National
 
Art Institute of Chicago – The Arts Institute of Chicago’s Artist Resource Finder includes links to artist resource packets, teacher manuals for teaching the arts and thematic websites for supplementing lessons. The website also hosts a wealth of podcasts and videos that can be used in the classroom.
 
http://www.artic.edu/learn
 
Artcyclopedia – This website is an excellent resource that can be used to provide background information and historical and cultural context for lessons through a searchable database of artists, artworks, art museums and art movements. Artcyclopedia also hosts a conversation forum dedicated to sharing the enjoyment and understanding of fine art at www.artconversation.com.
 
www.artcyclopedia.com
 
ArtLex Art Dictionary – An online art dictionary that contains more than 3,500 terms that are related to the visual arts and visual culture. The website also offers lesson ideas, articles, artist quotations and links to other arts education resources.
 
www.artlex.com
 
ArtsEdge – A rich website featuring national standards-based curriculum, lessons and activities which includes useful web links and an idea exchange for teachers of the visual and performing arts.
 
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators.aspx
 
Arts Education Partnership and AEP ArtsEd Digest – The Arts Education Partnership is dedicated to securing high quality arts education for every young person in America. The ArtsEd Digest is a bi-monthly e-newsletter which provides subscribers with important information about arts and education including news about partners in the field, research, advocacy and events.
 
www.aep-arts.org/resources-2/artsed-digest
 
Design Elements and Principles – This website provides easy to understand explanations and examples of the design elements and principles, including line, shape, texture, contrast, balance, harmony, gradation and more.
 
http://designelementsandprinciples.com/elements2.htm
 
The J. Paul Getty Museum – Resources for the Classroom – Offers a collection of free lesson plans including art lessons which integrate the language arts as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) enrichment curriculum into core curriculum.
 
www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/index.html
 
KinderArt – Features free art lessons for students of all ages for use in the home and classroom. Lessons are organized by category and are easy to find and use. The site also includes information on assessing lessons and learning, and lessons that highlight art history.
 
www.kinderart.com
 
Museum of Modern Art – The Museum of Modern Art website features an education component with information for teaching the arts to K-12 students. The website also hosts an extensive online gallery of artwork as well as teacher guides and lessons that are organized by subject, theme and medium.
 
www.moma.org/learn/index
 
National Art Education Association – The NAEA promotes art education through professional development, service, advancement of knowledge and leadership and hosts a website which offers free lesson plans as well other useful information for educators as well as information on grants, research and community-building through the arts.
 
www.arteducators.org
 
Visual Thinking Strategies – A teaching method and school curriculum centered on open-ended yet highly-structured discussions of visual art, Visual Thinking Strategies increases critical thinking, language and literacy skills. The website features information on programs, training and research.
 
www.vtshome.org
 
Statewide
 
Alameda County Office of Education’s Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership and Art Is Education – Offers culturally responsive arts integrated curriculum units as well as arts education research and advocacy tools. Programming includes professional development for teachers, arts specialists and teaching artists.
 
www.artiseducation.org
 
Art in Action – Offers a discipline-based, sequential visual arts curriculum that teaches art appreciation, art history and art techniques. Located in the Bay Area but serving schools nationwide through online resources, including free online lesson plans.
 
http://artinaction.org/
 
ArtsEdCalifornia – This website provides multiple curriculum and assessment resources for teaching California Visual and Performing Arts Standards-based K-12 dance, music, theater and visual arts—a go-to site for the latest research and information on policy, laws and codes.
 
www.artsedcalifornia.com/about.html
 
The California Arts Project – The California Arts Project’s (TCAP’s) mission is to deepen teachers’ knowledge of dance, music, theatre and visual arts and to enhance instructional strategies for teaching these four disciplines to California’s students pre-kindergarten through post-secondary.
 
http://csmp.ucop.edu
 
California Department of Education’s Visual & Performing Arts Standards – A comprehensive listing of the standards and expectations for learning in the visual and performing arts K-12. A downloadable PDF of the California Department of Education’s VAPA Standards is available here at www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/vpastandards.pdf
 
www.cde.ca.gov/ci/vp
 
SF Bay Area
 
Intersection for the Arts – Established in 1965, Intersection for the Arts is the oldest alternative non-profit art space in San Francisco. A community development organization which connects people through the arts and provides resources for community members, schools and artist educators and offers artist internships for students and theater and musical performances at schools.
 
