Work with Kyle

Kyle has been invited to speak, teach and consult with artists, educators. students and audiences at University of California schools, California State Universities, South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU, New York Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, Chicago Media Project (CMP), the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), California Educational Theatre Association, and school districts from California to New York.

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Speaking

Photo by Bethany Conkel

In “Empowering Students with the Arts” Kyle explores how creative outlets like theatre and music can have a profound impact on our mental and emotional health. Drawing from personal experiences, the development of Ranked with his students, and academic research, Holmes reveals how collaborative and creative processes lower stress, provide agency, create empathy, and improve our quality of life (as well as attendance, discipline, and many of the moving targets we are always chasing).

Holmes makes the case for us to stop chasing the next great educational initiative and get back to the arts - powerful, underutilized tools for supporting the mental and emotional health of young people facing anxiety, depression and emotional distress.

Guest Teaching & Workshops

Workshops and guest teaching are catered to fit each organization’s needs, and have ranged from several hours to week-long intensives. Topics include arts integration, arts advocacy, playwriting, equity and inclusion in the classroom, Ranked, and best practices in theatre program management (structuring your season, program identity and marketing, financial success).

Some previous workshops have included:

  • Scripts & Sensibilities: Building Empathy and Understanding Through Script Study

  • From Bard to Blockbusters: Building Archetypes from the Stage to the Screen

  • Casting with Care: Balancing Inclusive Casting While Honoring the Text (and Law!)

  • No Fear Shakespeare: A Crash Course to Embrace the Bard with Confidence

  • Preparing for Your BIG BREAK - Everything You Need for When Opportunity Comes Knocking

  • Staging the Staff Meeting - Everything You Need When Your Principal Asks You to Lead

  • So You Wrote a Play - Now What?

  • QLab: The Triple Threat Transforming Theaters

  • There’s No Business Like High School Show Business (Revamping Marketing & Ticket Sales)

Consulting

As an educational leader and co-author of the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards, Holmes has consulted with school districts across California to revamp their VAPA programs in meaningful ways, introducing relevant and culturally inclusive curriculum to prepare students for collegiate and professional success. He has developed teacher training programs for community and regional theatres, worked with leadership teams to take advantage of funding opportunities such as Prop 28 in California, and helped artists revamp their branding and marketing to best reach their audiences.

If you are interested in having Kyle work with your class, department, or organization, please reach out and let him know what your program’s needs are.