In this episode The Creativity Department talks about what resilience looks like in the art room. The Grundlers share their experience on the importance of staying creative outside the art room, trying new things, not getting discouraged when something doesn’t turn out as you planned, and leaning on your peers. As many schools break for the summer, the Creativity Department wants to be sure you’re ready to tackle next year with practical techniques on how to keep your students and yourself resilient!

In this episode The Creativity Department and art educator Bobby Eppleman discuss the philosophy of “giving students what they want before giving them what they need”. Explore how dialing in on student interests sparks deeper learning, helps guide them through resistance, and ultimately helps them unlock greater creative freedom and confidence. Discover how to help students focus on the curriculum without making it feel like a bait-and-switch. Tune in to hear more from Bobby!

In this episode, the Creativity Department talks with artist and educator Michael Bell about how he strikes a balance between his professional career and creative practices. Including how to blend your personal creative research into your curriculum, navigating the transition from “educator” to “artist” in your free time, and how maintaining a status as a practicing artist can help advocate for your curriculum and program. 

 In this episode, the Creativity Department talks with the Senior Programs Officer for the National Endowment for the Humanities – Julie Carmean! With America’s 250th birthday in July, Julie outlines how art educators and students can celebrate through the American Heroes Student Art Contest. The contest invites students to depict historical figures from a curated list of 250 notable Americans through handmade art. Julie shares insight on how the list of heroes was curated as well as the thinking behind the contest’s handmade-only guidelines. Listen to learn more and hear how your students can participate in this amazing opportunity! 

The temperature in the art room can change from day-to-day but, we’re not talking about how hot or cold the room is! Matt and Laura chat with returning gust Daniel Bryant to talk about his philosophy on “Setting the Thermostat” in the art room. How it can range from student’s attitudes, the different “temperatures” for high energy brainstorming versus low energy focus artmaking, and how environmental settings can have a “cooling” effect. Daniel shares how he keeps his art room cool as the end of the year heats up! 

What happens when foundational skills meet meaningful artistic exploration? In this episode, The Creativity Department explores how a theme-based approach can bring the elements of art and principles of design to life through Big Ideas and thematic units. They share how this approach helps students connect technique, personal voice, and real-world context—leading to more authentic, engaging artwork. The conversation highlights practical strategies for scaffolding skills while encouraging inquiry, interpretation, and creative risk-taking. 

Advocating for your art program can feel like a daunting task! But you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode, The Creativity Department sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Stuart Whitehead, Visual Arts Supervisor for Prince George’s County, Maryland, to explore what effective advocacy looks like in action. Drawing from her own experience championing visual arts as a vital part of students’ day-to-day learning, Dr. Whitehead shares practical strategies to use right now. Tune in to learn how intentional advocacy can elevate your program and expand the impact of visual arts education in your community. 

What happens when the artist becomes the story? In this episode of K12ArtChat, Matt and Laura talk with author Andrew Dietz about the intersection of visual art and fiction—and why creative writing belongs in the arts. The conversation highlights his novel Ever U, where a visual artist takes center stage and the art world shapes the narrative. Blending storytelling and artistic insight, this episode explores creativity and how imagination influences both what we create and how we see the world. 

In this episode of K12ArtChat, Matt talks high school art educator Benjamin Hoffman to talk about how he uses data points in his art room to not only advocate for his program and students but also improve his curriculum! The data points Ben outlines help him give evidence to administration and parents that his curriculum works in achieving student’s creative goals. Listen in to hear more from Ben!

In this episode of K12ArtChat, Matt is joined by returning guests David Modler and Sam Peck to debrief the NAEA 2026 Convention in Chicago. From inspiring keynotes and hands-on workshops to make-and-takes in the exhibitor hall, they share their favorite moments and biggest takeaways. They also reflect on their session on communal visual journaling, what they learned from fellow art educators, and why NAEA continues to be such a valuable and energizing experience. Thinking about attending in 2027? This episode offers a great preview of what to expect.