THE MUNARTET PROJECT
Cama'i (hello)
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The Munartet partnership supports teaching in and through the arts and culture in Kodiak. Munartet is an Alutiiq word, which means "artists," and this project aspires to bring out the artist within each teacher. Partners include the Kodiak Island Borough School District, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak Arts Council, and Kodiak College, with support from the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
The Munartet Learning community includes teachers, pre-service teachers, administrators, culture bearers, Elders, and teaching artists.
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The Kodiak Arts Council's role in the Munartet Project is to support professional development for Munartet educators in arts discipline-based and arts integration teaching methods, and to support a network of local teaching artists. We approach this goal through the following strategies:
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arts labs workshops teaching artist classroom visits co-teaching opportunities arts ed boxes what's your big idea? performing arts events teaching artist training
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Arts Workshops & Arts Labs:
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
​​Space in Arts Labs is limited and members of the Munartet Learning Community receive priority. Please use the registration link above and enter MUNARTET as your promo code, or contact the Arts Council promptly to reserve a spot. Community members can join Arts Labs for a fee.​
If you need assistance with Arts Lab registration please email education@kodiakarts.org or call/text the Arts Council at 942-5840.
Kodiak Arts Council offers two workshops a year to promote the development of arts-enhanced and arts-integrated classrooms in Kodiak. Led by experienced teaching artists, the workshops are designed to provide support in a particular arts focus and help educators make connections between the artistic practice and an additional curriculum area.
September:
Saturday September 21 1-4pm​
This workshop will provide the opportunity to first look at and discuss two very different artists: the terribly famous Vincent van Gogh and the hilarious
contemporary artist and writer Maira Kalman - and then to copy their work. Bonnie
Dillard will guide participants in trying out the techniques and materials used by each artist to illustrate the satisfying and helpful exercise of creating a “Masters Study”.
Any skill level will benefit.
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
Arts Labs 2024:
An Arts Lab is an open creative space where Munartet Project cohort members can explore their creativity or follow along with an arts lesson taught by a Teaching Artist. Arts Labs are free to Munartet Community Members and all materials are provided.
October:
Saturday October 19 1-3pm​
Nature Journaling with Shelly Lawson
With this class we will celebrate nature with art, increase a playful art practice for participants, and remove barriers from experiencing art and/or leading art lessons. ​
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
November:
Silk Painting with Kelly Longrich
Come explore the wax-resist method of silk painting. Focusing on process, we will experiment with color, pattern, painting techniques, and the natural flow of dye on silk.​
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
Arts Labs 2025:
Arts Workshop 2025:
January:
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Plant Stake/Sun Catcher Glass Fusing with Kathy Johnson
Relaxing fun at the Kodiak High School Art Room: join Kathy and design a sun catcher/garden stake while learning glass tips and tricks. Class size is limited.​
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
Arts Labs 2025:
February:
Into the Briny Deep: Line Drawing with Natasha Zahn
Dive into line drawing with Natasha Zahn and her Into the Briny Deep Line Drawing Workshop. Swim among the fish and connect art and literacy through line drawing and mark making. For this workshop, we will work through a new series of guides for various fish species, break down what we see, use descriptive vocabulary to describe the steps, and come up with perfectly imperfect fish art projects to incorporate into your classrooms. Expand from simple exercises to more complex, add color to black and white line drawings, and create collages or 3-D assemblages. Experiment with a variety of art supplies, and add to your repertoire of line drawing lessons.
You'll walk away with a notebook of reproducibles, instructional material, and a resource list. Natasha connects the material to several ELA standards, but you can fit these exercises to meet other standards appropriate for your class.
New this time! The workshop runs from 1- 4 pm. We will follow an agenda of instructional time, hands on time (with conversation and fun and snacks), and production time: we're creating assemblages to deco- rate one of the cases in the auditorium foyer to celebrate the Munartet Project and KAC Arts Ed Boxes. Natasha will come with driftwood forms, and participants will supply art to accessorize them. Be ready to volunteer some of your fantastic fish, and be open to making double sided cut-outs. Imagine mobiles of fish depicting the Briny Deep! (Artwork will be returned to you.)
Workshop is for adults only- all levels are welcome and supplies and snacks will be provided.
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All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
March:
Beginning Watercolor: Color Charts with Angela Toci
Students will learn watercolor skills by playing with color mixing, brush strokes, and color charts.
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
April:
Simple Jewelry Making with Jennifer Foster
Create jewelry with materials provided. Finish with an antique patina, hammer finish of several texture options, shape with either dome or flat, and assemble.
