Fall Conference: Sept 27th & 28th
2024 Conference Coordinator(s):
Nicole Nelson (IA) & Lindsay Hunkins (MN) [email protected] 2024 Conference Committee: KEY NOTE SPEAKERS:
JOE FUSARO AKWI NJI |
Keep reading for more detailed information.
For questions or to join the committee contact [email protected].
For questions or to join the committee contact [email protected].
CALL FOr Presentations
Please use this form to submit a proposal for a session at the Art Educators of Iowa (AEI) and Minnesota (AEM) Fall Conference in Mason City, IA.
Call for proposal closes June 15th
Notice of acceptance will be emailed to the primary presenter by June 30th.
Ideas for sessions could include but are not limited to:
- Curation and Presentation Ideas: portfolio creation and management, art show set ups, community exhibits, art preservation and protection, visiting museums, lesson plan ideas to teach these concepts
- Connecting: Social Media, parents, collaborating with local artists
- Equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, justice, social emotional
- Pedagogy: TAB, PBL, STEAM, Studio Habits, using technology, Arts Integration-ways to get in other classrooms and collaborate with other disciplines
- Maintaining our own artistic practices, balancing work and home
- Creating! With our students and for ourselves
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON...
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KeyNote Information
TITLE: Empowered to Create, Connect, and Celebrate the Dual Identity as Artist and Educator
DESCRIPTION: As arts educators, you heroically balance your roles as mentors and creators, but in doing so, it may become difficult to prioritize your own artistic journey and identity. Join Akwi Nji to reignite your passion for both artistry and education in a world that demands so much of you. In this keynote, we’ll explore the importance of harnessing the strengths of your dual identity as artist and educator. You’ll be empowered to tap into the deep well of your creative potential, reimagine unique ways of presenting your art, and celebrate meaningful connections with your students and with the artist in you.
AKWI NJI BIO
Akwi Nji is an interdisciplinary artist creating in words, performance, and visual art. Her work and words have appeared on stage from California's Wine Country to New York's Fashion Week.
Her professional background is in nonprofit leadership, public education, journalism, and strategic communications. In addition to maintaining a robust professional art practice, she has been a nationally award-winning communication strategist with a focus on PK-12 education.
Akwi has served as an arts ambassador in multiple roles including as an Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Cultural Coalition board member and as a member of the Brucemore board of trustees. She has produced nearly 100 events in recent years, involving more than 300 writers and performers. She has also served as an advisor of Arts Midwest initiatives. Her most recent projects include an award-winning short film Correspondence; a visual art and corresponding spoken word album titled Enuf; and her forthcoming book, Under These Here Stars, is the winner of the Iowa Book Prize.
As a writer, voice artist, performer, and producer her collaborative partners include Emmy-award winning composers and nationally-renowned dancers and choreographers. She has been an Iowa Arts Council Fellow and, for her efforts in the business community, she was named one of Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.
Akwi was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in Cameroon, Africa. Her experiences as a Cameroonian and Cameroonian American inform her work as artist and advocate. She lives in the Midwest with her two children, the family dog, and an ornery cat.
DESCRIPTION: As arts educators, you heroically balance your roles as mentors and creators, but in doing so, it may become difficult to prioritize your own artistic journey and identity. Join Akwi Nji to reignite your passion for both artistry and education in a world that demands so much of you. In this keynote, we’ll explore the importance of harnessing the strengths of your dual identity as artist and educator. You’ll be empowered to tap into the deep well of your creative potential, reimagine unique ways of presenting your art, and celebrate meaningful connections with your students and with the artist in you.
AKWI NJI BIO
Akwi Nji is an interdisciplinary artist creating in words, performance, and visual art. Her work and words have appeared on stage from California's Wine Country to New York's Fashion Week.
Her professional background is in nonprofit leadership, public education, journalism, and strategic communications. In addition to maintaining a robust professional art practice, she has been a nationally award-winning communication strategist with a focus on PK-12 education.
Akwi has served as an arts ambassador in multiple roles including as an Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Cultural Coalition board member and as a member of the Brucemore board of trustees. She has produced nearly 100 events in recent years, involving more than 300 writers and performers. She has also served as an advisor of Arts Midwest initiatives. Her most recent projects include an award-winning short film Correspondence; a visual art and corresponding spoken word album titled Enuf; and her forthcoming book, Under These Here Stars, is the winner of the Iowa Book Prize.
As a writer, voice artist, performer, and producer her collaborative partners include Emmy-award winning composers and nationally-renowned dancers and choreographers. She has been an Iowa Arts Council Fellow and, for her efforts in the business community, she was named one of Corridor Business Journal’s Forty Under 40.
Akwi was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in Cameroon, Africa. Her experiences as a Cameroonian and Cameroonian American inform her work as artist and advocate. She lives in the Midwest with her two children, the family dog, and an ornery cat.
Future Conference Locations
2025 Conference - Cedar Falls
2025 Conference - Cedar Falls
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Conference Archives
October 13 & 14, 2023
IOWA CITY Hosted by: The Figge Art Museum 2023 Conference Coordinator(s): Jeanna Gerot & Erin Almelien 2023 Conference Committee: Steve Andersen, Megan Dehner, Peggy Fitzgerald, Sandy Kreinbring, Heather Lasansky, Stephanie Mass, Steve McGuire, Buffy Quintero, Allison Rowe KEYNOTE(s): RACHEL BRANHAM, JORGE LUCERO, CHRIS SCHULTE |
October 7 & 8 2022
DAVENPORT Hosted by: The Figge Art Museum 2022 Conference Coordinator(s): COLLEEN TOMLINSON & ELLEN CRAIG 2022 Conference Committee: HEIDE HERNANDEZ, MELISSA MOHR, JENNA DARSEE KEYNOTE(s): CINDY FOLEY |
October 8-9 2021
LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT Hosted by: University of Iowa 2021 Conference Coordinator(s): JENNA DARSEE & LIZ BLOOMBURG 2021 Conference Committee: MELISSA NELSON, COLLEEN TOMLINSON, HEATHER WALKER KEYNOTE(s): ANDY PIZZA |
October 24, 2020
VIRTUAL EVENT Hosted by: Wisconsin Art Education Association who will be hosting a virtual conference called 2020 Vision in collaboration with the Art Educators of Minnesota and the North Dakota Art Education Association. CHAIR: MOLLY RAY KEYNOTE(s): CINDY INGRAM & LAURA GRUNDLER |
OCTOBER 11-12 2019
DECORAH, IOWA NICC, Wilder Business Center - Winneshiek Hotel - Decorah Middle School CHAIR: KATHLEEN SWEET KEYNOTE: MONICA LEO & EDWIN GIL |
OCTOBER 12-13 2018
STORM LAKE, IOWA Buena Vista University CHAIR: LYNSIE MAYNARD KEYNOTE: JENNIFER DRINKWATER, HEIDI FUCHTMAN, IAN COON |
OCTOBER 5-7, 2017
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA Hilton Garden Inn - Valley High School CHAIR: PAMELA BALLARD KEYNOTE: NATHALIE MIEBACH |