Conversation Across Conversation Across CulturCulture e

Community Arts Education: Exploring Community Arts Education: Exploring PossibilitiesPossibilities

Framing The ConversationFraming The ConversationWhy is this conversation important at this Why is this conversation important at this particular time and place?particular time and place?

• Increase in interest among arts education Increase in interest among arts education practitioners, arts practitioners, arts administrators funders and administrators funders and scholars in out-of-schools time scholars in out-of-schools time learninglearning•The interdisciplinary nature of art in community The interdisciplinary nature of art in community setting is beginning to inform theory and practice setting is beginning to inform theory and practice inside and outside the classroom.inside and outside the classroom.•Emerging research in the field suggests community Emerging research in the field suggests community arts is playing an increasing role in community arts is playing an increasing role in community development, youth development, and social activism.development, youth development, and social activism.

Call for ProposalsCall for Proposals

The Call for Proposals served multiple purposesThe Call for Proposals served multiple purposes

It served as a way to…It served as a way to… • Involve diverse communities in the conferenceInvolve diverse communities in the conference• Engage multiple departments and programs within the Engage multiple departments and programs within the

Teachers College and Columbia University communityTeachers College and Columbia University community• Create an authentic mechanism to identify content and Create an authentic mechanism to identify content and

themes for plenary sessions, roundtables, gallery themes for plenary sessions, roundtables, gallery exhibition and performances.exhibition and performances.

A Closer Look: A Closer Look: Plenary Speakers & PerformersPlenary Speakers & Performers

• Judith BurtonJudith Burton• Ed GordonEd Gordon• Linda Frye BurnhamLinda Frye Burnham• Ihsan MuhammadIhsan Muhammad• Cathleen Kiebert-GruenCathleen Kiebert-Gruen• Laura VuralLaura Vural• Janine Simon & Urban WordJanine Simon & Urban Word

• Geoffrey CanadaGeoffrey Canada• Shirley Brice HeathShirley Brice Heath• Maxine GreeneMaxine Greene• Gregorio Malena Gregorio Malena • Liz Lerman Dance Liz Lerman Dance

ExchangeExchange• Raphael Montañez OrtizRaphael Montañez Ortiz• Helena VidalHelena Vidal• Joan JeffriJoan Jeffri

ExhibitionExhibitions & s &

PerformanPerformancesces

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceMarcos Dimas Artist and ActivistMarcos Dimas Artist and Activist

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceView of Macy GalleryView of Macy Gallery

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceJackson - Youth ArtistJackson - Youth Artist

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceMarcos Dimas - Taller Boricua ArtistMarcos Dimas - Taller Boricua Artist

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceYouth Performance Artist - AnonymousYouth Performance Artist - Anonymous

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceRaphael Montañez Ortiz - ArtistRaphael Montañez Ortiz - Artist

Founder El Museo del BarrioFounder El Museo del Barrio

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceFernando Salicrup - Artist and Director of Taller Fernando Salicrup - Artist and Director of Taller

BoricuaBoricua

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & PerformanceLiz Lerman Dance ExchangeLiz Lerman Dance Exchange

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & Performance

Exhibition & PerformanceExhibition & Performance

Key Questions Key Questions Raised Raised

in Conversationin Conversation

Key Questions Raised in Key Questions Raised in ConversationConversation

What is community?What is community?Quote from studentQuote from studentAfter attending the conference several items are After attending the conference several items are clear to me: the deceptively simple term clear to me: the deceptively simple term ““communitycommunity”” proves itself quite difficult to define in actuality as proves itself quite difficult to define in actuality as communities are formed, exist and evolve in myriad communities are formed, exist and evolve in myriad ways; the role of museums, as partners of community ways; the role of museums, as partners of community arts, operate in has changed a great deal in recent arts, operate in has changed a great deal in recent years, and that art – whether purely for artyears, and that art – whether purely for art’’s sake or s sake or for a social or educational agenda – is still a powerful for a social or educational agenda – is still a powerful means of self expression and achieve. (MT, 2007) means of self expression and achieve. (MT, 2007)

Key Questions Raised in Key Questions Raised in ConversationConversation

What role can arts and culture play in What role can arts and culture play in neighborhood change?neighborhood change?Quote from studentQuote from studentOn Day 2 we began an exploration of the impact of the arts on On Day 2 we began an exploration of the impact of the arts on a person as a social being, and as a cultural and historical a person as a social being, and as a cultural and historical entity within the context of community. Raphael Ortiz entity within the context of community. Raphael Ortiz challenged us to think about these complex inter-relationships challenged us to think about these complex inter-relationships from the point of view of cultural as well as community/place from the point of view of cultural as well as community/place based contexts. He stated that, based contexts. He stated that, ““Culture and art as Culture and art as experienced by society affects cognition so radically that it experienced by society affects cognition so radically that it impacts on our sense of who we are and how we see impacts on our sense of who we are and how we see ourselves.ourselves.”” If a person is so powerfully shaped by images and If a person is so powerfully shaped by images and objects from sources outside of self, what sort of personal objects from sources outside of self, what sort of personal powers may then may then be engaged or generated through powers may then may then be engaged or generated through acts of artistic creation in response to oneacts of artistic creation in response to one’’s world? (RA, 2007) s world? (RA, 2007)

