Agenda
Arts Impact Ohio consists of two days of professional development sessions, performances, networking, and more. Click on the buttons below to view a tentative agenda for each day of the conference (events and times are subject to change).
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast
"Share a Spark" Table Open for Item Drop-Off
What inspires you? The best gatherings involve more than just receiving ideas from speakers and workshop leaders – every AIO attendee has a lot to share, as well. So, help us launch a new AIO tradition this year by bringing something to our Share a Spark table. We’re asking conference attendees to bring something personally or professionally meaningful for them to give away: a book, a small art piece, a keepsake, a souvenir that represents your workplace or hometown, or some other inspirational item. Something you’ve had for years, something you’ve purchased (modestly priced, please), or even something you created yourself. Your item should provide a spark of inspiration, creativity, or warm memories in another attendee.
How to Participate
Bring your item with you to Toledo (just one, unwrapped) – and make sure to attach a note with your name and why you chose the item you did. You’ll place your item on the Share a Spark table on the first day of the conference, and then choose an item to take home with you on the second. Participation is optional but encouraged. The connection you make – and the reminder of all you learned in Toledo – could be a valuable exchange, reflecting the spirit of how we gather to share ideas and our best selves in our time together.
8:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Welcome Performance and Special Conference Kickoff
Performance: "El Corazon de Mexico" Ballet Folklorico
Welcome to Toledo! Grab a good seat and enjoy a high-energy performance featuring "El Corazon de Mexico" Ballet Folklorico dancers.
Donna Collins, Executive Director, Ohio Arts Council
Opening Remarks
KICKOFF CONVERSATION:
Gathering to Create Belonging (Hybrid Presentation)
There is a growing “belonging” crisis in modern, diverse workplaces where work happens via remote and hybrid formats. When we’re not in the same room as our colleagues and the workforce is in the midst of drastic changes, how do leaders create a sense of meaning, belonging, and purpose for their teams? How do we create a sense of belonging without all having to be the same? How do we honor our differences? In this provocative, funny, and warm moderated conversation, conflict resolution facilitator and author Priya Parker provides candid, practical, lens-shifting advice on vital 21st-century leadership skills. As a seasoned group facilitator, educator, and researcher, she breaks down the anatomy of meaningful connections and gives us the skills needed to create meaningful shared experiences, one gathering at a time.
About the Presenter
Priya Parker is helping us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. She is a master facilitator, strategic advisor, acclaimed author of "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters," and executive producer and host of the New York Times podcast, "Together Apart." Trained in the field of conflict resolution, Priya has worked on race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the Arab world, southern Africa, and India. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children. For more information on Priya, please visit prhspeakers.com.
Photo credit: AdamFerguson, 2021
Priya Parker, Master Facilitator, Strategic Advisor, and Acclaimed Author
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Workshops: Session A
A1. Diverse Perspectives: Broadening the Narrative of Art Education
Rooted in the Toledo Museum of Art’s (TMA) 2020 investigation of its collections and practices through the values of diversity, innovation, community, and trust, TMA created a week-long, summer institute for K-12 teachers. There, they developed skills and teaching strategies aiding students’ investigations of diverse perspectives and contributions to American…
A2. The Art of Storytelling: An Immersive and Family-Centric Approach
Come learn about the immersive literacy model, Books Alive! For Kids®, recognized by literacy leaders worldwide for its innovation and relevance. The program offers various points of engagement all working together to enhance creative thinking, writing, reading, art, and music education. This immersive literacy model encourages multicultural awareness and understanding,…
A3. Captain Patron Engagement! – Uniting the Forces of Marketing and Fundraising for Nonprofit Success
In this post-pandemic landscape, forming an alliance between your marketing and fundraising teams is not just beneficial: it is essential. Unleash the superpowers of your marketing team: understanding customer voice, creating a cohesive brand identity, building systems infrastructure, and making data-informed decisions. Combine them with your development team’s strengths: recognizing…
A4. Bringing Local History to a National Stage
