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"Fill your mind with light, happiness, hope, feelings of security and strength, and soon your life will reflect these qualities." ~Unknown

Email me anytime: coreen.velvetoversteel@gmail.com

"The Greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance!" ~Brian Tracy

All post and stories are the sole property of Velvet Over Steel aka Coreen Trost. I write and create post in order to help others, so share as you want. I just ask that you link back or give VOS credit. Some of the stories are going into a book in progress. Thank You ALL.. for your support and help!!
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~ John Quincy Adams

Monday, December 6, 2010

Every Monday Matters ~ Create, Support, Appreciate Art

  
Every Monday Matters

"The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." ~Paul Strand
FACTS

93% of people believe that the arts are vital to a well-rounded education.

Regardless, only 29% of schools have been able to maintain time and funding for arts programs.

Children spend more time at their locker than in art classes.

People learn to be more tolerant and open when creating or appreciating art.

Art promotes individuality, bolsters self-confidence, and improves overall academic performance.

Art is a reflection of people and cultures since the beginning of time.

Students who take 4 years of arts and music in high school score over 98 points higher on their SATs than students who took only a half year or less.

TAKE ACTION TODAY
Create an original piece of art today. If you don’t know how or where to start, visit your local craft store and ask for help.

Sign up for an art class with a friend.

Visit a local museum, art gallery, or sculpture garden.

Find resources for teachers.

Volunteer to support an art activity at a local school or senior citizen program.

Communicate with your school-district administrators or national legislators by either writing a letter of appreciation for current funding or requesting funding for the arts. Find and contact your federal, state, and local officials.

YOU MATTER
Sit down with friends and family and take some time to be a kid again. With minimal supplies, you can create a unique piece of art and give it to someone as a gift. If creating art is not your thing, then support the people who do love it by visiting a museum, donating art supplies, buying art from a local artist, or writing a letter to the people who control the school budgets. Just as there are many ways you can express art, there are also many ways you can support and appreciate it.

LINKS:
Museums USA.org
Keep Arts In Schools.org
Congress.org
New Grant Program Funds Helps Schools Fund Arts
"When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college - that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said, "You mean they forget?" ~Howard Ikemoto
What is the Every Monday Matters program?

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that Every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/

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20 comments:

  1. I've always supported (and participated in) art. My minor in college was music!

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  2. I forgot when I moved to where I live that I went to the art center every week. yikes! Now I have to travel quite a ways.I enjoy sketching and watercolors to relax, and have went into schools and helped with a number of projects.I work with a number of mediums as illustrated in my blog.

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  3. I have always loved music yet at school we had no instrumental music at all. how I wish I was at school in the age we live in now.

    Yvonne.

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  4. A part of my life I have not paid attention to and now find it speaking to me. Thanks for this post. I moved my easel to the living room yesterday. :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  5. Thanks for this piece! I think an appreciation of the arts sets the tone for life!! I dragged my kiddies to all sorts of museums, concerts, and plays. They'll thank me later!

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  6. i volunteer for our schools art class...b/c this year our art teacher is spread over various schools across the county...

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  7. Yes art does matter!!! It is my life! I drug my son to all kinds of art functions and enrolled him into every kind of art class I could find. Ha!! Then I took my grandkids!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  8. Since I have been involved with music all of my life, and was in the band and chorus all through high school, I am definitely one who appreciates the arts. I also took piano lessons for about 11 yrs. My family were all very musical. I appreciate having those opportunities --and I will do what I can to see that other children have them also.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  9. This is a great post Coreen! You are so right ~ the arts are always on the low priority list in schools. Sports always seems to be way higher on the scale. While it's important, not all children are sports stars and creative children need to have their time in the class room as well. Good stuff!

    xo Catherine

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  10. Haha!! Oh, how I loved that little-girl-story!!! :D :D I've waking up to some creativity today! (eyes twinkling) It's the start of a happy week!

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  11. I am*** (I get giddy with excitement! :D)

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  12. A good post! I have absolutly no artistic talent, but go to and support museums and art shows whenever I can, which is quite a bit, I love it!

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  13. I am a firm believe that art is vital in the school curriculum. There was talk we had lack of funding and that would be one of the programs cut. It has not YET. I wish I could paint, but I am creative in other ways I suppose. Great post! Can't wait to see your family pics when your boys are home.

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  14. I made up a song for Christmas today, to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, does that count?

    And I colored. With crayons (I love crayons).

    I have my remaining kids clean up about 20 min. before I have to turn the over to another teacher and leave. We got out coloring sheets of bears. I told them it could be a panda bear, a brown, black, or polar bear. Then, I told them it could be a Christmas tree bear, a fairy bear, and so on. They jumped in with all sorts of ideas and felt free to color their pictures any way they wished.

    I try to instill in them permission to think outside the box....

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  15. Thanks for this post. It's so true - we all need art in our lives. I think of writing as an art as are many other pursuits. BTW there is an award waiting for you at my blog!

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  16. I love these Monday Matters also. I appreciate art!

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  17. I love the quote about people forgetting how to draw. :) I love little kid art the very very best, and sculptures and textures the next best. I really enjoy art. I love the way that people express themselves (most of the time). I wish we had more art around here. Not enough in this area. I take all I can get from my kids though!

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  18. After 4 years of art and/or drawing classes in school, I'm still not very good at creating art. I do enjoy it though and attend local art shows now and again.

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  19. Life without art! OH DEAR...no way!
    It most certainly MATTERS!

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