Workshops

Arts Are Core offers year-round professional learning opportunities in arts integration for K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, arts educators, and USU students. Participants learn key skills, build networks with other educators, and develop techniques and strategies for successful arts integration in all subject areas.

Arts Are Core provides professional learning opportunities in arts education through a generous endowment from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation and a partnership with BTS Arts. Workshops are open to classroom teachers, arts educators, school administrators, university students, and community members. All workshops are available for relicensure points through MIDAS.

Fall 2026

Evenings for Educators Workshop

Mike Whiting: Art, Video Games and Minimalism

October 14, 2026 | 4:00-7:00pm

Registration Coming Soon!

Location: USU Logan Campus, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA)
Presenter: Mike Whiting
Grades: K-12

What do classic video games like Pac-Man have in common with modern art? Before computers could show detailed graphics, artists and game designers had to work with only a few pixels, creating simple shapes and bold colors. These limits often looked like Minimalist art, which uses basic forms, geometric shapes, and repeating patterns.

Cruise with Us on Campus and Make Your Own Sculpture! Join us for a tour of the sculptures of Utah artist Mike Whiting on the USU Logan campus. His larger-than-life pixelated sculptures are crafted from welded steel and automotive enamel. After the tour, then design and build your own 3D artwork inspired by the artist's work while exploring connections between gaming, art, math, and technology. Enjoy hands-on artmaking, new lesson ideas, and networking time with fellow educators!

If you do not have a Altitude account, you can email Elena Free, Efree@springville.org to register for the workshop.

Write It. Live It. Learn It.: Simple Strategies for Integrating ELA, Social Studies, and Drama

November 17, 2026 | 4:30-6:00pm

Register Here!

Location: USU Logan Campus, Edith Bowen Laboratory School
Presenter: Sarah Butterfield
Grades: K-6

In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will explore practical, classroom-ready strategies that bring history to life through writing and drama. Learn how tableau, journal writing, and close observation of historical documents and images can deepen historical understanding, build perspective, and strengthen inquiry. Leave with adaptable lessons, ready-to-use resources, and the confidence to integrate ELA, social studies, and drama in engaging, meaningful ways.

Spring 2027

Literacy Through Book Arts

January 13, 2027 | 4:30-6:00pm

Register Here!

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Location: Online Workshop
Presenter: Jazmin Gallegos
Grades: K-6

Unlock your students’ verbal and visual ideas and meet your classroom goals with bookmaking! This workshop series focuses on content generation and writing prompts using folded and sewn mini-books and zines to support literacy through creative expression. Exploration of these simple and accessible book structures enhance K-12 curriculum while strengthening collaborative efforts in language arts, math, science, social studies, and art. Leave the workshop with an array of samples, templates, and lesson plans that support core concepts and encourage writing and creativity in your students work! Relicensure points are available. Limited to 40 participants. Supplies for the workshop will be shipped to workshop participants prior to the workshop.

Music & Movement

April 13, 2027 | 4:30-6:00pm

Register Here!

Location: USU Logan Campus, Edith Bowen Laboratory School
Presenter: Susan Swidnicki & Tiya Karaus
Grades: K-6

Join us for an active and creative workshop where classroom teacher, Tiya Karaus and music and movement specialist, Susan Swidnicki, demonstrate some of the collaborative projects they have developed to explore the Utah English Language Arts and Science standards using the theme of the Great Salt Lake. Learn music and movement strategies based on Orff Schulwerk, an active approach to teaching music and movement based on the natural inclination of children to play. Through movement, singing, rhythmic speech, body percussion, and playing instruments, children are guided to develop music-making skills in a joyful way! In this workshop, participants will explore music and movement as well as drama, poetry, storytelling, and painting! This workshop will show examples of student tested lessons grades 1st-5th. Work explored in this workshop will provide ideas that can be used by classroom teachers, arts educators, and/or a collaboration between the two.