Public Relations

To build a wider base of support for the creation and appreciation of contemporary sculpture in a school program, it is important to coordinate a Public Relations component. Disseminating information to other arts and education administrators, teachers, parents, and the community within and beyond the district will increase public awareness and visibility of the impact of arts education. Following are some ideas for highlighting student work, community outreach, and sharing effective teaching strategies.

Display artwork

• in school settings: school board meeting rooms, superintendents' and principals' offices (display cases are required for most small scale sculpture), at community and school district special events.
• on art education and other relevant Web sites.
• in community settings: local corporations, businesses, banks, libraries, colleges, museums, youth and adult centers, and shopping malls.
• in local arts organizations, cultural and heritage commissions, and cultural organizations.
• in local government offices.

Public Awareness: Get the word out!

• Write a column for the school newspaper.
• Submit articles about and photographs of activities and student work to newsletters and Web sites of schools, districts, PTAs, and Art Educators of New Jersey and the National Art Education Association.
• Invite the community to an "opening" and reception of student sculpture exhibit.
• Send press releases to local media.
• Submit information about student work to youth-oriented publications, local and state radio and TV (including cable) shows and art education Web sites.
• Volunteer to do a presentation at the school district's Board meeting. Find out the procedure for getting on the agenda.
• Share information at teacher and principal conferences, faculty and PTA meetings.
• Conduct a professional development presentation based on the sculpture curriculum.
• Form sculpture club in which students can work on projects and share their knowledge with those from other grades.
• Write reviews for school newspaper about student exhibitions.
• Explore how your sculpture program can be enhanced by arts education initiatives supported by the New Jersey State Council for the Arts, including:
  • Artists in the Schools Program
  • Artist/Teacher Institute
  • Arts Basic to Education
  • Arts Create Excellent Schools (ACES) Program
• Contact New Jersey State Department of Education, and Alliance for Arts Education/New Jersey, ArtPride/New Jersey and your county arts agency for information on how your program can be enriched by programs they sponsor. (See NJ Resources.)
• Contact Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) and National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property for information on how your program can be enriched by programs they sponsor in NJ. (See NJ Resources.)
• Encourage students to share what they have learned with their families.
• Take students on "field trips" to find the sculpture in your community or at a cultural resource. (See Field Trip Activity and NJ Resources.)
• Explore establishing an outdoor art or sculpture garden for your school. Collaborate with other interested teachers, especially those subject areas which would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. E.g., language arts, science, architecture, design, math, etc.
• Explore establishing an art gallery in your school.

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