National Performing Arts Initiative
Findings and Progress
National Performing Arts Education Initiative: Building a Nation Through Performing Arts Education
This comprehensive two-year consulting initiative addresses the urgent need for culturally relevant performing arts education across The Bahamas. The project establishes both immediate programming and long-term infrastructure to support quality performing arts education that contributes to an orange economy and develops culturally competent citizens.
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Key Deliverables:
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Development of national performing arts standards, content, and scope & sequence through a paid professional learning community of Bahamian teachers, artists, and international experts
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Teacher training programs in partnership with the University of The Bahamas, including the new ARTS900: Methods of Arts Integration course
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K-12 arts integration programs staffed with trained teaching artists focused on social-emotional learning
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Complete four-strand performing arts curriculum (dance, drama, music, media arts) aligned with new standards
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Research support for developing degree and teacher certification programs in dance and drama at UB
The consultancy creates a sustainable foundation for performing arts education that honors Bahamian culture while building the teaching capacity and institutional framework needed for nationwide implementation.
Professional Learning Community #1: Think Tank
The goal of the Professional Learning Community Think Tank was the development of national performing arts standards, content, and scope & sequence through a paid professional learning community of Bahamian teachers, artists, and international experts.
After completing a curriculum review, culling all available resources on national, regional and international standards and then analyzing the think tank agreed on integrating five main organizing precepts: Gholdy Muhammad’s culturally responsive, 5 Pursuits of Education, research on the arts impact on Social and Emotional Learning, Social Justice and Culturally Responsive Education practices including the excellent culturally sustaining work of the Ministry of Education in Australia.