In 2015, a committee from the Highland County Historical Society initiated a project focused on the first northern challenge to the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 in Hillsboro, Ohio. The resulting documentary “The Lincoln School Story: A Battle for School Integration in Ohio” – which includes the…
A5. Professional Play as Professional Development
An art-based research collective, trace layer play (TLP) was born from a pandemic-era need for community. This session reimagines notions of professional development and productivity, building off of TLP’s philosophy of play as productive work that generates creative, often messy, spaces to ask big questions without the pressure to solve…
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Luncheon Performance and Keynote Speaker
Performance: Bowsher High School Jazz Band
Enjoy lunch and networking with a side of jazz provided by Toledo Public Schools’ Bowsher High School Jazz Band students and director Matt Fritz.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Igniting Change, Inviting Growth:
Redefining Arts, Health, and Community Care
Dr. Tasha Golden, National Leader in Arts and Public Health
Artists have long understood how vital our work can be to human thriving. In recent decades, the science has been catching up—and we’re seeing heightened interest in art’s potential to address mental health, loneliness, and more. In her keynote talk, Dr. Tasha Golden reveals how this shift in interest can help artists and arts organizations reimagine what we do, where it “belongs,” and how to grow and sustain our valuable work. Blending research with practical guidance, and drawing on innovative models like “arts on prescription,” Dr. Golden describes the power of the arts to help people heal, connect, and lead positive change. Throughout, attendees will see their work anew, recognize untapped potential, and leave ready to unleash their creativity to help communities thrive.
About Dr. Tasha Golden
Tasha Golden, Ph.D. Tasha is director of research at the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University and a national leader and consultant in arts and public health. Holding a Ph.D. in public health sciences, Tasha has published extensively on the impacts of the arts, music, aesthetics, and social norms on health and well-being. She has served as an advisor on several national and international health initiatives, is adjunct faculty for the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine, and recently led the pilot evaluation of CultureRx in Massachusetts—the first arts-on-prescription model in the United States. Tasha is also a career artist and entrepreneur. As singer-songwriter for the critically acclaimed band Ellery, she toured full-time in the United States and abroad, and her songs appear in feature films and TV dramas (ABC, Showtime, Fox, Netflix, etc.) She is a published poet (Humanist Press) and founder of Project Uncaged: an arts-based health intervention for incarcerated teen women that amplifies their voices in justice reform.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Concurrent Workshops: Session B
B1. Writes of Passage: Emcee Your Philosophy
Discover your creative rhythm and articulate your artistic aspirations in this hip-hop songwriting workshop. Guided by Dee Jay Doc and Quill the Messenger, participants will experience the iterative process of hip-hop songwriting – from beatmaking and collaboration to freestyling, chorus making, and affirmations. You’ll craft a short, hip-hop inspired verse…
B2. Creative Approaches to Creative Aging Projects
Creative Aging Ohio was initiated in 2013 to find ways to expand arts programming for older adults. Since then, the Ohio Arts Council's teaching artists have continued to learn, grow, and develop experiences for venues throughout the state. In this facilitated peer session, we'll discuss the approaches that have been…
B3. From Reactive to Proactive: Efficient Arts Marketing with Limited Resources
Elevate your marketing approach! Whether you're journeying solo or collaborating within a compact team, be prepared for actionable insights that address real-world challenges head-on. Delve into essential time and task-management techniques, as well as organizational strategies that maximize your workflow efficiency. And upgrade your skills: unlock the full potential of…
B4. Unlocking Arts Funding: Navigating Regional and National Grant Opportunities
Dig into arts funding beyond Ohio's borders and take advantage of opportunities in the broader arts funding ecosystem. In this workshop, representatives from Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts will walk you through opportunities available at the regional and federal levels. Learn about the United States Regional…
B5. Keys to Equity and Inclusion - Invisible Disabilities and How to Help
Ohio educators are witnessing what seems like a breakdown in many students’ ability to “do school comfortably.” Although student overload and shutdown were present before COVID-related school closures, the frequency of these experiences has increased since schools reopened. We are still digging out of the side effects of Covid-19 and…
2:45 - 5:30 p.m.
