New Allied Organization™
May 28, 2014
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The Da Vinci Initiative, part of a 501C3, nonprofit, educational foundation, is a mission for visual literacy in our contemporary world. With a focus on K-12 public and private schools, the goal of this project is to provide skill-based learning in art education in order to deepen the understanding and applications of the visual language that surrounds us. The Da Vinci Initiative believes that art can be taught and that teaching skills enhances student creativity. Teaching realist based art skills such as those implemented by Da Vinci and Michelangelo not only aligns with current educational research that other subjects currently embrace, but it also enhances the number of choices students can make when creating their own work. Like teaching rhythm, tempo, and scales in music class so that a student has many tools to express themselves through music, so too is there a need for a skill-based education in the visual arts. By learning solid draftsmanship, color theory, paint handling skills, perspective, etc. students can expand their own toolbox for visual expression. The Da Vinci Initiative's aim is to enhance visual literacy for both teachers and students with the following programs: Classroom Resources: The Da Vinci Initiative is developing a series of educational videos and K-12 lesson plans. These lesson plans intend to both train teachers who may be unfamiliar with certain technical art skills, and provide a direct learning experience for K-12 students in art classrooms. These resources will be made available online for homeschooling parents as well as adults interested in learning skill-based art methods and techniques. Outreach: The Da Vinci Initiative will send ambassadors to teacher conferences to share with teachers about skill-based learning methods and expose them to lesson plans that will challenge their students in new ways. Professional Development: The Da Vinci Initiative will provide scholarship funds to teachers to attend courses that will teach them the advanced technical art skills they may not have had an opportunity to learn during their teacher training. To view the Da Vinci Initiative website, click here. To donate to the Da Vinci Initiative, click here. To view more on this and other allied organizations, click here. |