What is ICT?
The Institute for Creative Teaching (ICT) is an in-depth professional learning program coordinated by Think 360 Arts for Learning and University of Northern Colorado (UNC) for teachers, learners, and community educators seeking to enhance their practices.
This year’s Institute - a unique annual experience - marks its 36th year and will take place June 10th – 12th at UNC, from 8:00am3:30pm daily. The three-day program offers hands-on learning opportunities, engaging artist talks, and reflective sessions rooted in contemporary educational practice. Participants will explore the interconnectedness of home, belonging, space, and place through various subjects and applications.
ICT is open to educators of all subject areas and grade levels. Participants will earn up to 21 hours toward educator re-licensure and will have the option of registering for 1 continuing education graduate credit from UNC for an additional fee.
W h a t t o E x p e c t a t I C T 2 0 2 5
Collaborative Community
Connect with a statewide network of educators, artists, and leaders who share a passion for creative teaching. Build meaningful relationships, exchange ideas, and leave with fresh strategies and inspiration to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration in your classroom.
Artistic Leadership
Strengthen your confidence as a leader in arts integration by exploring how creative practices can transform both student engagement and learning outcomes. Gain practical tools to advocate for the role of the arts in fostering inclusive, student-centered environments.
Reflective Practices
Take time to reflect on your own creative identity and teaching approach. Through guided discussions and hands-on exploration, identify new ways to bring authenticity, cultural responsiveness, and deeper personal meaning into your work with students.
ICT2025Theme ANoteonthe
Welcome Home! We are embodied within spaces and places. We create places for ourselves and the places we live in create us. What questions can guide an artistic inquiry into themes of home, belonging, space, and place? Join us for the 2025 Institute for Creative Teaching, where you’ll explore these themes through various disciplines that will nurture your teaching and artistic practices.
You’ll be joined by keynote speakers Danielle SeeWalker and Helanius J. Wilkins, alongside other teaching artists and practitioners who will lead you through this hands-on experience.
Dr. Connie Stewart, Professor Emeritus University of Northern Colorado
Works by ICT 2025 Keynote Speakers:
“Everyone Talks About Having a Seat, But This Table Ain’t For Us” by Danielle SeeWalker
The Conversation Series: Stitching the Geopolitical Quilt to ReBody Belonging; Lafayette, LA premiere, October 2023; Pictured Brandon Welch & Helanius j. Wilkins. Photography courtesy of Kayla Martin / K Martin Studio, Used with permission (c)2023
Keynote Speakers
Danielle SeeWalker
This year’s theme Home, Belonging, Space, and Place will be brought to life by keynote speakers Danielle SeeWalker and Helanius J. Wilkins Both are renowned activist artists who use their mediums to uncover untold histories and create spaces of belonging
DanielleSeeWalkerisaHunkpapaLakotacitizenofthe StandingRockSiouxTribeandcurrentlyresidesinDenver, Sheisamultidisciplinaryartist,muralist,writer, businesswoman,formerChairCommissioneroftheDenve AmericanIndianCommissionandmostimportantly,a mother HerworkexploresNativeAmericanstereotypes, microaggressions,andcolonialistsystemsthroughbold colors,expressionistictechniques,andLakotatraditions
Passionateaboutreshapingnarratives,sheco-founded“T RedRoadProject”,documentingcontemporaryNative Americanexperiences,andauthored“StillHere”(2020).A formerChairCommissioneroftheDenverAmericanIndian Commission,shereceivedthe2022Mayor’sExcellenceinA &CultureInnovationAwardandanEmmyforher documentaryworkwithRockyMountainPBS.Readmore aboutSeeWalker’sworkHERE.
Helanius J. Wilkins
nius J Wilkins, a Louisiana native and Colorado splant, is an award-winning choreographer, ormance artist, educator, and certified Colorado nge Leader For 29 years, he has used dance to ge social justice and community building, creating works supported by NEA, NEFA, and NPN He founded led EDGEWORKS Dance Theater (2001–2014), an allcompanyofpredominantlyBlackmen
018 he was appointment by Governor Jared Polis to Colorado Council on Creative Industries for a 4-year In addition to his work as a professional artist and ce, Wilkins is Associate Chair and Director of Dance U Boulder where he is also an Associate Professor ReadmoreaboutWilkins’workHERE
Meet ThePresenters
Click the photos to learn more about each presenter
This diverse and interdisciplinary cohort of artists and educators will lead experiential workshops and creative exercises that will assist participants in synthesizing their learning and applying it to various learning contexts.
SETHHarris Think360TeachingArtist
GhiaHaddad VisualArtist
Dr.DonnaGoodwin DirectorSchoolofArt&Design,UNC
BetsyTobin Think360TeachingArtist
DonaLaurita Think360TeachingArtist
NicoleBanowetz Think360TeachingArtist
RhiannaCranston CleoParkerRobinsonDance Think360TeachingArtist
DavidOcelotlGarcia Think360TeachingArtist
GillianMcNally ProfessorofTheatre Education,UNC CeCeWire ProfessorofJewelryand Metals,UNC
HighPlains EnvironmentalCenter LittleTheatre oftheRockies
Dr.ConnieStewart ProfessorEmeritus,UNC
JenniferJohnson-Lowe Think360TeachingArtist
Participant Testimonies
‘The theme [storytelling] was a little intimidatingformebecauseIdidn'tthink it was one of my strongest areas. I learnedsomuchbecauseofthatandmy worldwasopeneduptonewpossibilities in the classroom and outside of the classroom.Ifeelsoenrichedfromthe experience.”
-ICT2024Participant
Ilovedthatthisconferencewassoinclusive andallencompassingastotheinvitation for participants of a wide range of professionalism.Therewerenolimitations tothedirectionofthisconference.Any personwithanyprofessionalbackground couldhavebenefitedfromthisconference. Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendattendingthis conferenceinthefuture.Itisoneofthe most meaningful conferences I have attendedduringmytenureof30+yearsof teaching.
-ICT2024Participant
Register by May 1st for early bird pricing! Price increase after May 1st.
Orvisit:https://tinyurl.com/y9ds8z3f
Deadline to register is May 24th 11:59 pm MST
Scholarships: If you are a Denver Public Schools or Poudre School District teacher, a teacher in a rural community, or a teacher in the Pikes Peak Region, Think 360 has a limited number of need-based scholarships available. If selected, Think 360 Arts will issue you a promo code to apply at checkout for your registration. Priority Scholarship Deadline is April 25, 2025 and the Official Scholarship Deadline is May 20, 2025. Please find the scholarship application HERE.