ArtArounds
What better way to appreciate Toledo’s lively and multi-faceted arts scene than seeing it for yourself, up close and personal – on an ArtAround! ArtArounds are AIO’s community site visits. This year we’ve lined up a series of six behind-the-scenes tours led by local experts to give you unprecedented access to what makes Toledo’s cultural scene tick – all you have to do is pick your favorite. Admission is included in your registration, but spaces are limited, and will be available first-come, first-served upon check-in at AIO. No matter which ArtAround you join, it will be an incredible way to spend the afternoon!
Museum All-Access
Toledo Museum of Art and Glass Pavilion
Join Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) staff for a glimpse into how this nationally known visual arts institution does what it does, both public-facing and behind-the-scenes. We’ll break into small groups to make the best use of our time: enjoy tours of exhibitions, see a glass-blowing demonstration in the celebrated Glass Pavilion, get an up-close look at ongoing conservation work, and explore The Museum Store, where nearly 200 local artists offer their work for sale.
Stream of Creativity
Glass City River Wall, Glass City Metropark, and National Museum of the Great Lakes
Anchors away! You’ll start this ArtAround by boarding the Glass City Pearl and cruising up the Maumee River for an up-close look at the famed Glass City River Wall mural – led by its project manager. After docking, you’ll take the helm and choose between a guided walking tour of the collaborative public art at the new Glass City Metropark or an in-depth look into the history and exhibits at the National Museum of the Great Lakes (bus transportation provided back to the Renaissance Hotel).
Educational Excellence
Toledo School for the Arts and The Portal
Housed in a historic building once home to a car manufacturing facility, the Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) now shines as one of the most notable public charter schools in Ohio. Participants will tour the TSA building, see and hear a sampling of outstanding student performances, learn about The Portal – their new community-facing multiuse arts space – and maybe even make some artwork!
Walk the Warehouse District
Gathered Glass, Graphite Design and Build, and River House Arts
Prefer a more self-paced afternoon excursion? Grab your walking shoes and stroll through a nearby assortment of creative spaces, galleries, and studios. You’ll engage with local artists and entrepreneurs and see a glassblowing demonstration. Maps and wayfinding will be provided to help you make the most of your self-guided exploration of this revitalized downtown district.
Art by Bus
Various Toledo area public art attractions
What’s red, sweet, and weighs 25,000 pounds? Which famed jazz pianist is immortalized through a glowing column of piano keys? To uncover answers to these and other questions, hop on the bus for an hour-long tour of the Toledo area’s most notable works of public art. Participants will visit murals, sculptures, and other public art, led by staff of The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. Participants will also hear about recent work in GIS mapping of the city’s public art collection with an emphasis on creating more accessible tours.
Director’s Cut
Screenings and Talkbacks with Four Local Filmmakers
Grab your popcorn for an exclusive screening of films by four local award-winning filmmakers. Spanning documentary, comedy, folklore, and narrative styles, films run 10-20 minutes in length and will be shown on the nearby Imagination Station’s 58-foot-wide KeyBank Discovery Theatre screen. Each screening will conclude with a talkback focused on the artistic process as well as how Toledo has served as a backdrop and inspiration for their work.
After a full day of learning and experiencing Toledo’s arts and culture scene, kick back and relax with us at Imagination Station (attached to the Renaissance, just steps away). Connect with fellow conference-goers while enjoying live music featuring musicians of the Toledo Symphony String Quartet and exploring the science center’s interactive exhibitions: make your own music, challenge your optical perceptions, check out their art gallery, or get creative at their many learning centers. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, cash bar available. Don't miss this opportunity to mix, mingle, and delve into a world of imagination in the heart of downtown Toledo!
Evening Reception at Imagination Station
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.