Wisconsin Writes!

Grades 5 – 12
August 13 - 14, 2009
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2009

The Kettle Moraine School District and Milwaukee Art Museum hosts a statewide two-day young authors and artists conference at the Milwaukee Art Museum during the summer. Wisconsin Writes promotes student enthusiasm and competence in written and visual expression using the Museum's Collection as inspiration. The purpose of the conference is to encourage students' involvement in the creative process, improve students' abilities in writing or drawing, listening and sharing, and to recognize the accomplishments of young authors and artists.

The two-day conference is open to Wisconsin students (grades 5 –12), bringing together the best young authors and artists to create the Wisconsin Writes book. Participants may be enrolled in public, private, charter, or home schools to attend. All students must complete and return a registration form along with the registration fee.

During the conference all participants attend a general session on Thursday and breakout sessions guided by teachers on Friday. Authors participate in writing breakout sessions to generate ideas and write a personal narrative based on a work of art in the Museum's collection. Artists participate in visual expression breakout sessions to visually record the writing process and interpret works of art through drawing.

Each author produces a written manuscript and each artist produces one work of art that will be published in this year's Wisconsin Writes book. Each participant will receive a copy of the book in December. Additional copies of this year's Wisconsin Writes may be ordered for a fee during the conference.

The student participation fee of $100 includes student's two-day Museum admission, Friday's morning snack and pizza luncheon, conference materials and supplies, speakers and teachers, and one copy of this year's Wisconsin Writes book. Families are responsible for procuring their own lodging during the conference.

For more information contact either wiwrites@kmsd.edu or the Milwaukee Art Museum's school and teacher programs manager by calling 414-224-3827 or e-mailing chelsea.kelly@mam.org.