F1RST Conference

F1RST: A conference that celebrates and supports those who bring others to art

First things first: Artists and other creative professionals add health and vitality to communities, but FIRST those artists and creative professionals approach art as students and community members. For this to happen, those who bring art to communities need others to support them in this important work. CIA’s free F1RST conference on March 28 is meant to do just that.

This two-part symposium includes a morning session just for teachers, “Content for the Classroom,” and an afternoon session that is open to the public featuring a keynote address and panel discussion that spotlights the value of art and artists to our communities. 

For teachers the conference provides resources to help with:

• teaching about art and design careers
• developing new content for their classes
• networking with arts organizations and one another

Educators who register will receive .5 CEUs for attending the full day event. 

Morning Sessions: Content for the Classroom

Registration is required for the morning session

9:30–10:00am: Check-in; donuts and coffee provided – Ohio Bell Auditorium

Morning sessions provide models of content that can be taught in the classroom so your students will know about creative careers and creative life paths.

10:00am–12:00pm: Content for the Classroom

• Kristin Thompson-Smith (CIA Class of 2009), art educator, presenting on "Careers in the Visual Creative Professions" – Ohio Bell Auditorium

Choose from one of three sessions. Each session is presented by professionals working in the field and offers a classroom-suitable project.

Session A:  Art in the Field: Nature and Science Centers, History Museums – This session takes a behind-the-scenes look at how art is produced for these venues. Presented by Joshua Maxwell (CIA Class of 2013)

Session B: Art in the Studio—2D Visual Art 
Presented by Tony Ingrisano (CIA Faculty in Painting), and Mike Meier (CIA Class of 2010)

Session C: Art in the Studio–3D Visual Art 
Presented by Erin Duhigg and Zak Smoker (both CIA Class of 2011)

12:00–1:00pm: Lunch – Sandwiches and drinks provided

Afternoon Session: Why Art Matters to Students, to Cities

Open to the Public; Aitken Auditorium

1:00pm: Artists will discuss how what "engaged practice" means to them and how they work with the community. Time is allowed between speakers for questions.

• Welcome by Tom Berger, CIA's Director of Continuing Education + Community Outreach
• Nikki Woods (CIA Class of 2012), CIA's Visiting Artist Coordinator, will introduce the speakers:
• April Bleakney, founder of APE MADE, a one-woman screen-print and production shop in Cleveland, will present on her practice.
• Liz Maugans, artist, and executive director of Zygote Press, will talk about Zygote's community outreach
• Chris Webb, poet, speaker, and founder of the urban-arts media company "Pretty Inner City,” will present on his practice.

3:00–3:20pm: Nicole Ledinek, Curator of Education, MOCA Cleveland, will present on MOCA as a resource

15 min. break with refreshments

3:45pm: Keynote Presentation: Mary Campbell-Zopf

Mary Campbell-Zopf, executive director of the Dayton-based arts organization Muse Machine, has been a leader at the state and national levels in arts education for more than two decades. Prior to assuming the leadership of Muse in 2014, she had a 25-year career at the Ohio Arts Council, where she served as deputy director from 2006 until 2014.

4:10pm: Panel discussion: Why Art Matters to Cities, to Students

The panel discussion will be moderated by Thomas B. Schorgl, president and CEO of the Community Partnership for Arts & Culture (CPAC). Schorgl, too, brings an expansive outlook on the arts in society. In his role, he manages CPAC’s efforts to strengthen and advance the Northeast Ohio region through the arts and cultural sector by advoctating for unique public and private partnerships. 

Joining Schorgl as panelists will be:

• Liz Maugans, co-founder and managing director of Zygote Press;
• Marsha Dobrzynski, executive director, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning; 
• Charles D. Lawrence, president and CEO, The Music Settlement; and
• Donald Black, an artist who works with video and photography.

FIRST was conceived as a bookend to CIA’s annual NEXT program. Held in October, NEXT introduces high school and transfer college students to career and educational options in art and design fields through a panel discussion led by recent CIA graduates, and hands-on workshops in CIA studios.