A new initiative that will create a standards-based theatre curriculum for use in high school classrooms across the U.S. received the approval of the National Endowment for the Arts this week in the form of a $36,000 Arts Works grant.
Read: NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS AWARDS OVER $3 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 149 U.S. THEATRES
The Educational Theatre Association is behind The Curriculum Framework Project, which aims to create a well-defined, standards-based curriculum that can applied to theatre studies at the high school level. This is the first NEA grant to be awarded to the EdTA.
The year-long initiative will pair 10 two-member teams of high school theatre educators and teaching artists to create the curriculum based on the 2014 National Theatre Standards.
“Nearly 30 states have adopted new standards in the last two years,” EdTA Director of Educational Policy, James Palmarini said in a statement. “To meet those more rigorous standards, our teachers need a framework that articulates what is important to teach and learn in theatre. This project will do that.”
“Our teachers are the key to ensuring that our students will have the opportunity to engage in a quality theatre education. This grant will certainly help us provide more and better professional development,’’ EdTA Executive Director Julie Theobald added.
EdTA will accepting applications for participation in The Curriculum Framework Project from February 15–March 15. Applicants are not required to be members of the association. Click here to apply.
