Creativity and Academics : The Power of an Arts Education

In the Arts in Education (AIE) Program, you will learn how to harness the extraordinary power of the arts to raise educational outcomes for learners and enrich overall quality of life for communities. Because the AIE Program is flexible, you have the freedom to design an individualized course of study that explores new ways of reaching students in and through the arts.

Sufficient data exists to overwhelmingly support the belief that study and participation in the fine arts is a key component in improving learning throughout all academic areas. Evidence of its effectiveness in reducing student dropout, raising student attendance, developing better team players, fostering a love for learning, improving greater student dignity, enhancing student creativity, and producing a more prepared citizen for the workplace for tomorrow can be found documented in studies held in many varied settings, from school campuses, to corporate America.

All programs include hands-on experiences in schools, community settings, and the public realm. We run a free Saturday High School program in the Spring semester that allows students to infuse social justice issues into a dynamic art-making practice.

Core Values
NAEA staff and members work to support professional growth, change, and leadership through:
• Mentoring
• Networking and collaborating
• Participating in art education conferences
• Developing and disseminating exemplary resources on art education

‘We were pushed to think differently and explore concepts and ideas beyond our day job, I can’t wait to tell my colleagues at work.’ (Visa participant)
‘We learned how to generate ideas, prototype and present. It was fun and enjoyable meeting different people with different skillsets and outlook to business.’ (Fujitsu participant)
‘The physicality of the learning was a challenge but so fulfilling. I enjoyed visualising, prototyping and presenting to the team.’ (Visa participant)
‘Very, very impressive and memorable experience, we learned so much about innovation and will try to use it to change our business.’ (Visa participant)
We also offer short courses for artists, critical thinkers, curators and writers who wish to move their practice forward, either as a change of career or development of their personal and professional experience.

Art Education in Fine Arts / Art and Communication Design
Graduates are equipped to develop and implement independent, artistic projects, to reflect and communicate with a specific public on the basis of a critical consideration of fine art and the understanding of art as a dynamic, open field with cross-border activities involving music, film, literature, architecture and the performing arts.

Art Educatoin in Handicrafts / Design, Architecture and Environment
Artistic training qualifies for the design and implementation of specific and free-experimental, model and concrete projects in the areas of design/architecture/environment.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES
State of the art education studio and other Art and Design Department facilities including; studios for painting, drawing, ceramics and printmaking, photography studios and lab, critique room, and two Mac labs. Exhibition space is available for students in the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, library, student center and Performing and Visual Arts College building.

Making Your Mark
Bradley's art education graduates boast a 100 percent pass rate on Illinois licensure tests, including the national edTPA portfolio evaluation. That success means you can enter the teaching profession or graduate school after graduation. As an educator, you can consider future graduate studies in curriculum and instruction or other fields.

Required Skills
According to the BLS, art directors need the following traits for success:
• Excellent aesthetic judgment
• Strong leadership skills to oversee the work of other artists
• Creativity and superb communication to develop products that meet clients' needs
• Ability to prioritize work and manage deadlines

• An understanding of evaluative techniques and the ability to apply them in assessing both the progress of students and the objectives and procedures of the curriculum
• Ability to organize continuing study and to incorporate knowledge gained into self-evaluation and professional growth

Pre-professional training
Provide exceptionally talented young people opportunities to receive world-class training and flourish. We support pre-professional training organizations that prepare future artists in a variety of disciplines and nurture the next generation to contribute to the Bay Area’s vibrant artistic community.