Visual & Performing Arts

Overview

Goals for curriculum, instruction and assessment in art draw their content from the five foundation domains of the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for the visual and performing arts: meaning and creative thinking-CREATING (C), contextual understanding, production and response-PRESENTING (P), assessment and reflection-RESPONDING (R), and connections (C). Art education is based on the belief that the arts have intrinsic, cognitive and enduring value for our students. Art education is comprehensive and sequential and integrates the four curricular components of the arts: art history (knowing who, what, and when); art criticism (knowing why); aesthetic perception (knowing about); and art production (knowing how).

Structured learning situations include the exposure to and application of a wide variety of media, techniques, and processes are essential parts of the visual and performing arts education instructional programs.

Art education contributes to the intellectual, social and emotional growth of every child, and the fine arts curriculum is designed to develop the unique mental capabilities which foster flexible, original, divergent, fluent, creative and imaginative thinking. While art enhances learning in all subject areas by providing auditory, visual and sensory experiences, art has intrinsic value and is worth learning for its own sake. The department of curriculum and instruction aims for a comprehensive program which fosters the creative potential of every learner.