Conference Schedule

Download a PDF of the Conference Schedule & Map

Keynote

9 - 9:30 a.m.

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In-Person and Virtual

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Meet Houston's Poet Laureate, Outspoken Bean!

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Outspoken Bean is Houston's 2021-2023 Poet Laureate. The New Jersey born, San Antonio raised, H-Town based military brat was introduced to the arts and world cultures at a very young age and has not let go of it. "An energetic pioneer for poetry, in all its different sizes and shapes, Bean is dedicated to making sure that poets get heard," Emily Hinds of Arts + Culture Magazine wrote of Bean. Bean uses poetry to engage different mediums and institutions to create new and engaging art, such as being the first poet to perform on Houston Ballet's main stage with their production Play.

In-Person Breakout Sessions (scroll down for virtual sessions!)

In-Person Session 1

9:30 - 10:10 a.m. 

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Argentine Tango for Teacher Self-Care

Presented by MECA - Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts

Bayou Theatre

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Following the motto "Dawn, Breathe, Expand your Limits and Dance," instructor Isadora Mangino creates a pleasant atmosphere so that each individual gradually gets into their own corporality. In this session, learn basic steps and posture of Argentine Tango with Isadora. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Isadora trained in classical dance with renowned teachers such as Josefina Sereano, Olga Ferri, and Liliana Ferruchi.  Additional teachers and mentors include internationally renowned Alicia Alonso and Hector Zaraspe. Other related studies include two years of dance movement therapy and a passion for movement research. 

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Crafting the Classroom: Integrating Art into Core Subjects

Presented by Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Room 1211​

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Learn about integrating contemporary craft into classrooms while constructing a hands-on project! Explore how HCCC creates experiences to educate on the process, product and history of craft as well as opportunities for self-expression and problem-solving. Discover how arts-integration foster creativity, experimentation, and grit. Practice critical thinking and team building skills by working in groups to craft an artwork. Problem solve through material choice while developing your ability to think critically and creatively. Learn how you can encourage open-ended interpretation and help students feel comfortable in the gray areas. Discuss tips to incorporate art-integrated activities and projects into your curriculum and connect to lessons in science, language arts, and math.

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Theatre Games - Socially Distanced Edition

Presented by University of Houston College of the Arts

Room 1213

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This workshop will present multiple theatre games and warm ups that work in a socially distanced environment. From physical-oriented, to vocal-oriented, to focus-oriented games, these are great to use in the classroom or in an after-school environment!

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10:10 - 10:40 a.m.  Sponsor Coffee Break

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In-Person Session 2

10:40 - 11:20 a.m. 

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Mexican Folk Dance: Jesusita en Chihuahua

Presented by MECA - Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts

Bayou Theatre

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MECA dance instructor Manuel Giron will teach basic steps and posture of Jesusita en Chihuahua, a Mexican folk-dance dating back to the country’s revolution. Born and raised in Houston, Manuel began training at the age of 7 with his mother who had trained professionally in Mexico from the age of 15. In 2019 Manuel joined the MECA Ballet Folklorico under the direction of Master Instructor Julio Lopez and quickly became his apprentice. He is currently teaching at MECA and various after school programs throughout Houston. 

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Slow Down and Reflect: Self Care for Educators

Presented by CAMH

Room 1211 

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Sometimes the answer to our questions or challenges can be found in unpacking, naming, or reflecting on our assumptions. Slow down with the CAMH Education team in a discussion-based session to identify what tools you already have to find answers in challenging times. As educators have gone through a school year like no other, we want to give you time to reflect through a series of activities including close-looking at artwork, mediating on goals, and remembering our strengths. Explore your work as an educator and how we create transformative experiences when we holistically connect our head (concepts and theories), our heart (the passion and energy at the core of the work), and our hands (active use of concepts). Let’s gather together to remind each other of why we chose education and how to connect and be present for our students.

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Missing from the Museum: Adventures in Art History & Theatre

Presented by Brave Little Company, Young Audiences of Houston, and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Room 1213 

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If you look closely, you'll notice that something—or someone—is missing from the museum. The series Missing from the Museum is not only an exciting adventure in which students race to rescue lost works by women artists throughout history—it's also a new model for arts partnerships. Combining theatre, art, and history, MFTM was created by Houston theatre Brave Little Company and three partner theatres around the US. With a goal of keeping youth and educators connected with their local arts organizations after the pandemic, MFTM combines online episodes with in-person events at museums nationwide—including the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft!

