Kodiak Arts Council
The Munartet project
Cama'i (hello)
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.
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:
arts labs
teaching artist classroom visits
Arts Labs
An Arts Lab is an open creative space where 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.
Saturday, Oct. 22: Silk Painting with Kelly Longrich
Thursday, Nov. 17: Chinese Brush Painting: Poinsettias with Sharlene Cline (virtual)
Saturday, Nov. 19: Consent-based Arts and Activities Practices with Jared Griffin
Thursday, Jan. 19: Chinese Brush Painting: Amaryllis with Sharlene Cline (virtual)
Saturday, Jan. 21: Acrylic Pouring with Megan Ivanoff
Saturday, Feb 4: Line Drawing with Natasha Zahn
Saturday, Feb 25: Glass Fusing with Kathy Johnson
Saturday, April 22: Qaspeq Making Session I with Elena Leinberger
Saturday May 6: Qaspeq Making Session II with Elena Leinberger
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.
Workshops
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.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023
Line Drawing with Natasha Pristas
Using tide pool creatures as the focus, join Natasha for a line drawing workshop that introduces new ideas about and strengthens mark making in connection to reading and writing skills in elementary students.
Saturday, April 8, 2023
Gel Plate Printing with Bonnie Dillard
Arts Ed Boxes
Kodiak Arts Council maintains lending boxes of arts supplies that educators may check out to support artistic practice. There are currently nine Arts Ed boxes, and each box includes a sample lesson plan developed by Munartet learning community members (click to View box Contents pdf):
NEW! Line Drawing by Natasha Zahn
Charcoal and Graphite Drawing
Silk Painting
Washi Tape Watercolor Bookmarks
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.
To reserve and check out an Arts Ed box please email education@kodiakarts.org
Co-Teaching Opportunities
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2021 - 2022 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
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.
Resources:
Teaching Artist Training with Melanie Rick, September 2019
2021 Kodiak Teaching Artist Roster