JOIN US!
June 23 – 25, 2026
2026 Reading Art Conference
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Bentonville, Arkansas
Imagine stepping into a classroom where students are captivated not only by words but also by works of art. A place where critical thinking, connection, and creativity thrive as students “read” art just as they read books. Visual literacy unlocks this world, transforming how we teach and learn.
Join national arts integration experts Focus 5, Inc. for a three-day national professional development conference set against the backdrop of the world-class collection at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
This immersive experience equips Literacy and Social Studies teachers with an approach to teaching that harnesses the power of visual art to:
-Develop deeper understandings
-Prompt curriculum-centered conversations
-Inspire inquiry
-Transcend language barriers
-Engage multiple learning styles
Foster an inclusive environment where every student can succeed
Perfect for K–8 English Language Arts teachers, reading specialists, literacy coaches, history teachers, and art teachers, we hope you’ll join us in transforming the way educators and students connect with art and ideas!
TICKETS
Registration Coming soon!
conference details
Day 1
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Foundations of Visual Literacy
Explore what art is, practice observing in the galleries, and learn strategies for helping students “read” and interpret art.
Day 2
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Deepening Conversations & Curriculum Connections
Develop tools to facilitate meaningful discussions about art and collaborate with peers to create lesson ideas tied to gallery experiences.
Day 3
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Art in Action & Final Reflections
Participate in hands-on arts integration, independent creative reflection, and rich discussions on leveraging museums, original art, and innovative resources to elevate classroom learning.
Presenters
Featured Presenters
Melanie Rick
Co-owner and Senior Consultant, Focus 5, Inc.
Melanie Rick, a National Board Certified Teacher and certified reading specialist, is the co-owner an
d Senior Consultant for Focus 5, Inc. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in integrating visual art and writing into curriculum to develop students’ visual literacy and critical thinking skills. Melanie holds an MA in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction and has worked as a teacher and arts integration specialist. A National Teaching Artist for the Kennedy Center’s CETA program, she leads workshops, institutes, and courses nationwide, helping educators align arts integration with instructional best practices and current educational research.
Sean Layne
Founder and Senior Consultant, Focus 5, Inc.
Sean Layne is the founder of Focus 5, Inc., and author of Acting Right: Building a Cooperative, Collaborative, Creative Classroom Community Through Drama. With a BFA in Acting and training in London, Sean has 35 years of experience in arts integration, working with students, teachers, and teachingartists nationwide. He is a National Teaching Artist and arts coach for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A former actor and director with Interact Story Theatre and a Master Artist with Wolf Trap’s Early Learning Through the Arts program, Sean has pioneered arts-based education models across the globe.
Jamin Carter
Consultant, Focus 5, Inc.
Jamin Carter is an educator, artist, activist, and minister based in Memphis, TN. With a BFA in sculpture and painting and an MAT in visual art education, Jamin brings over 15 years of experience teaching in diverse Title One classrooms, from elementary art to AP art history. As a consultant with Focus 5, Inc. and a Kennedy Center teaching artist, he leads visual art and drama-based workshopsnationwide. An accomplished artist working in acrylics, mixed media, and sculpture, Jamin also exhibits, curates, and facilitates panel discussions. He lives in Midtown Memphis with his wife Becky and their three children.
Paige Whelan
Consultant, Focus 5, Inc.
Paige Whelan is a problem solver.
She grew up watching her father tinker with half-built computers in the garage. He often pulled her away from rollerskating to help him with any task that required extra hands. They found new ways to accomplish goals when the first (or second) idea failed.
Paige brought that problem-solving experience to her twenty year career in education. She taught preschool in Boston and then fifth grade at a Title I Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) school in Arlington, Virginia. Paige was named Teacher of the Year and became the school’s technology and arts integration specialist, designing and launching an arts-integrated technology program for the students and mentoring their teachers. She created a similar program for a middle school in her home state of California. Since then, she moved to Boise and travels as a teaching artist with the occasional return to classroom teaching to learn about current educational challenges firsthand.
Paige earned her BA in Psychology from UC Davis and a Master’s in Educational Technology Leadership from Lamar University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher who is also endorsed on the John F. Kennedy Center’s National Roster of Teaching Artists.
Beyond education, Paige troubleshoots family life with her husband and two kids, occasionally making time for yoga or mediocre tap dancing.