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In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to MFTM episodes and events and practice MFTM’s Clear Sight Method of bringing art to life. They will see how national partnerships strengthen local organizations and provide art-making opportunities for students. Brave Little Company programs (including Season 1 of MFTM) are available through Young Audiences of Houston.

In-Person Session 3

11:20 a.m. - noon

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Public Art: Expand Your Horizons

An Excursion Session presented by Public Art UHS

Meet at Entrance to Bayou Theatre (2nd floor) - this session involves walking

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Join Public Art of the University of Houston System (Public Art UHS) for an interactive tour of modern and contemporary public art at University of Houston-Clear Lake, including works by sculptor Pablo Serrano and Texas-born painter Dorothy Hood. Explore classroom-ready activities and see how these abstract artworks open doors to self-expression, emotional intelligence, and mindful observation of the world around us.

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The Heartbeat of Disability Inclusion

Presented by University of Houston College of the Arts

Room 1213

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This workshop describes and teaches the Hunter Heartbeat Method and the overall importance of inclusive theatre. “The Hunter Heartbeat Method is a series of sensory games that [were] created for children and young people with autism to play, they are games of humanity that need only the human voice and body and another person to play with.”- Kelly Hunter. The workshop includes videos of The Flute Theatre’s Zoom production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which uses techniques developed for teaching disabled students. This presentation will develop inclusive classroom techniques and give the participants the opportunity to partake in a well-established practice for easing classroom anxiety and tension that often occurs among disabled students. This practice encourages the inclusion of disabled students in the theatrespace because if all the world is a stage, then the stage should look like our world. 

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Handmade Flowers for Día De Los Muertos

Presented by MECA - Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts

Room 1211​

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​Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a uniquely Mexican festivity and Latin American tradition observed annually on November 1st and 2nd. Día de los Muertos is a culmination of pre-Colombian heritage and Catholic influence honoring the souls of the dead in a lively, cheerful celebration. Our ancestors and dearly departed are beckoned to return in a spirited show of music, dance, theater, visual art and most essentially through a display of altars, or ofrendas. In this session, Armando Silva, Arts Program Director at MECA, will lead attendees in the creation of the paper flowers traditionally included on these altars. 

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Virtual Sessions

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Virtual Session 1: 9:40 - 10:25 a.m. 

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Exploring the Holocaust Through the Arts

Presented by Holocaust Museum Houston

Virtually by Zoom

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Explore the history of the Holocaust through art. Participants will experience the Samuel Bak Art Gallery through a virtual tour of our museum space; engage in arts integrated activities designed for the classroom; and receive information on FREE in-person and virtual programs available to support Holocaust, Human Rights, and Social Justice education in K-12 classrooms across the state of Texas. 

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Virtual Session 2: 10:25 - 11:15 a.m. 

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Handmade Flowers for Día De Los Muertos

Presented by MECA - Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts

Virtually by Zoom

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​Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a uniquely Mexican festivity and Latin American tradition observed annually on November 1st and 2nd. Día de los Muertos is a culmination of pre-Colombian heritage and Catholic influence honoring the souls of the dead in a lively, cheerful celebration. Our ancestors and dearly departed are beckoned to return in a spirited show of music, dance, theater, visual art and most essentially through a display of altars, or ofrendas. In this session, Armando Silva, Arts Program Director at MECA, will lead attendees in the creation of the paper flowers traditionally included on these altars. Participants will need crepe paper, tissue paper, or newspaper; scissors; and pipecleaners or string. 

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Virtual Session 3: 11:15 a.m. - noon​

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Dancing into STEM

Presented by Silambam Houston

Virtually by Zoom

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The Dancing Into STEM series, produced and presented by Silambam Houston, and funded by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, uses Indian classical dance, music, and rhythm to explore concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This professional development session will focus on using these videos as a starting point for teachers to integrate music and movement in the classroom to teach STEM concepts.

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Dancing into STEM is conceptualized, scripted and choreographed by Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan, with input from STEM and arts educators in the Clear Creek and Houston Independent School Districts (Dr. Laura Mackay and Mr. Craig Hauschildt). The videos are narrated and performed by the dancers of the Silambam Houston Dance Company.

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The project is fully funded, and the videos are freely available to Houston-area educators, schools, districts, STEM programs, and parents. More Silambam Houston programs are available through Young Audiences of Houston.