Location: The Little Theater in Macgowan Hall

Co-Sponsored by the Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE) Program in the School of the Arts and Architecture and the Department of Theater in the School of Theater, Film & Television.

Keynote Presentation

Eric Booth: Renowned author, publisher, speaker, curriculum designer and teaching artist pioneer

Panelists

Melanie Ríos Glaser: Dance Maker and former Artistic Director of The Wooden Floor

Vijay Gupta: Violinist and Music Teaching Artist: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Street Symphony

Leslie Ishii: Theater Teaching Artist and Stage Director: Center Theatre Group, East West Players

Moderator

Perry Daniel: Faculty, UCLA Department of Theater and Director of ArtsBridge

Through this free public event, the UCLA Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE) Program, in collaboration with the Department of Theater in the School of Theater, Film & Television, seeks to bring together multiple publics to discuss the importance and impact of the teaching artist profession and the conditions necessary for excellent teaching artists to blossom and thrive in partnerships with non-profit arts organizations and local schools.

Often referred to as the “father of the teaching artist profession,” keynote speaker Eric Booth has been writing and speaking about the teaching artist profession for the past 30 years. His writings and videos share his methodologies and philosophies on working as a teaching artist across disciplines and in various settings, as well as have guided and helped articulate “best practices” in the teaching artistry field. In recognition of his inspiring guidance to countless teaching artists who have entered the profession, Eric was given the nation’s highest honor in arts education – the Arts Education Leadership Award, from Americans for the Arts, the first teaching artist ever to be so honored.

At this event, Eric will reflect on his teaching methods that have proved most effective with multiple groups and share his ideas about what excellence means in teaching artistry. At the same time, this evening's conversation will reflect on the challenges and responsibilities of all teaching artists that are working in the field at this important moment in history – a time when many in our community, most especially our children and families, are feeling frightened and anxious.

In addition, a panel of local practicing teaching artists, including Melanie Rios Glaser, Vijay Gupta, and Leslie Ishii, will reflect on what it means to be an excellent teaching artist in our Los Angeles communities during the days of Trump and his administration.