Date & Location: Saturday, November 02 2024 02:30 pm - 03:00 pm GMT-6 Click HERE for Zoom Link Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2024 The Fine Arts Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association announces its Annual General Meeting to take place on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 2:30pm-3:00pm virtually, to take place on Zoom ( AGM Zoom Link ). Positions up for election include: Secretary Web Manager Art Representative Dance Representative Generalist Representative If you would like to be nominated, or nominate someone, for one of these positions, you can do so by filling out the Fine Arts Council Nomination form . Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the AGM. We are also looking to appoint a Social Media Manager. This is not an elected position and is an Annual term (1 year). If you are interested in this appointed position, please email president@fineartsata.ca . Come to our AGM and stay for some learning and prizes ! “The Art of Inclusive Communication”, starting at 3:00pm will focus on sharing creative and inclusive communication tools. These tools can be used to increase connection, communication and understanding of creative engagement tools, rooted in leadership theories and concepts. Click here for more information about this FREE VIRTUAL SESSION as well as the link to register. See you there!

What comes to mind when you hear the words Orff and school music? If you want to learn more about the Orff process and how it can be used in different settings, join us for a Taste of Orff. This session, "What's on Your Plate," will explore rhythm, melody, reading and writing, playing instruments, movement, and creativity using popular music, Chinese nursery songs, and children's literature. Come prepared to fill your plate with music, materials, and connections with other music colleagues! This session is geared toward music teachers and pre-service teachers and is being presented by Orff teacher educator, Kim Friesen Wiens. Cost: ATA Fine Arts Council Members: $5.00 University of Alberta Students: $5.00 Non-Members: $15.00 To register for this event, click here: A TASTE OF ORFF REGISTRATION LINK Venue: Collins Recital Hall, Northwestern Polytechnic, Grande Prairie Organizer: Kim Friesen Wiens editor@fineartsata.ca

October 2024 Drama Update by FAC Drama Rep, Molly Danko In early September I had the joy and privilege of hosting the Fine Arts Council’s first social event of the school year- a teacher's night out at Rapid Fire Theatre. We were so warmly welcomed in by Rapid Fire Theatre and got to chat with the cast and Executive Director, Matt Schurmann (after a hilarious double feature improv show) to learn about all the opportunities Rapid Fire has to offer us teachers and our students. See information below and look out for our next Teacher Night with Rapid Fire in the New Year!     Improv Leagues & Tournaments:    Northern Alberta Improv League (NAIL):     NAIL  occurs on Wednesday nights throughout the school year and features various Improv teams from high schools around Northern Alberta. It is a playfully competitive improv league where students get to show off their skills and learn from the other schools and students. Buy your tickets online through Rapid Fire Theatre, or inquire within to sign up your school Improv Team!   Wildfire Festival:     The Wildfire festival runs in February each year and is comprised of three different events: Wildfire Jr., CIG, and the Nosebowl:  Nosebowl  TheatreSports Tournament    February 3-9, 2025: High School Students get to compete in a Theatresports competition to win over the judges!    Wildfire Jr.   February 3-13, 2025:   Wildfire Jr. Is an introduction to the world of Improv for junior high students. A fun and friendly competition between schools that runs for two weeks in early February   Canadian Improv Games (C.I.G.)   February 10-16, 2025: Rapid Fire hosts the Alberta Regional competition of the Nation-wide Canadian Improv Games. The winning team from this high school improv event gets to represent Alberta at the C.I.G. in Ottawa!     Workshops, Performances, & Residencies:    Improv School Residencies     Residencies are available for your classes to help build strong improvising (and life) skills, while covering various outcomes from the Alberta Programs of Study. The Residencies take place at least four hours a day for 1-2 weeks, but Rapid Fire can be flexible with their time- just reach out and see what they can offer!    Performances   You can hire Rapid Fire Theatre to come perform at your school. This may be a whole school event, or a performance after a week-long residency with one of your classes. An innovative, engaging and easy way to get your whole school involved!   Abbynormal   An engaging and interactive improvised science performance and demonstration for grades 1-9    Teacher Opportunities:    Bring in Rapid Fire to play with your  staff  for your next PD Day!   Take a class  with Rapid Fire! Improve your own improv skills so you can confidently teach it to your students. Have some fun and take time to feed the artist inside the teacher.     Joleen Ballendine ( joleen@rapidfiretheatre.com ) and Dill Prusko ( dill@rapidfiretheatre.com ), two of the cast members we had the pleasure of talking with after the show, so happen to be the Director of Education and Youth Director with Rapid Fire Theatre respectively.  You may contact them with questions about programming or use the general inquiry form on the Rapid Fire Website.     I have a quick survey for you to complete to get some more information on what our members would like to see for Drama PD:  https://forms.office.com/r/BKvSX6wZq4

Click here to read the latest mailout and news from the ATA Fine Arts Council.

