Understanding the importance of the Census process and the need to have an accurate count of the individuals in their communities, artists in California, New York, Pennsylvania have turned the census into inspiration for their gallery exhibits, digital toolkits, social campaigns, and individual works to encourage participation and educate communities about its past steeped in exclusionary systems.
Read moreARTIVISM: Our Responsibility in this Critical Moment
One outlet youth have used to cope with trauma, express frustration, and demand justice in this time has been art. Even in a time of national turmoil, young people have turned to the arts to reclaim their identity, change the narrative, and speak out when witnessing injustice. That is why it is troubling to see potential COVID-related budget cuts to many of the arts programs on which students rely. College students are forking over full tuition for performing arts courses held online. We want to provide safe, effective arts programming during the pandemic, but in this moment, is it enough? Who falls through the cracks?
Read moreNow More Than Ever: Arts and Cultural Education is a Human Right
As we enter the beginning of the end of the year 2020, we still have work to do. Our commitment to the fundamental, civil, and human right to arts and cultural education for every young person remains strong, but we must demonstrate that through action. In light of the pandemic, recession, and uprisings, governments are making tough decisions to eliminate access to arts and cultural learning for young people – this is not okay.
Read moreWhat is the future for Arts Education Amid a Global Crisis?
At this time it is appropriate to consider the role of arts education in educational and community contexts and consider whether our children and youth are engaged in the arts in meaningful and exciting ways. I am cognizant that many young people do not have access to any arts involvement in their school day or extracurricular programs. Lack of arts participation in everyday contexts happens for many different reasons: parental role models, financial resources, socioeconomic status, degree of participation in leisure activities, and lack of education in the arts.
Read moreApart but Connected: Envisioning a Future of Equity, Healing and Democracy
This crisis has laid bare the inequities of our country, but it’s also spurring communities to dive right into the work— to make real what might have felt impossible only months ago. Mutual aid, a value with deep roots in anarchist thinking, has been embraced by neighbors of all stripes. These are the beginnings of the policy propositions we’ll need to step into a brighter future. On top of policy, we’ll also need the narratives— the culture— to get us there.
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