New England Consortium of Artist-Educator (NECAP) Professionals conference in Brattleboro, VT – September 23rd
The conference, which begins with registration at 8:30 am and continues to 5 pm, features renowned juggler and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michael Moschen; Sara Boettrich, Museum Educator, Strong National Museum of Play; and workshops with outstanding artist-educators from across New England. It is presented by the New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals (NECAP) in collaboration with the New England States Arts Agencies, the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire and Lesley University.
The critical importance of play in learning and human development is increasingly recognized, but there seems to be less and less space and time for it. This conference looks at the ways teaching artists can be leaders in supporting play — and the creativity it inspires — with learners of all ages and in their own lives.
Conference keynote speaker Michael Moschen will discuss “The Work of Play: The Horizontal and Vertical.” Moschen is one of the world’s leading jugglers and one of America’s most visionary performing artists. He has transformed the ancient circus art into a mesmerizing concert form that has garnered critical acclaim as “genius,” “exhilarating virtuoso entertainment” and “flawless purity” from leading media such as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.
Moschen has performed both solo and collaboratively with leading artists Off-Broadway, in major concert halls, and at arts festivals in Europe, Asia and North and South America. His work crosses ethnic and social borders, and is seen on stages, film and television. He was commissioned by Cirque du Soleil to create and stage a new work for their permanent theatrical circus in Las Vegas. Film credits include “Hair”and “Annie”.; Moschen choreographed and performed with crystal balls as David Bowie’s hands in the Jim Henson film “Labyrinth.” He is also involved in understanding and sharing the physical and mathematical principles that underlie his work. He has addressed the National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics and has lectured on innovation and creativity at Carnegie Mellon, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lincoln Center Education Program.
Sara Boettrich is the Educator for School Programs at Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. Her introductory remarks, “Playing Up Play,” will provide an overview of the importance of play in human development and learning, a glimpse into the vast amount of play research that is currently under way, and a quick look at the 21st century view of play. She’ll pose the important questions that will be addressed throughout the day: Why is play important? How is the role of play in our lives changing? What does play have to do with teaching and learning in the arts?
Morning and afternoon interactive workshops will be presented by artist-educators from around New England and as far away as California, as well as Moschen and Boettrich. These include:
- John Holdridge, ME, Playing with Play
- Maureen Burford, VT, Improvisation, Play and Mis-takes
- J. David Carlson, CA, Structures of Play
- Elsie Smith, VT, Aerial Circus as Performance Art and Physical Play
- Kate Tarlow-Morgan, VT, Explorations in Sensing, Feeling &Action
- Jeff Warner, NH, Understanding American Culture through Traditional Games, Songs and Stories
- Bonnie Koba, CT, Teaching Artist Mentorship Model
- Carol Glynn, CT, The Kinesthetic Approach to Protecting the Pleasure in Teaching and Learning
- Nick Page, MA, Opera Playground
- Linda Price-Sneddon, MA, Using Play Power to Stoke the Fire and Build Relationships
- Diane Postoian, RI, Do That Again! Using Humor as a Tool for Learning
- Sarah Boettrich, Learning and Teaching Through Play
- Michael Moschen, Bring a Ball to Play With
“Now that teaching artists have mastered the art of connecting and enhancing curricular goals, writing proposals, documenting and reporting, it’s time to remember and support the creative playful spark that interested them in the first place, so that they can delight their students, prevent burn-out, and continue to grow and love what they do,” says conference presenter Carol Glynn, a speaker, performer, teaching artist and writer from Connecticut.
The registration fee of $50 ($60 after September15) includes morning refreshments and lunch as well as professional development credits.
“We chose Brattleboro as the site of this year’s conference,” says Frumie Selchen, director of the Arts Alliance of Northern NH and NECAP coordinator, “because of its strong and interesting arts scene. We want conference participants to be inspired not only by the day’s hands-on workshops, but also by their surroundings. We’ll be using different cultural sites around town for the workshop venues, including registration at the New England Youth Theatre and our closing at the Latchis Theatre. We also hope people will visit local museums, galleries and creative businesses.”
Please click here for workshop descriptions, conference brochures and posters, and registration information. Information can also be obtained by calling 603-323-7302.
The New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals is dedicated to the support and development of teaching artists. NECAP collaborates with the arts agencies of the New England states, other organizations, and individuals to advance the field of the artist-educator, increase access to quality professional development, develop a regional network and support a community of teaching artists. NECAP is now on facebook.
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