Key Questions Raised in Key Questions Raised in ConversationConversation

What role can arts and culture play What role can arts and culture play in neighborhood change?in neighborhood change?Quote from studentQuote from studentThe work of art collectives like TRUCE and Taller Boriqua The work of art collectives like TRUCE and Taller Boriqua recalled in my mind the rich, collaborative and subversive recalled in my mind the rich, collaborative and subversive history of muralism. I thought of the Wall of respect in history of muralism. I thought of the Wall of respect in Chicago of 1969 created by artists involved in the civil Chicago of 1969 created by artists involved in the civil rights movement, how the mural involved issues of both rights movement, how the mural involved issues of both aesthetics and politics, providing a moment of art aesthetics and politics, providing a moment of art education and simultaneously resistance and liberation. As education and simultaneously resistance and liberation. As Maxine Greene argues in Releasing the Imagination, Maxine Greene argues in Releasing the Imagination, emancipation and visualization are necessary to creative emancipation and visualization are necessary to creative activity, which in turn justifies its importance to the activity, which in turn justifies its importance to the ongoing process of self actualization for the individual and, ongoing process of self actualization for the individual and, I would argue, for the community as well. (NG, 2007)I would argue, for the community as well. (NG, 2007)

Key Questions Raised in Key Questions Raised in ConversationConversation

Can the interdisciplinary nature of Can the interdisciplinary nature of community-based and youth centered community-based and youth centered learning provide models for in-school arts learning provide models for in-school arts learning?learning?Quote from studentQuote from studentIt is interesting to me that we view school and community as It is interesting to me that we view school and community as separate spheres, if not in adversity. Obviously, that is separate spheres, if not in adversity. Obviously, that is something known and felt at many attending and working in something known and felt at many attending and working in public schools right now. However, I am concerned that we take public schools right now. However, I am concerned that we take this reality for granted. I was at first confused and then this reality for granted. I was at first confused and then troubled over the course of the week end that there was very troubled over the course of the week end that there was very little discussion over how school and community can be not little discussion over how school and community can be not just in communication and collaboration but how the two can just in communication and collaboration but how the two can be interwoven so that Deweybe interwoven so that Dewey’’s continuum of experience might s continuum of experience might actually be possible. actually be possible. (NG, 2007)(NG, 2007)

Key Questions Raised in Key Questions Raised in ConversationConversation

Can the interdisciplinary nature of Can the interdisciplinary nature of community-based and youth centered community-based and youth centered learning provide models for in-school learning provide models for in-school arts learning?arts learning?Quote from studentQuote from studentOne thing I noticed over and over again during the One thing I noticed over and over again during the conference was the way community organizations utilize conference was the way community organizations utilize interdisciplinary approaches in their education the youth interdisciplinary approaches in their education the youth and their programs. I personally believe that art classes in and their programs. I personally believe that art classes in and out of their selves are powerful for youth to take part and out of their selves are powerful for youth to take part in and belong to a serious discipline in education in in and belong to a serious discipline in education in general. However, I also recognize it is important for us to general. However, I also recognize it is important for us to see how we can integrate arts learning in and through see how we can integrate arts learning in and through different academic, as well as socio-cultural learning different academic, as well as socio-cultural learning experiences. (JR, 2007)experiences. (JR, 2007)

Conference – RoundtableConference – RoundtableRoundtable #1: Best Practices Roundtable #1: Best Practices in Developing Effective in Developing Effective Community Arts EducatorsCommunity Arts Educators

Roundtable #2: Art, Cultural Roundtable #2: Art, Cultural Responsibility and Social Responsibility and Social JusticeJustice

Roundtable #3: Collaboration: Roundtable #3: Collaboration: The Institution, the Artists The Institution, the Artists and the Communityand the Community

Roundtable #4: Roundtable #4: Community Artists as Community Artists as MentorsMentors

Roundtable #5: Exploring Roundtable #5: Exploring the Relationship between the Relationship between Art, Philosophy and Art, Philosophy and CommunityCommunity

Roundtable #6: Engaging Roundtable #6: Engaging Families In and Through Families In and Through the Artsthe Arts

What We Learned For Next What We Learned For Next TimeTime

• Allow more time for audience to dialogue, both with Allow more time for audience to dialogue, both with Plenary sessions and in Roundtables.Plenary sessions and in Roundtables.

• A panel on the politics, ideology and philosophy on A panel on the politics, ideology and philosophy on model community arts programs was one we agree model community arts programs was one we agree with. There was a tendency to describe programs with. There was a tendency to describe programs generally and not in as scholarly tone as we had hoped. generally and not in as scholarly tone as we had hoped. This was largely an issue of time.This was largely an issue of time.

• The report back from Roundtable Six, resulted in a The report back from Roundtable Six, resulted in a heated debate about the impact of gentrification on heated debate about the impact of gentrification on East Harlem and El Museo del Barrio. Everyone felt the East Harlem and El Museo del Barrio. Everyone felt the complexity and integrity of trying to define what complexity and integrity of trying to define what community means and the role that the arts play in that community means and the role that the arts play in that quest.quest.

Conference ResultsConference Results• Attendance OverflowAttendance Overflow• Data gathered on key issues to Data gathered on key issues to

explore, possibilities for activating explore, possibilities for activating community arts today, and community arts today, and acknowledgement of the history of acknowledgement of the history of community arts from participants, community arts from participants, students and scholarsstudents and scholars

• Requests for another conference in Requests for another conference in assessment forms to continue assessment forms to continue share the conversation share the conversation