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
May:
Mosaic Theme Painting with Sophie Frets
4" canvases totaling 24" using the Munartet Project whales logo as the theme. Use a projec- tor to project the design onto the canvases which are hung together as one piece, trace the design, then use puffy black paint to outline it. Once that is done, each student gets a ran- dom piece to paint as they please. The design is then put back together as a whole and dis- played. In the classroom, teachers could use the method to help students describe and illus- trate concepts such as their school, classroom, or community.
All levels are welcome and supplies will be provided.
Munartet Learning Community members use the promo code MUNARTET to register for free.
Arts Education Boxes:
Kodiak Arts Council maintains lending boxes of arts supplies that educators may check out to support artistic practice. Some boxes include a sample lesson plan developed by Munartet learning community members.
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Gel Plate Printing by B. Dillard
Silk Painting by K. Longrich
Tide Pool Line Drawing by N. Zahn
NEW! leaf, berry, & blossom Line Drawing by N. Zahn
Washi Tape Watercolor Bookmarks
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While Munartet learning community members have priority use of the boxes, this resource can be made available and checked out for two-week periods by PTAs or other school groups sponsoring after-hours activities, non-profit agencies sponsoring free community events, homeschool parents, private schools, and pre-schools.
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To check out these boxes, click on the button below and fill out the form:​​
Spring & Sum Arts Co Teaching:
Munartet cohort members are invited to join our Spring Arts and Sum'Arts for Kids program as instructors providing arts experiences for youth. Cohort members will be paired with experienced teaching artists to develop arts-focused and arts-integrated classes, and produce a lesson plan. Cohort members will receive a stipend for their work.
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We will begin recruiting cohort members for the Spring Arts program in December and for the SumArts for Kids program in February. Please email education@kodiakarts.org for more information.
Teaching Artist Classroom Visits:
Teaching Artists are available to visit Munartet classrooms to lead arts instruction, co-teach, or provide coaching on arts integration ideas. Teaching Artists are practicing artists who have complementary skills in education, and who can engage students in learning experiences in and through the arts. Teaching artists are eligible for compensation by the Kodiak Arts Council for their work in arts coaching, and co-teaching.
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Munartet Project teachers who would like to work with a teaching artist in their classroom should complete this request form.
Teachers who are interested in more resources in Alutiiq arts and cultural practices are encouraged to contact our partners at the Alutiiq Museum.
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Resources: 2021 Teaching Artist Roster
Teaching Artists listed on the roster are those who have successfully completed Teaching Artist training and have been invited by KAC and KIBSD to continue teaching artist work. Inclusion on the roster does not necessarily guarantee teaching artist availability.
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What's your Big Idea?
Munartet Cohort Members - we want to hear your big idea for teaching in and through the arts and culture in Kodiak during this 2023- 2024 school year. KAC welcomes your ideas for supporting arts enhanced and arts integrated classrooms and can provide technical and financial support to Munartet Cohort members.
Eligible expenses include teaching artist stipends, supplies, materials, and equipment.
Educators are encouraged to contact the Arts Council office with any questions about project scope and eligible expenses. Email education@kodiakarts.org
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Some Big Idea examples over the past two years:​
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Purchasing supplies to support whole-class art journaling for the school year
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Purchasing supplies and kits to support paper-making arts for primary classrooms
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Facilitating a week-long virtual artist residency with secondary students​
What's your Big Idea?
Performing Arts Series:
Munartet learning community members can receive 50% off the ticket price to any Kodiak Arts Council performing arts event. Use the discount code MUNARTET when purchasing tickets online, through the Arts Council office in advance, or at the Box Office. Good for two tickets (because arts experiences are best when shared!). See all the great performing arts coming to the Kodiak stage in the year ahead!
Teaching Artist Training:
Since 2011, the Arts Council has partnered with the Kodiak Island Borough School District to host Teaching Artist Trainings. The trainings are free professional development opportunities to support local artists in their capacity to provide arts instruction in school settings. Topics may include thematic learning, classroom management strategies, student learning styles, and how to partner effectively with K-12 schools and teachers.
The Kodiak Arts Council teaching artist roster includes approximately 20 local artists with a wide range of artistic disciplines. In recent years, teaching artists have been placed in residencies around the island, from Port Lions and Larsen Bay to Kodiak High School.
Teaching artists looking to update their profile and preferences on the Teaching Artist Roster should complete this form.
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Resources:
Teaching Artist Training with Melanie Rick, September 2019
2021 Kodiak Teaching Artist Roster​