Arts in the Schools - who are great artists to invite to schools?

Inviting the talents of Burque's wealth of visual artists, poets, musicians into our schools is a great way to provide inspiration both to ourselves as teachers as well as to our youth. The last year I taught, I took my $150 stipend given by the PTA to each teacher for supplies, and paid two poets to come into my class to give presentations.

Carlos Contreras's discussion from earlier in the summer is a great offer from an excellent poet immersed in our city's wonderful slam community, a community that has shown great generosity and solidarity with youth and with our schools over many years.

Bayou Seco still remains one of the best sources for great folks songs from many cultures for kids. They have many CD's availble from their website.

Other favorites of mine to teach, especially in Spanish, are 'El Quelite,' and 'Tengo, Tengo, Tengo.' We hired them to come give all school sing along assemblies and teach folk dances to a whole grade level. They would then come back for a performance night where families could all join in.

The Silver City community is now the lucky recipient of their residence, like Albuquerque used to be. Of course, they do answer the call from Summerfest at the Botanical Gardens a bunch, and come back to their old haunting grounds, gathering many an excellent local musician to join them on stage.

Extra funding for guest artists is available to public schools. "Arts Learning in Schools Projects" is the title to the grant program provided through NM Arts.

Which artists have come to your school or classroom, any you can recommend?