Arts Partners. Carol has been a principal at both the elementary and middle school levels and served as Fine Arts Specialist coordinating art, music, drama and dance curriculum for the Beaverton School District. She holds a Master of Arts degree in music performance and received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on curriculum and instruction. She was a member of the Arts Partners Visioning Committee and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the RACC Board. Read the press release.
May 29, 2008
At its May 28th meeting, the RACC Board of Directors confirmed the appointment of the Arts Partners Governing Committee(pdf). This group of educators, government officials, business leaders, and philanthropists is responsible for overseeing the project’s design and implementation. The first committee meeting is scheduled for June 9th.
In addition to the Governing Committee, three working committees, comprised of teachers, arts specialists, principals, artists, parents, business owners and civic leaders, have been meeting regularly since March and are addressing program design, policies and procedures, and advocacy. An Advisory Council, representing a broad range of stakeholders across the community, will meet quarterly to respond to the work of these three committees.
In total, over 100 volunteers are involved in the development of Arts Partners! What a statement of support and commitment!
April 25, 2008
Thank you for helping restore arts education in our schools!
Due to overwhelming response from the community, Mayor Potter has put $150,000 into the FY09 budget to help fund Arts Partners. This is an extraordinary accomplishment for our community and we thank everyone who took the time to send an email in support of arts education.
You can thank Mayor Potter by emailing him at mayorPotter@ci.portland.or.us.
RACC Staff to Contact
Marna Stalcup
The Right Brain Initiative Program Manager
503.823.4698
mstalcup@racc.org
Kendra Meyer Yao
The Right Brain Initiative Program Assistant
503.823.5454
kyao@racc.org
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