PROJECT CHECKLIST

Culture in the Schools Program

A program of the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS)
and the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine (MCCCF)

DEADLINE: Project submissions are due in early fall.

Application Process

• Refer to the Répertoire de ressources culture-éducation to choose an artist, writer or organization to bring into your school, or to visit with your students.
• Contact the artist/writer: agree on tentative dates, decide what the workshop activities will be, how goals will be achieved, for whom (grade levels, number of students), schedule (number of days, sessions), whether accommodations are needed, perishable materials, and project title (through this program, artist’s/writer’s professional fees are non-negotiable).
• If cultural outing is planned, contact venue/organization to schedule and plan budget (admission fees are not funded).
• Using the application as a guide, create a budget (see link below).
• If you haven’t yet, obtain permission and support for workshop from your principal/school board (including any substitution teaching needed for you to apply and prepare).
• Consider contacting other schools in your district/school board to inform them of the program and your school’s workshop, invite them to observe, and encourage them to engage the same artist/writer/organization for their school.
• Consider contacting your regional association and/or community presenters who may want to contract the artist/writer for a public engagement (workshop/show/reading).
• For each workshop you want to do with your students, complete and submit a Culture in the Schools (MELS) application by early fall: Cultural Activities Project Submission Form, Budget Estimate and Calculation and Expenses: Artists and Writers.

Planning

• Once the project has been approved (congratulations!) complete the Model Agreement Between the Artist/Writer (2 copies). 
• If your project was not approved this year, go back to the top of the page and apply again! Ask for feedback from the Regional Management Committee that processed your application, make changes to improve it, and try again. It is very likely you will be approved the next time.
• Research the topic in consultation with the artist and/or obtain a learning guide from them, if offered.
• Plan “preparation”, “implementation” and “transfer of learning” phases (from the Culture in the Schools program website):
  
  • Preparation Phase: includes one or more activities in the classroom or at a cultural venue; this phase helps the students acquire references related to the next phase (i.e. before a writer visits, have the students read some of his/her work).
  • Implementation Phase: introduces the students to one or more cultural experiences, such as workshops with artists or writers, or outings to professional cultural venues (e.g. museums).
  • Transfer of Learning Phase: allows students to reflect on the knowledge acquired from the various cultural experiences they were introduced to during the two earlier phases and to make connections with other learning situations in the classroom: research, experimentation, idea development, and presentation. For example, students apply newly learned creative processes to other classroom activities. This promotes: purposeful analysis, imaginative idea generation, creative expression and critical reflection.
• Obtain workshop materials (perishable/non-perishable).
• For a writer's program, purchase required number of books.
• Confirm dates and details with school administrators and the artist including: schedule, participants, project goals, materials needed, transportation (students and/or artist), housing for artist and venue visit (if applicable).
• Ensure that any administrative requirements have been completed for processing the school’s portion of the payment to the artist/writer.
• Complete permission slips (i.e. participation, field trip, video/photo release, etc.) and notices to parents and colleagues.

During the Program

• Ensure students participate in workshops with the artists and/or cultural outings.
• Participate in the project in a collaborative role with the artist, guide students and help them learn!
• Complete the project in the time allotted.

After the Program

• Apply cultural experiences to classroom activities, learning and curriculum.
• Submit appropriate Use of the Financial Assistance report (public school/private school/school board) by deadline (June).
• Document the success of your project: What did it achieve? How did it influence your school environment, students, and staff? Where could it potentially have grown? How it is continuing in, or transferring to, other areas of curriculum?
• Reflect on entire process: How to improve? What were positive surprises? Were there any difficulties? How were or weren't they overcome? Would you do this type of project again? If yes, what would you like to do next? If no, why not?
• Write "thank-you" notes to administrators, school staff, artists, funders, partners, venues, etc.

Main source: Culture in the Schools Program