Leadership in the Arts – Visual Arts

  • LITA Guide for Visual Arts Students

    While all Davidson Students must follow a college preparatory core program as well as a Fine Arts Pathway in grades 9-12, students have the option to pursue the Leadership in the Arts Program (LITA) award during their high school career. These areas include Band, Broadcast & Film, Communicative Arts, Dance, Drama, Orchestra, Piano, Technical Theater Production & Design, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music.

     

    Participation in this program is highly recommended for students who wish to pursue admittance into his or her "dream college." A LITA award portfolio will provide a source of documentation of a student's non-academic activities at Davidson; this information is of great interest to colleges and universities who wish to admit dynamic individuals into their institutions. Another advantage of completing a LITA portfolio is that it ALSO is a way to document your Fine Arts Diploma Seal, which is the capstone of the Fine Arts Pathway requirement for graduation. In other words, you are “killing two birds with one stone.”

     

    There are two levels of achievement in the LITA program. The first level, which may be achieved during 11th or 12th grade, is known as the Letter in the Arts Award. The second level, achieved & awarded only during the Senior year, is known as the Leadership in the Arts Award.  Each award has a set of criteria that must be achieved within one chosen area of fine arts concentration.

     

    Students who achieve a Letter in the Arts Award will receive a special award determined by the Administrator of the fine arts program area. Leadership in the Arts recipients will be awarded a gold medallion at the annual Honors Day program which may be worn as part of their Graduation attire.

    Fine Arts High School Pathways and Diploma Seal

     

    Georgia public high school students may complete a Fine Arts Pathway in Dance, Music, Theatre, or Visual Art by taking a series of 3 full credits in one fine art subject area. There is no end of Pathway tests for the Fine Arts Pathways. 

    Students who complete an additional fourth credit in the arts, complete 20 hours of arts-related community service and ​a capstone project are eligible for the Fine Arts Diploma Seal in school districts that have applied to award the seal. 

    Students Must Submit their portfolios for review 15 days before the District deadline. Students will be required to make any revisions if necessary before the portfolio's final review.  

    Districts are responsible for submitting qualifying seniors to the Fine Arts Program Manager by April 15th annually. 

     

    *** Notice***

    The Community service hours are waived for the 2021-22 school year due to COVID 19 restrictions. 

     

     

     
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  • LITA Visual Arts Requirments

    1. Approved Courses

    The following is a list of courses offered in the Visual Arts program. Please note that courses may be taken more than once and still qualify toward your 3 cumulative hours or Carnegie Units in Visual Art. You are encouraged to take a variety of courses toward your Visual Arts LITA.

    Carnegie Unit

    1/2 Hour Course Title

    Available Credit

    Visual Art Composition I, II

    Beginner Graphic Design I

    ½ per year

    Full Hour Course Title

    1 per year

    Visual Art Composition III, IV, V, IV

    Ceramics/Pottery 1, 2, 3, 4

    Graphic Design & Animation II, III, IV

    Media Arts 1, 2, 3, 4 (Yearbook)

    AP Course Title

    2 per year

    AP Art History

    AP Studio: 2D, 3D, Drawing

     

    2. Approved Enrichment Courses

    NOTICE: The following is a list of approved enrichment courses to supplement your Visual Arts studies that may be taken to qualify for your LITA. Any courses in Vocal Music, Dance, Drama, Orchestra, Band, Communicative Arts, Theater Tech, or Broadcast & Film Production, Theatre Marketing, Foreign Language

     3. Personal Artist Statement

    A Personal Statement as a visual artist is an opportunity to express your personality, commitment and enthusiasm, and creative potential. This statement is about you as a developing artist and various stages of experiences within the visual arts program at DFA. Your account should examine your artistic philosophy, studio practice, aesthetics, inspirations, and future ambitions. Include artistic influences from art history and contemporary that resonate with your art or idea. Explain how you arrived at your current body of work and impetus for change. Follow the format described on page 4, Item 3g.

