Celebrate 70 years of Arts & Activities - Editorial

Arts & Activities, Sept, 2002 by Maryellen Bridge

For seven decades, Arts & Activities has been involved in the creative edification of America's children and teenagers. From its earliest manifestation as Junior Arts and Activities, when the focus was on the elementary level, to its current form, which focuses on grades K-12, we have been there--serving as a conduit for the sharing of art-education practices from across the nation.

Classroom-tested ways to develop visual perception; activities for the expansion of an understanding and appreciation of art; techniques for engaging students in discussion, evaluation, reading about, viewing and creating art; strategies for developmental and sequential art instruction--these are just a few of the ways Arts & Activities has aided the art educator in his or her classroom.

In the early days, the magazine provided teachers with ideas, reproducible worksheets and such. From there, we have grown into what we are today: a publication that shares articles and materials developed and submitted by the educators who read Arts & Activities--by the readers for the readers. It is you who are the experts, therefore it stands to reason that, over the years, the magazine has evolved the way that it has.

In each issue of the magazine, we strive to provide an accessible, visually stimulating forum for the sharing of ideas and philosophies. Our goal is to have an "art-education conference" take place each month on the pages of Arts & Activities. Thank you for the important role you play in making this happen.

We plan to continue this endeavor in the decades to come--helping to enhance the creative lives of young people. We invite you to continue on with us as we move forward on our publishing journey.

Maryellen Bridge, Editor in Chief