Beyond Collaboration

By Ann Talbott Brown, Director of Arts Education, Tennessee Arts Commission – 

Collaboration is a term that we know well in the arts. Duet, harmony, ensemble, and juxtaposition are words that evoke a sense of association or togetherness. Musicians perform in a group as they play chamber music. Dancers explore intricate partner work in modern dance choreography. Each artist represents a specific part to make the cohesive whole.

We see it in arts education too. Teachers foster learning environments that allow for collaboration, one of the 21st-century learning skills important for career readiness. Students work in teams behind the scenes and on stage to carry out a theatre production. Classmates complete a large-scale mural as part of a service learning project, all contributing to the visual arts work. Take one look at arts education curriculum standards and collaboration is woven throughout the performance indicators.

Read the complete story as published in Nashville Arts Magazine