As we hustle back into the school year, the Fine Arts Council encourages you to take an evening to relax and socialize with colleagues and friends. Come on out to watch Rapid Fire Theatre's Double Feature improv show on September 13th! All FAC members will enjoy a free drink and discounted tickets! There will be a chance to gather before the show, and there will be a quick talk back after about education events and opportunities with Rapid Fire Theatre. This is a social event, so bring along your friends and colleagues!  Event Details:  When : Friday September 13th, Doors @ 6:15 PM, Show @ 7:00 PM Where:  Rapid Fire Exchange, 10437 83 Ave, EDMONTON  How:  Register for the event here: https://forms.office.com/r/HNN297iS6t   Cost:  $15 +tax  Who:  Any educators, family and friends, can join us for this event! If you are a FAC member you will receive a free drink Contact: If you have any questions, please contact your FAC Drama Representative, Molly Danko, at drama@fineartsata.ca

Attention ALL FINE ARTS COUNCIL MEMBERS!   Join us in the beautiful Edmonton River Valley on Thursday, October 10, 6:30 – 8:30 PM for an evening of improvisational music making and socializing. This event will feature a one-hour drum circle facilitated by the amazing Lucas Coffey of Rhythm, Rhythm, Rhythm and is the perfect way to connect with fellow arts educators in a fun and supportive environment!  A Wine and Cheese reception will follow. No prior drumming experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to connect through music. The cost is $15.00 and pre-registration is required.  REGISTER HERE   For further information please email us at treasurer@fineartsata.ca   For more information on our featured Drum Facilitator, Lucas Coffey, click here Rhythm, Rhythm, Rhythm.

Attention Dance Educators of Alberta! Join us on Monday, October 28 at 7 PM for an exciting virtual Professional Development Session: Dance Discourse: Perspectives & Practice . This event will feature engaging discussions and valuable insights aimed at elevating dance education in Alberta, including a Q&A session with the esteemed dance educator, Carrie Robins. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! To register for this free PD event, please fill out this form   The virtual video link will be emailed to you prior to the session. For any questions, feel free to email us at: dance@fineartsata.ca For more information on our featured dance educator, Carrie Robins, click here www.carrierobins.com

2025 Call for Papers (DUE DATE: October 31, 2024) A Fine FACTA Journal of the Fine Arts Council The Alberta Teachers Association Theme: Building and Growing Community Community is such an integral aspect of the Fine Arts. For our 2025 issues of A Fine Facta, we will be exploring what does it mean or look like to belong in community within the Fine Arts? How do we build and grow our communities and how do we ensure that there is a meaningful space for everyone? In what ways do we advocate for or promote the Fine Arts community? We will be offering two publishing opportunities to submit articles, papers, etc. Our first journal will be focused on practical application (what are you doing). For this issue, we are looking specifically for lesson plans, book reviews, and overviews of what you are doing in your classroom. Our second issue will be focused on how we are thinking about regarding building, growing, and/or advocating for the arts community. We invite scholarly articles, opinion pieces, and big picture ideas for this issue. There is an opportunity to have your manuscripts peer-reviewed for this issue. Due Date: October 31, 2024 About A Fine FACTA: A Fine FACTA is published for the Fine Arts Council by The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) to help the council achieve its objective of improved education in and through the fine arts. Articles of general interest or on theoretical, experimental, or methodological topics are invited. For Journal information, including submission requests, please contact the Journal Editor, Kim Friesen Wiens. Email: editor@fineartsata.ca Submission Information: A Fine FACTA welcomes authors to submit manuscripts for consideration in our 2025 publications. Both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed articles will be considered. To be considered for peer-review, please indicate as such in the email. Submissions must include the following: Be written in a clear and concise style, avoiding technical jargon as possible. Lesson plans, book/conference reviews, and brief columns will be considered (approx. 1000 words) Submissions are not to exceed 4000 words, although exceptions may be granted. Photos and pictures are welcome, but must be submitted in a high-quality format. If the photos/pictures are not accompanying an article, a brief description of the photo/picture is required (50-150 words) Submissions must be submitted via email and in MS Word using Chicago format. Submissions may be edited. All submissions must be accompanied by a brief (50 words) author biography. Authors wishing to have their manuscripts peer-reviewed must indicate that in the email sent to the editor and must be received by October 31, 2024. Manuscripts will be reviewed by a panel of recognized leaders in the fine arts. All submissions must be sent via email to the editor, Kim Friesen Wiens at editor@fineartsata.ca for consideration in the 2025 publications. All submissions will receive an email confirming that the submission has been received. If you do not receive an email receipt after 1 week, please follow up with the editor. Addition Formatting Information for Submissions: Use single space for the body of the paper (do not double space). Use single space after each sentence. Use Chicago format throughout the text and in the reference list. Use NO running heads. Use endnotes as opposed to footnotes Click here for a PDF copy of this Call for Papers

This resource was submitted by music teacher Regan MacGregor as a part of a call for lesson ideas. Regan is a teacher in Edmonton. Thank you for your generosity! This lesson explores Ostinato through the story of Musical Mac by Brendan Kearney. The picture book is also an great way to introduce Orchestra families to students. An image of the lesson plan is provided below as well as a link to a PDF.

This resource was submitted by art teacher Christina Hamer as a part of a call for lesson ideas. Christina is a teacher in Edmonton. Thank you for your generosity! Click below to download Christina's detailed lesson plan for paint ball art.

This resource was submitted by drama teacher Chandra Moir as a part of a call for lesson ideas. Chandra is a teacher in Hinton. Thank you for your generosity! Each year I update my Drama Program bulletin board to gather new interest and appreciation in the program! Here are this year’s - see below!

This resource was submitted by music teacher Karen Abrahamson as a part of a call for lesson ideas. Karen is a music teacher in Edmonton. Thank you for your generosity! Let's Cheer on the Edmonton Oilers! A few years ago I created some ostinatos to help cheer on the Oilers and thought it was a good time to bring it out again since they are in the Stanley Cup (and hopefully by the time you read this they will have won). Add body percussion, add instruments, and have fun!