Art and Design Education programs include Visual Thinking in the areas of:

• Design (Utilitarian Art through environment design like architecture, landscape, urban planning, interior design, etc.; object design like products, furniture, transportation, fashion, appliances, etc.; information design like publications, websites, video, film, photography, etc.; and experience design like interactive exhibits, toys, games, events, theme parks, etc.),
• Visual Communication (Information Art involving maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, media tools etc.)
• Visual Culture (Everyday Art exploring one’s own and other’s culture which may involve crafts, festivals, costumes, mascots, lawn decorations, folk art, etc.)
• Fine Art (Professional Art through drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, media arts, and so on,)

Administrative Rule PI 8.01(2)(j) – Wisconsin Education Standards j, k, and l articulates that “art instruction shall be provided in accordance with a written comprehensive art curriculum which is based on concepts developed through sensory awareness, aesthetic discrimination and skill development in the creation of art, and the knowledge of human art heritage. Art instruction shall be provided for all pupils in grades kindergarten through 6 and shall be performed by or under the direction of a licensed art teacher. Art instruction shall be available to all pupils in grades 7 through 12 and shall be taught by a licensed art teacher.”

Instructional minutes are not stated in the law for any subject area but the recommended minimum instruction time for elementary art is 90 minutes a week (usually two 45-minute sessions).

Specific information about programming and curriculum design is available through two publications - Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Art and Design Education (2000), and A Guide to Curriculum Planning in Art Education. You may purchase each guide at DPI Publication Sales or 800-243-8782. An updated version of Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards for Art and Design Education is anticipated release at the end of 2012.

• Disciplinary Literacy - Art and Design - Follow this link for additional information about engaging students in creativity, communication, and critical thinking through literacy tools.
• Arts and Design Pedagogy
• Art and Design Standards - Poster

For further information about art and design education in Wisconsin, follow the links on the left of this page and visit the Wisconsin Art Education Association.

Preliminary information about the state art education conference is available here.

For further information about Fine Arts and Creativity Education in Wisconsin, please follow the links available. If you have any questions or wish to share your ideas about arts and creativity education, please contact the Fine Arts and Creativity Education Consultant, Julie Palkowski (608) 261-7494.