Sheldon's Statewide Arts Connection offers teacher-training workshops

For a second consecutive year, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will offer the Statewide Arts Connection, a free educational outreach initiative to teachers across the state.

Funded by the Nebraska Arts Council, the program will offer four one-day workshops in 2007-08 to train teachers how to integrate the arts into the regular classroom curriculum. The workshops provide instruction and materials that support the National Standards for Arts Education. Each session will coincide with Sheldon's Statewide exhibition, "Flow," and participating teachers will tour the exhibition.

Suzanne Wise, executive director of the Nebraska Arts Council said, "Arts education initiatives have always been a hallmark of Arts Council programming, and this partnership with Sheldon is an effective way to continue that tradition."

Sheldon curator Sharon Kennedy, who will direct the program in collaboration with Arts Are Basic and Project WET, a program of UNL Extension 4-H, said, "We hope to fill a gap that has occurred with the reduction in art specialists in Nebraska while at the same time demonstrate how the creative process can be so valuable in all disciplines."

The workshops will be held:

* Friday, Oct. 19 -- McKinley Center, North Platte

* Friday, Feb. 8 -- Columbus Art Gallery, Columbus

* Tuesday, March 11 -- Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk

* Friday, April 11 -- Hastings Museum, Hastings

The workshops, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., are free to teachers and will include educational materials and lunch. In addition, the first 20 registrants for each workshop will be eligible for substitute teacher reimbursement. On a first-come, first-served basis, workshop attendees also have the option to bring Arts Are Basic teaching artist Pippa White into their school to make a language arts connection. Teachers attending the workshops also may apply for bus funds from the Nebraska Arts Council to pay for the cost of bringing their class to see the exhibition. "We want this to be easily accessible, meaningful and fun for teachers and students," Kennedy said.

To register for a workshop, submit name, school, discipline, grade level and contact information including e-mail address to skennedy3@unl.edu. For more information go to sheldon.unl.edu, click on Education and then click Statewide Arts Connection, or call (402) 472-3541. Registration information may also be faxed to (402) 472-4258 or mailed to Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and R streets, Lincoln, NE 68588-0300.

The Philip Johnson-designed Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. The Nebraska Art Association is the dedicated nonprofit support group of the Sheldon. The museum, 12th and R streets on the UNL City Campus, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

For information or to arrange a tour, call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the museum Web site, www.sheldon.unl.edu.

CONTACT: Tom White, Public Relations Manager, Sheldon Art Gallery, (402) 472-1197