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Arlington ‘First Lady’ Megan Beyer to Be a Guest on Embracing Arlington Arts Radio Show (June 25); Discussing Importance of the Arts

By: Embracing Arlington Arts

June 21, 2019

(Arlington, VA) – Janet Kopenhaver, Chair of Embracing Arlington Arts – an independent citizens group comprised of Arlington arts supporters – is so honored that our County’s “First Lady” Megan Beyer will be a guest on the organization’s radio show (Tuesday, June 25th at 3:00 pm on WERA 96.7FM or online). “I am so thrilled to not only be able to chat with Megan about her stellar career and accomplishments, but also to discuss why the arts are so important to Arlington and our nation overall,” stated Kopenhaver. Beyer served as the Executive Director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH) from 2015 to January 2017 under President Obama. She currently serves as an advisor to a range of arts and civic organizations, including the American Film Institute.

Among the many topics to be discussed will be the Turnaround Arts Program – a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts founded in 2011 by the PCAH. “The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities created a program that illustrates the academic imperative of arts integration methods. It’s called Turnaround Arts,” Beyer explained. “Now in over 80 schools in America, students have improved learning at schools that have come alive with song, dance and theater – and they have the academic outcomes to prove it,” she added. The program is based on the premise that high-quality and integrated arts education can strengthen school reform efforts, boost academic achievement, and increase student engagement in schools facing some of the toughest educational challenges in the country.

As part of the Turnaround Arts, schools receive an array of arts education services designed to increase their opportunities for success, engage their community, and raise the visibility of their achievements. Key to these efforts is building arts education programming that is rigorous, effective, and integrated holistically into the school, as well as strategically targeted to addressing larger school challenges.

Beyer will also be talking about her historic visit to Havana when she brought a delegation of U.S. arts leaders to Cuba which resulted in several collaborations between U.S. and Cuban cultural agencies. Among the many iconic artists who participated were Smokey Robinson, Alfre Woodard, Dave Matthews and playwright John Guare.

Embracing Arlington Arts is an independent citizens group comprised of Arlington arts supporters whose mission is to inform others about the importance and diversity of the arts, artists and arts organizations in our community; celebrate the critical contributions the arts make to all sectors of our County; spearhead initiatives that maintain and grow the County’s cultural identity; and spread the word about the extremely diverse performance and cultural events held in Arlington. Interested residents are encouraged to visit our website (www.embracing-arlington-arts.org), “follow” and “like” us on Facebook; and follow us on Twitter, #EmbracingArlingtonArts.

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