January 2000, ArtsOhio Page 2

State Representative Amy Salerno (R)

Office
Ohio House of Representatives, 23rd District

Legislative Committees
Chair, Civil and Commercial Law; Rules and Reference; Financial Institutions; Insurance

Years In Office 5

Personal
Hometown, Youngstown; BA, Youngstown State University; JD Ohio State University Law School; married; one daughter

Arts Support
Columbus Museum of Art, CATCO, CAPA, COSI, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Children's Theatre, Gay Men's Chorus, Wexner Center, BalletMet

Favorite Cultural Pastime
Reading, attending theater, symphony, ballet, movies, and concerts at the Schottenstein Center

Proudest Creative Achievement
Writing a series of children's stories for my daughter, which we illustrated together.

ARTS EDUCATION CAN IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING, STUDY FINDS

Engagement in the arts can boost student achievement and level the playing field for disadvantaged youth, according to a new study by the Arts Education Partnership.

Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning is a compilation of seven major studies that examined a variety of arts education programs in and out of school settings to better understand the impact of the arts on learning, not just on formal education.

Researchers found that engagement in the arts nurtures the development of cognitive, social and personal competence.

Although the researchers conducted their investigations and presented their findings independently, there is consensus among their findings:

Students with high levels on arts participation outperform arts-poor students on nearly every measure.
The arts have a measurable impact on students in high pverty and urban settings.
The arts in after-school programs guide disadvantaged youth toward positive behavior and goals.
Learning through the arts has significant effects on learning in other areas.
When creating artwork, students feel invested in ways that are deeper than knowing the answer.

Champions of Change is available from the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, 202/682-5409.

While students with outstanding academic and athletic talents are celebrated, students with equal abilities in the visual and performing arts are rarely recognized. In 1996, Cinergy Corp. took steps to change that by establishing The Overture Awards. Last October, Cinergy Corp. received a 1999 Business in the Arts Innovation Award for its efforts. The award, recognizing companies that have developed ground-breaking partnerships in the arts, was presented by the Business Committee for the Arts and Forbes Magazine.

The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting nominations for its 2001 American Jazz Masters Fellowships. Submit a one-page letter telling why the nominated artist should receive the fellowship; include a resume. Nominations must be postmarked by January 28, 2000. Winners will be announced in the fall. Send nominations to American Jazz Masters Fellowships, National Endowment for the Arts, Nancy Hanks Center, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 703, Washington DC, 20506-0001. For more information call 202/682-5438.