Teaching Arts in a Multilingual City: American Theatre
Lincoln Center Theatre Convening fosters Collaboration and Best practices in Arts Education
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Lincoln Center Theater (LCT) recently hosted a pivotal convening that brought together arts education professionals from across New York City. The event, designed to foster collaboration and share best practices, highlighted the vital role of arts education in underserved communities and the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy.
Bridging Cultures and Empowering Educators
The convening delved into critical issues facing arts educators today.Discussions centered on developing creative residency curriculums, effectively relating different cultures within the classroom, and the profound impact of translating all communications wiht parents and guardians into their native languages. These conversations underscored a shared commitment to making arts education accessible and meaningful for all students, especially those in communities facing economic hardship.
Key Themes and Takeaways
Attendees engaged in dynamic discussions that explored innovative approaches to arts education. A important focus was placed on creating inclusive learning environments that celebrate diversity and foster cross-cultural understanding. the power of multilingual interaction with families was repeatedly emphasized as a cornerstone for building strong school-home partnerships and ensuring student success.
The event concluded with a lively speed “dating” session, allowing participants to quickly share key takeaways and learnings from the day. This innovative networking format facilitated the exchange of contact data and fostered new connections among educators. The overwhelming sentiment was one of gratitude for the possibility to connect with peers and learn from shared experiences.
Kati Koerner of LCT expressed the organization’s long-held desire for such gatherings: “Ever as we started doing this work,we’ve wanted to get together with other people who are also doing this work,and just have an opportunity to learn from each other,figure out how we can collaborate and support each other,and just know that there are other people out there doing what it is indeed that we all do.”
Justin Daniels echoed this sentiment,highlighting the value of breaking down professional isolation: “I was so grateful for this convening-we need more of these opportunities to learn from each other. Often teaching artists can feel isolated, experiencing the work through their own lens, but not often witnessing best practices from other educators in the field. The event was an opportunity to peel back the curtain on great tools and techniques for educators to use in their own practice.”
Lasting Impact and Future Collaborations
The LCT convening has already sparked tangible collaborations. Studio in a School and Flamenco Vivo are set to present a joint session at the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable’s annual Face to Face conference in April,a direct result of connections made at the LCT event. Beyond formal presentations, the convening ignited ongoing coffee conversations about Integrated cultural Education (ICE) and best practices, which are expected to continue as administrators and educators plan for the upcoming school years.
Looking ahead, Lincoln Center Theater plans to build on this success by partnering with other arts organizations to host a follow-up event during the 2025-26 academic year, potentially with a dedicated focus on teaching artists.The enthusiasm and shared commitment evident at this initial convening suggest that future events will offer even more opportunities for growth and collaboration in the vital field of arts education.
Allison Considine* is a former editor of this magazine and contributes a monthly column on arts education. Based in Brooklyn, she works at a mission-driven tech startup by day and moonlights as a theatre critic.