Stratford Festival Hosts Training for Artist Educators

The Stratford Festival of Canada, in partnership with York University’s faculties of education and fine arts and the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), hosted a five-day arts education certificate course in February, a reprise of last summer’s successful pilot project between OAC and York University.

The 30 participants in the February course were current and former members of the Stratford Festival company and the festival’s Birmingham Conservatory.

Many of them have experience working in the school system. However, this course is one of the few places artists can learn about changes to Ontario’s school system that can affect them.

During the course, the actors were introduced to education policies regarding safety, information about child and adolescent development, and ideas about how to establish successful actor–teacher partnerships. The course was also constructed to highlight some of the plays that are being performed for students at Stratford this season and that may be taught in Ontario schools.

“This arts education course provides an excellent professional development opportunity for artists in education. It helps them to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be as effective as possible in the classroom,” said Steven Campbell, OAC’s Director of Community Partnerships.

OAC and York University are considering whether the certificate program for OAC’s roster of artist educators can be offered again this summer.

 For more information, please contact Andrea Vagianos, Acting Arts Education Officer, 416-969-7428 or 1-800-387-0058 ext. 7428, avagianos@arts.on.ca