PEACE Forward Conference Brings Arts and Education Leaders Together in Patchogue

The Patchogue Arts Council will bring educators, artists, students and community leaders together Aug. 17 and 18 for PEACE Forward, a two-day conference focused on the role of the arts in education and the partnerships that help those programs grow.

Held at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, the conference will share outcomes from the PEACE Project while exploring classroom practices, student voices, community partnerships and ways to sustain arts-integrated education.

The first day will focus on classroom practice and creative learning. Internationally acclaimed Cuban American artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez will deliver the keynote, discussing art as a tool for communication, civic engagement and creative expression. The program also includes breakout sessions, student stories, an interactive performance and a collaborative light-painting experience. Attendees can also celebrate the release of “PEACE Rising: Creativity & Courage in Learning,” a new graphic novel inspired by PEACE Project students.

Day two will turn toward policy, accessibility, funding and long-term impact. The program includes the PEACE Forward Awards and Mini Film Festival, a presentation on the state of the arts on Long Island, sessions on social-emotional learning and multilingual classrooms, and a preview of PEACE EDU, a new online professional learning platform designed to extend the project’s reach beyond Long Island.

The conference runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, with check-in beginning at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required, and CTLE credits are available through Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

More information and registration are available through the Patchogue Arts Council’s PEACE Forward conference page.