    4. Sanctioned Activities for the Award of VISUAL ARTS LITA Points

    Documentation that requires COLOR images of artwork, presentation slide handouts, or other digital media that is required for documentation MUST have exceptional quality. The point scale and categories are viewable on the following page.

     

    *** NOTICE ***

    The star symbol ☆ noted next to any activity or Award must be
    pre-approved by the DFA Visual Arts Department & evaluated to ensure the organization's credibility.

    Awards, Exhibitions, and Contest Participation

    Activity or Award

    Points Per Year

    Documentation

    DFA GHP Visual Arts Nominee

    3

    Voucher signed by Nominating Art Teacher

    GHP Semi-Finalist in Visual Arts

    5

    Slide handout presentation of artwork & Letter of Achievement or Voucher signed by School Counselor

    GHP Visual Arts Finalist and Attendee

    8

    Slide handout presentation of artwork & Letter of Achievement or Voucher signed by School Counselor

    GHP Visual Art Minor

    2

    Art and written reflection of attendance & Voucher signed by supervising GHP instructor

    DFA Art Department Art Contest

    1 (per contest)

    		 Photo of artwork & Voucher

    DFA Art Department Art Contest Award

    2 (per contest)

    Photo of artwork & Award or certificate

    DFA Art Department Regional Art Contest

    2 (per contest)

    		 Photo of artwork & Proof of participation

    State Art Contest Award ☆

    3 (per contest)

    Award or certificate

    National Art Contest ☆

    3 (per contest)

    Photo of artwork, proof of participation

    National Art Contest Award ☆

    4 (per contest)

    Award or certificate

    Annual DFA Emerging Artist Program

    2

    Photo of artwork & Program with name highlighted

    DFA Principals Art Award

    10

    Photo of artwork & Ribbon or Certificate

    Design & Art Creative Contribution

    Activity or Award

    Points Per Year

    Documentation

    Poster Design for Event

    4

    A printed copy of the design

    Playbill Designer

    6 (per playbill)

    Copy of printed playbill design

    Cover Art for any DFA Publication

    4

    Copy of printed design

    DFA Logo or Apparel design

    3

    Copy of printed design and photo of merchandise if applicable

    DFA Art Exhibition volunteer Installer

    2

    Documentation of Event

    Volunteer in Community art service or event

    2

    Proof of service or event; Voucher from Sponsor with signature & statement of participation

    DFA Artwork Initiative

    ½ (per hour)

    Voucher; proof of participation

    Community Artwork Initiative

    1 (per hour)

    Voucher; proof of participation

    Commissioned Artwork

    3 (per artwork)

    Voucher & Photo of artwork

    Artist Donation of Artwork to DFA

    3 (per artwork)

    Voucher & Photo of artwork

    Self-Generated Design Concepts for Yearbook

    4

    Voucher & Printed documentation of Designs

    NAHS Zine Publication: The Blend

    1 (per publication)

    Copy of Design and/or Zine

    Memberships, Artist Workshop, Attendance

    Activity or Award

    Points Per Year

    Documentation

    National Art Honor Society Member

    1

    Membership Certificate

    National Art Honor Society Officer

    (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Media Coordinator)

    4 - P

    3 - VP

    2 - T, S, M

    Membership Certificate & Voucher from sponsor

    DFA Art Exhibition Committee Member

    2

    Titles of exhibitions & Voucher signed by Art Teacher

    Museum or Gallery Membership

    3

    Official Membership Certificate

    Private or group art lessons

    3 (per term)

    Facility brochure (if possible), Instructor’s name & contact, documentation of work

    Attendance at a one-day visual arts workshop

    (2-hour minimum)

    4

    Brochure, proof of attendance, documentation of work

    Attendance at a residency art visual arts Program

    (1-week minimum)

    6

    Brochure, proof of attendance, documentation of work

    Attendance at a long-term visual arts workshop

    (4-6 weeks minimum)

    5

    Brochure, proof of attendance, documentation of work

    Attendance at SAS, NAHS, NCECA conference

    8

    Brochure, Ticket, proof of attendance, a photo collection of the conference; conference materials

