The Right Brain Initiative adds new schools in 2010-11

Portland area program brings innovative, curriculum-integrated arts education to two new North Clackamas schools

The Right Brain Initiative, a K-8 arts education partnership of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, adds North Clackamas Schools Linwood and Scouters Mountain Elementaries to its 2010-11 programming. These schools join existing North Clackamas partners Ardenwald, Concord, Oak Grove, Spring Mountain, Sunnyside and View Acres Elementaries.

During the past year with The Right Brain Initiative, students at these sites have learned history through Japanese drumming; science, vocabulary and literature through movement; character and cooperation through theater; and perspective through photography. This year, Right Brain will serve a total of 25 K-8 schools within the Gresham-Barlow School District, Hillsboro School District, North Clackamas Schools and Portland Public Schools.

“The Right Brain Initiative has brought our students engaging learning experiences that boost creativity, teamwork, and the quest for knowledge,” said North Clackamas Superintendent Tim Mills. “I would love to see this program in all our K-8 schools.”

Linwood and Scouters Mountain Elementary Schools join Right Brain in the first of two introductory years free of charge to the district. In 2010-11, key staff members at each school will benefit from Right Brain’s professional development programming, which will strengthen their understanding of the natural connections between creative learning and other curricular areas.

In 2011-12, the schools will be introduced to the Right Brain model through one classroom artist residency, and supported through the collaborative residency planning process between teachers and teaching artists. In 2012-13, these schools will bring artists into all classrooms in their building. The district’s investment of $15 per child in each participating school will go directly to artist fees and other costs for the classroom experiences.

In celebration of this partnership between The Right Brain Initiative and North Clackamas Schools, Right Brain’s traveling exhibit Show + Tell, will be open to the public Thursday, October 7 from noon - 8pm at the North Clackamas School’s administration building at 4444 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie. The multimedia exhibit, housed in an 8x16’ portable storage container, showcases highlights from the 2009-10 school year of Right Brain residencies throughout the Portland metropolitan area.

About The Right Brain Initiative
The Right Brain Initiative is a sustainable partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community, which launched its programming in Portland area classrooms in January 2009. The program’s goal is to achieve a measurable impact on learning by integrating the community’s arts and cultural resources into the education of every K-8 student in the Portland metropolitan region’s school districts. The Right Brain Initiative is a project of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, with Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington serving as Implementation Partner. Read more online at www.TheRightBrainInitiative.org. Blog www.TheRightBrainInitiative.wordpress.com.

About Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC)
RACC is a nonprofit arts services organization serving the Portland metropolitan area, including Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. In addition to serving as the managing partner for The Right Brain Initiative, RACC provides grants for artists, arts organizations, schools and other community-based arts projects; conducts workplace giving for arts and culture (“Work for Art”) and other advocacy efforts; provides workshops and other forms of technical assistance; shares printed and web-based resources for artists; and integrates artwork into public places. Read more online at www.racc.org.