www.theintersection.org
 
Community Rejuvenation Project – The Community Rejuvenation Project offers mural programs to youth in schools and communities toward the broader goals of cultivating healthy communities through beautification and education which promotes artistic expression and community empowerment.
 
http://crpbayarea.org
 
Kala Art Institute – Kala provides public schools opportunities to work on visual and performing arts projects with professional artists. Kala artists-in-schools work with classroom teachers to develop and implement integrated curriculum programs with English/language arts, history/social science and mathematics.
 
www.kala.org
 
Museum of Children’s Art – The Museum of Children’s Art offers educational art programs at the museum, in schools and in the community including an artists-in-the-schools program with both during school and after school arts integration programs.
 
www.mocha.org
 
Out of Site: Center for Arts Education – Provides free visual, literary and performing arts instruction to high school students in San Francisco through after school and summer programs. Out of Site offers teenagers a space to explore and experience the arts in an environment where they are safe and free to express themselves.
 
www.outofsite-sf.org
 
Precita Eyes Muralists Association – A non-profit organization that provides mural arts workshops for youth that explore the role murals play in communities and beautifying urban environments. Workshops emphasize self-expression and collaboration. Percita Eyes also offers weekend mural tours and school field trips.  
 
www.precitaeyes.org
 
San Francisco Center for the Book – A space where books, bookmaking, and the history and artistry of bookmaking are celebrated. In addition to classes for adults of all experience levels, the center also offers field trips, workshops and hands-on activities for K-12 students and teachers.
 
http://sfcb.org
 
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Offers educational workshops geared toward middle school and high school teachers who wish to incorporate the subjects of modern and contemporary art into the curriculum. The museum offers tours to K-12 students as well as a docent program that visits classrooms and a teen program providing hands-on activities at the museum.
 
www.sfmoma.org
 
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco – de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor – Comprised of the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is the largest public arts institution in San Francisco. Both locations offer free tours to K-12 students and class visits that are supported by curriculum guidelines. Programming at the museums also includes poetry lessons for students, children’s theater and an ambassador program for high school students. Curriculum resources for educators are also available on both the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor websites.
 
deyoung.famsf.org
 
legionofhonor.famsf.org
 
Mendocino County
 
Arts Council of Mendocino County – Founded in 2000, the Arts Council of Mendocino County supports many programs including but not limited to the Get Arts in the Schools Program (GASP) and the Mendocino County Arts Advocacy Coalition. The Arts Council’s website features an online Curriculum Resource Library and a directory of local artists and arts organizations.
 
www.ArtsMendocino.org
 
Art Explorers, Inc. – A creative arts program serving artists of all ages with physical and developmental disabilities. A studio space is available where artists can create and receive instruction in a safe and creative environment. Art Explorer’s, Inc. also offers artists opportunities to exhibit and sell their artwork.
 
http://artexplorers.org/home.html
 
Lost Coast Culture Machine – A contemporary art space and handmade paper mill that hosts exhibitions, performances and mini-residencies. An emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary and sustainable arts practices. Public programs include artist lectures, film screenings and discussion groups.
 
http://www.lostcoastculturemachine.org/
 
Mendocino Art Center – A retreat for professional artists and art students since 1959, the Mendocino Art Center offers over 200 retreat-style workshops each year in ceramics, fiber arts, fine arts, jewelry and sculpture as well as galleries which feature monthly exhibitions local and national artists. In addition, the center boasts a young artists program which features field trips, an educational summer program, mentoring and a space for students to exhibit their artwork.
 
www.mendocinoartcenter.org
 
Mendocino County Art Association – Founded in 1954 to promote and encourage enjoyment and interest in the creative arts, the Mendocino County Art Association is the oldest arts group in Mendocino County. The MCAA offers regular demonstrations and workshops as well as open studio and exhibition events.
 
http://mendocinoartassn.org/

Artist in the Spotlight

Event Spotlight

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

March 30
at Arena Theater
in Point Arena.