    Attending a Museum or Gallery Exhibition

    2

    Ticket or program, Proof of attendance

    Attending Artist Talk

    3

    Ticket or program, proof of attendance

    Petition for Acceptance

    ** All Allotted Points are assigned by a DFA Visual Arts Instructor

    Activity or Award

    Points Per Petition

    Documentation

    Valuable Visual Arts Experience

    1-3

    Voucher & documentation of materials to support evidence of attendance/participation

    Artist Internship

    1-5

    Voucher & documentation of materials to support evidence of attendance/participation

    Valuable Visual Art Experience with Designated Documentation

    1-10

    Voucher & documentation of materials to support evidence of attendance/participation

    *** NOTICE ***

    All conclusions of a petition are of the discretion of the Visual Arts Department and the Fine Arts Department Chair.

    All petitions are either accepted or denied based upon Merit, Legitimacy, and Quality of Evidence.

    Students have the right to resubmit a rejected petition with the inclusion of additional documented evidence and a formal written statement supporting the valuable visual arts experience claim.

  • SCHOOL-WIDE APPROVED ACTIVITIES

    *** Notice ***

     In this category, the MAXIMUM OF 30 POINTS may be obtained during your high school career to use toward your LITA Award.

     

    Award of Points

    ** = Awarded if NOT listed in your chosen LITA Area

    Activity

    Documentation

    Points per Year

    Tally of points per Grade

     

    9th

    10th

    11th

    12th

    **Participant in a school sanctioned competition

    (Ex. Literary)

    Voucher with Signature of sponsoring teacher

    1 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Award in a school sanctioned competition

    Certificate

    3 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Participant in a Regional school sanctioned competition

    Voucher with Signature of sponsoring teacher

    1 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Award in a Regional school sanctioned competition

    Certificate

    3 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Participant in a State school sanctioned competition

    Voucher with Signature of sponsoring teacher

    2 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Award in a State school sanctioned competition

    Certificate

    4 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Participant in a National school sanctioned competition

    Voucher with Signature of sponsoring teacher

    3 per contest

     

     

     

     

    **Award in a National school sanctioned competition

    Certificate

    5 per contest

     

     

     

     

    Attendance at an after-school DFA performance OUTSIDE of your chosen LITA area

    Copy of the show program signed by the Teacher serving as the House Manager or Box Office Manager

    1 per performance. Maximum of 5 per year for LITA credit

     

     

     

     

    Attendance at an after-school non-DFA public performance OUTSIDE of your chosen LITA area

    Copy of the show program with an attached ticket stub

    1 per performance

     

     

     

     

    **Officer in Student Council, a class, a club, or Honor Society

    Voucher signed by sponsoring teacher

    4 - President

    3 - Vice President

    2 - Sec or Treas.

     

     

     

     

    Membership in an Honor Society

    (NAHS, NJAHS, TRI-M, NHS, NJHS, Thespian,

    NEHS, NHSDA, Rho Kappa, etc.)

    Voucher signed by sponsoring teacher or Membership Card

     

    1

     

     

     

     

    Academic Honor Roll each 9 weeks during the school year

    Transcript or Voucher signed by School Counselor

    2

     

     

     

     

    President’s Award for Educational Excellence

    Certificate

    3

     

     

     

     

    Top Scholar

    in Grade

    Certificate

    3

     

     

     

     

    Highest overall average in an Academic Class

    Certificate

    2 per class

     

     

     

     

    Perfect Attendance for the school year

    Certificate

    2

     

     

     

     

    Attendance at the Governor’s Honors Program in an ACADEMIC SUBJECT during 10th or 11th grades

    Letter of Acceptance

    8

     

     

     

     

    Georgia Scholar

    Certificate

    2

     

     

     

     

    Hope Scholar

    Award Letter

    3

     

     

     

     

    Zell Miller Scholar

    Award Letter

    4

     

     

     

     

    Passing a National Foreign Language Examination

    Certificate or Letter of Report

    2

     

     

     

     

    Total Points Per Grade  

     

     

     

     

     

    Cumulative Points toward a LITA AWARD:

    Reminder: 30 points maximum may be used toward the LITA award