INVITATION TO THE ART TEACHERS CONNECT 2012

ART TEACHERS CONNECT “ART TEACHER OF INFLUENCE” Competence + Character + Connection = Influence @ The Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, LAGOS, NIGERIA Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd December, 2012. REGISTRATION: FREE

AN ART TEACHER DEVELOPMENTAL TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ART TUTORS IN A SERENE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES AND STIMULATE CREATIVE CONVERSATION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF ART EDUCATION IN NIGERIA, TRANSFORM THE ART TEACHERS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY AND POSITION THEM AS CHANGE AGENTS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FEATURES • Studio Sessions (exploring myriad of media) • Workshops • Drawing sessions • Virtual visibility (Introduction to web log; blogging) • Seascape drawing/painting (An artistic engagement at the beach) • Cinema Show

LIKE STARS ON EARTH: A Bollyhood movie which is by far the most sensitive and educational portrayal of childhood dyslexia. Eight-year-old Ishaan's world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate. Adults are more interested in things like homework and marks. And Ishaan just can't seem to get anything right in class. When he gets into more trouble than his parents can handle, he is packed off to boarding school to "be disciplined." New art teacher, Nikumbh, infects the students with joy and optimism and breaks all the rules of how things are done by asking them to think, dream and imagine. All the children respond with enthusiasm except Ishaan. Nikumbh soon realizes that something is wrong and sets out to discover why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find himself.

FRIDA: The biopic of the amazingly talented and crazy Mexican female artist, Frida Khalo whose love story with Diego Riviera is the stuff of legend.

• Art @ the Orphanage (A practical platform for the art instructors to use art to effect social change, art as a springboard for therapy and empowerment with the children at the orphanage homes and other less privileged kids at the rural communities)

• Adire re-branding (A new definition of and innovation of the traditional textile design, the art of tie and dye) • Interactive sessions • Mural Art to effect social change (A Mural can be a relatively effective tool of social emancipation. Often, the visual effects are an enticement to attract public attention to social issues. Mural can have a dramatic impact whether consciously or subconsciously on the attitudes of the passers by. They as well add aesthetic improvement to the daily lives of residents) • Sight-seeing (visit to tourist centres in Badagary) • Red carpet/award night (award of the MOST FASCINATING ART TEACHER). A special night to celebrate the extraordinary Art teachers making incredible impacts in their local communities for the advancement of Art in Nigeria. The most fascinating stories will be shared on our virtual platform, www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com • Exhibition PROJECT OVERVIEW Theme: ART TEACHER OF INFLUENCE Competence + Character + Connection = Influence Mission Statement: To re-awake, resonate, and ignite the passion and enthusiasm in Art teaching profession and equipping the art teachers with skills and information to make indelible influence on their students, in their local communities and the society at large (with special reference to the Bollyhood movie: LIKE STARS ON EARTH) Intent: This event is to equip the Art teachers in series of Art workshops and other platforms to Connect-Relate-Share-Create-Exhibit with aim of preserving and securing the future through Art. Facilitators: Professional artists and art tutors with broaden experience in Art education and Studio practice. Benefit: Art retreat allow the time for dialogue, exploration, discoveries, and create connections that contribute to the future. We draw inspiration from one another as we convene in an exclusive environment that encourages and stimulate creative conversation and exchange of ideas. Overview of the Objective: To expose the handlers of our children's ART EDUCATION to a broad range of artistic expression, new concept and techniques, and information that may help in nurturing and unlocking the children's potentials. Date: Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd December, 2012. Venue: The Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria.

STRUCTURE/DATE The ART TEACHERS CONNECT conference will be tailored towards an exhibition. It is an exchange exercise for the art instructors where they were made to interact and create bodies of works to address different issues in the society, especially issues that affect the children i.e Child abuse, Child trafficking, Child labour, Hiv/Aids etc It will be a sharing of ideas and exploring myriad of media and special projects for the first four days. The last day will features an exhibition of works executed during the period of the art retreat. The ART TEACHERS CONNECT conference will holds Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd December, 2012.

MODE OF REGISTRATION There is no form to fill, no fee to pay. Just send a letter of notification (written by the art teacher) intimating his/her intention to attend (with NAME, MOBILE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDY, SCHOOL ADDRESS) on or before 12th of December, 2012 to: teachingvisualart@gmail.com. Once we receive the mail we will get him/her signed up for the ART TEACHERS CONNECT 2012. To be considered for the MOST FASCINATING ART TEACHER award, the art teacher will be required to forward an article describing his “ART CLASS EXPERIENCE” (550 words maximum and 20 attached images maximum) to: teachingvisualart@gmail.com. Participation is subjected to availability of slot. TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLIED! Photos and report of the last ART TEACHERS RETREAT are on the links below; please visit: http://www.insidetrack-abuja.blogspot.com/2012/10/photos-art-teachers-retreat-organised.html http://www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html To support, partnership consideration or advert placement on the event catalog, forward your interest to: artscoutafrica@gmail.com OR call +234 803 087 4474. REGISTRATION IS FREE FOR ALL ART TEACHERS (It includes accommodation, art supplies, tours)

TESTIMONY: Mr. Micheal Ebilakun

Mr. Micheal Ebilakun was at the ART TEACHERS RETREAT last summer break... He is motivated, and engaging more in studio works now thane ver. This has immensely inspired most of his students : the essence of the ART RETREAT !

TESTIMONY: Mr. Kayode Maku

Mr. Kayode Maku was also at the Art retreat, and since then he has been working vibrantly with his students to maximize talents in performing art. He gave brilliant performance with his students to entertain the guest at the opening ceremony of the art exhibition tagged: AGE OF CHANGE to commemorate the Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary in Abeokuta.

TESTIMONY: Mr. Olumide Emmanuel Shoaga

Mr. Olumide Emmanuel Shoaga is a versatile artist, a photographer (One time on-air personality) and an art tutor of Nigeria descent. He is an artist in its totality, he breathes and lives art. He is an epitome of what a true artist is. His life as an artist has influence a lot of individuals to tow the part of visual art as a profession. And he is a worthy mentor in the creative art community. For years Mr. Olumide Shoaga has not been exhibiting and created less works. His encounter at the just concluded Art retreat made the diferrence. It was a reawakening, and for just little period of time his portfolio has immensely increased. Mr. Olumide Shoaga is one of the exhibiting artists at the on-going art exhibition tagged: AGE OF CHANGE to commemorate the Nigeria’s 52nd Indepedence anniversary at Olumo Rock Tourist Complex, Abeokuta, Nigeria. He has beautiful and fascinating art pieces on display at the exhibition. Below is Mr. Shoaga posing with some of his works.

TESTIMONY: ISEOLUWA OBAGADE

My experience at the ART TEACHERS RETREAT was “a thrilling and surprising one”. Thrilling because, I was opportune to see art teachers and artists at work. They created something beautiful and splendid out of something ordinary. I use the word surprise because I got in touch with my artistic side which I never knew existed. I am neither an art student nor teacher, and I believed I knew nothing close to Art but I was persuaded to come up with something, which I did and surprisingly I was complimented for the work. By and large, the organizers have done a marvelous job; they created a platform where people can freely express themselves artistically without restrain. Youth and everyone will be looking forward to the next retreat and I believe it will be described in two words “thrilling and surprising”. ISEOLUWA OBAGADE