Cleveland Clinic Office of Civic Education Initiatives

eXpressions™ Art Program

FAQs for the eXpressions™ Art Program

About the Program

  1. What is the eXpressions™ Art Program? The eXpressions™ Art Program is an educational program that utilizes the visual arts to engage high school students in the world of scientific research. Through project-based, peer-to-peer learning, students produce artistic interpretations of research conducted by Cleveland Clinic summer interns. In addition to giving participants a deeper, real-world understanding of art and science, the program promotes creativity, innovation, communication, and teamwork. Plus, it gives high school students and their teachers the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate credit, respectively, from Northeast Ohio universities.
  2. What are the criteria to participate? The program is available to all high school art or media production students; in order for a student to participate, though, the student's teacher must first register for the program. Only work from students whose teachers have officially enrolled in the program will be accepted for review.
  3. As a teacher, how do I register for the program? To register for the 2009/2010 program, teachers must visit www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressionsART and complete the online Teacher Registration Form by September 11, 2009.
  4. Is there an eXpressions™ Art Program curriculum? Yes. The eXpressions™ Art Program curriculum is tied to Ohio and national academic standards in a variety of subjects. To download a copy of the curriculum, visit the Virtual Teacher Workshops web page.
  5. How do I know if a student from my high school participated in a Cleveland Clinic internship? To find out if a student from your high school participated in a Cleveland Clinic internship over the summer, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressionsART and click on the 2009 Interns tab.
  6. How can I become an intern? High school students interested in applying for a Cleveland Clinic summer internship with the Office of Civic Education Initiatives should visit www.clevelandclinic.org/CivicEducation for guidelines and criteria.
  7. Are there any fees involved with participation in the eXpressions™ Art Program? There are no fees to participate.
  8. I'm an art teacher at a school that did not have a student participate in one of the internships over the summer. Can my art students and I still participate in eXpressions™? Yes. Schools that did not have a student participate in an internship over the summer will be able to access virtual student-research presentations through a program called mRi™: myRESEARCH illuminated. The mRi™ website is www.clevelandclinic.org/mRi.
  9. I am a senior in high school and I graduate next year. Can I still participate in the eXpressions™ Art Program? Yes, you can participate – as long as your teacher registers for the program.
  10. My teachers don't know about the eXpressions™ Art Program. Who can they contact to learn about the program? First ask your teachers to visit the eXpressions™ Art Program web site: www.clevelandclinic.org/eXpressionsART. If they still have questions after reviewing the online information, they can email Bryan Pflaum at pflaumb@ccf.org.

About the Process

  1. When does the program begin? The program begins at the start of the school year, once a teacher enrolls in the program by completing the online Teacher Registration Form.
  2. What are the criteria for submission? A complete list of submission criteria is available at the beginning of the Online Submission Form.
  3. What is the submission deadline for the eXpressions™ Art Program? The submission deadline for the 2009/2010 eXpressions™ Art Program is November 11, 2009.
  4. Is this a competition? Yes. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of judges.
  5. Who are the judges and what criteria do they use? Each year, submissions are judged by an esteemed panel of professional artists, art educators, media production professionals, and scientific researchers. All artwork submitted to Cleveland Clinic through the eXpressions™ Art Program will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
    • Interpretation
      • How effectively does the work communicate one or more of the key issues surrounding the scientific research?
      • What problem or disease is the research trying to solve or cure, and what goals are trying to be achieved?
      • What took place in the laboratory or under the microscope?
      • How does this relate to the broader community?
    • Technique
      • What level of proficiency is demonstrated through the work?
    • Creativity
      • How innovative is the artist's interpretation?
    • Initiative
      • How much effort did the artist put into the project?
  6. What do winners get? Selected pieces will receive a ribbon award. Each blue-ribbon winner will receive $100, each red-ribbon winner will receive $75, and each white-ribbon winner will receive $50. Ribbon-winning artwork will be featured in a publication of all the award-winning submissions, and will also be included in the 2010 eXpressions™ Art Program Exhibition, which will open with a formal reception and dedication in January. In addition, all teachers who mentor an award-winning student will receive a $100 educational grant.
  7. Is there a specific artistic medium that has to be used for the eXpressions™ Art Program? No. Students are free to choose whatever medium they prefer. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, videos, and musical compositions have all earned awards. Teachers and students should keep in mind, however, that they will be responsible for shipping or delivering the actual artwork to Cleveland Clinic in the event the piece is selected for inclusion in the 2010 eXpressions™ Art Program Exhibition.
  8. Can I submit multiple pieces? A student may submit more than one piece of art. Each submission, though, requires a separate submission form.