Annual Report: Artist Development

Hmong Artists in Education HAIL expanded its services to artists and writers in 2007 to include professional development for Hmong artists teaching art in our schools. HAIL partnered with the Perpich Center for Arts Education, Minnesota State Arts Board, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent and L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion School to provide a residency and teaching experience for 2 Hmong artists: a spoken word artist (a teaching artist already) and a paj ntaub artist. During 2007, both artists received mentoring and classroom experience to write a lesson plan, manage a classroom, work with teachers, provide professional development for teachers, and evaluate student learning. To finish the residency, students at the French Immersion School had a Hmong New Year Celebration where students performed their spoken word poetry and paj ntaub quilt blocks were on exhibition. Senator Mee Moua was the guest speaker. The event drew about 200 people and the residency directly impacted 450 students, 23 teachers and staff, about 50 parents.