Getting Started

Connecting with the OAC

Your main contacts will be the AIR(E) Administrator and the Program Administrator for the Engaging in Communities and Schools programs. 
 

Start Small...Grow...Sustain

Many new AIR(E) partners pilot projects in one or two schools before expanding into a large-scale project. OAC supports this approach by growing our support as you grow. This can help you build:

• awareness of the unique context of each school
• administrative capacity to support new schools as you go
• a network between schools so that learning from established schools in the project can be shared with those newly added

 

Set Goals

Developing a mission, goals and related objectives can help you create a specific and feasible plan to succeed.
 

Align Project with a School Board or First Nations Educational Authority Plan

Look for opportunities and linkages with your school board or First Nations educational authority plan. Advocacy for additional funds or resources for your arts initiative is easier when you can show it helps a school board or First Nations education authority achieve its goals. 

Many participating partners have aligned their projects with other Ministry of Education policies and strategies like Growing Success,  Ontario First Nation, Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit Policy Framework, Ontario’s Well-Being Strategy and L'aménagement linguistique.
 

Collaboration

Building relationships to other programs, initiatives and projects can help leverage relationships that will offer support to you and the growth and sustainment of your large-scale arts initiative.  
 

Seek Support

Beginning a large-scale arts initiative that aligns with a larger plan, addresses gaps and effectively supports artists and teachers working together is no easy task. Reach out to the network of administrators across the province already doing this work. 

OAC convenes AIR(E) administrators twice a year to:

• build the network
• consider shared issues
• utilize the expertise of your peers to address the challenges of your project

Your involvement in these meetings provides you with time to reflect and to consider improvements and new ways of working.
 

Resource	Description
Ideas Into Action for School and System Leaders: Setting Goals: The Power of Purpose, Ministry of Education, 2014.	An article on why goal setting is critical to success and strategies on how to set goals.
Ideas into Action for School and System Leaders: Promoting Collaborative Learning Structures, Ministry of Education, 2014.	A paper that describes networked learning and considerations on how to build collaboration into initiatives.
EXAMPLE: Board Project Overview and Goal Setting. Keewatin Patricia District School Board, 2017	KPDSB’s slide presentation that provides an overview of program, goals and questions for artists and teachers to consider for school projects.
EXAMPLE: Board Planning. Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, 2017	CSPGNO'S planning document outlining the goals and objectives of their AIR(E) project.
EXAMPLE: AIR(E) Agenda for Partner Network, Ontario Arts Council, 2014	An example agenda of a meeting of AIR(E) partners.