I was reading an article from the NAEA Advisory today that touched upon the the concept of teaching art on a limited budget. I have had only minimum exposure to this, more last year than this year when I had to shell out money to cover the expenses for stolen or exhausted art supplies. The article noted how one student teacher who “taught over 500 students every week with an art cart and no budget.” I couldn’t imagine that. I know that last year I sent out an email to friends asking for financial help (and receiving $450). But, to live in that space all year drains me just thinking about it.

NCLB is cited as the root cause of art budget issues because this Act is squeezing districts where they have to make difficult choices. Because art education is low on the totem pole funding is naturally going to be pulled or reallocated. The author noted “the quality of art instruction and learning” is impacted by art budgets. Furthermore, “how can students create art if they lack clay, paint, or paper?”

The article goes on to list a few budget-limited ideas. “Earthworks” is a genre that utilizes natural objects and the landscape to create short-term, biodegradable art. Andy Goldsworthy is cited as an contemporary “earthworks” artist. I have never explored this though I know a little of Andy Goldsworthy’s work. I struggle with trying this type of project because my students are incredibly lazy. Given my past experience with this group of kids, I can pretty confidently say that they would take the path of least resistance and throw something together versus thinking through the design and materials challenge and go with it. I’m definitely going to think about it, though, having read the article.

Another idea they put forth was creating pigments with earth materials. I like this idea because it would provide perspective for the students on what artists prior to our time period had to go through in order to create their work. Namely, they did so much with so little.

The last idea they promoted was using recycled materials to create pieces that reinforce environmental consciousness. This idea definitely has prospects for my own class as well as cross-curricular work with a science teacher who mentioned she’d like to work with me on a project. I’ll have to do some research on environmental artists who I could leverage for ideas. If you have any ideas please send them my way.

Obviously, teachers make do with what they have. I would love to know how teachers who find themselves in this space cope and make do. So, please, give me your cheap art ideas. They can be environmentally focused or not.