Arts Corps recognizes the need for art to act as a liberatory process and works to expand the opportunities for both our students and teaching artists. Creating art can be a personal act of liberation, and when done collectively we can transform schools, neighborhoods, and beyond. With a mission of revolutionizing arts education by igniting the creative power of young people through culturally engaging learning experiences, Arts Corps embraces arts education in the context of social change.
Research shows that arts education has transformative results: higher attendance and graduation rates, as well as an increase in creative capacities, leadership skills and connections to community. These results are especially significant among communities that disproportionately do not have access to arts education, largely low-income youth of color. Arts Corps is committed to reducing the opportunity gap in access to arts learning by providing high quality programming, which includes an intentional lens around race and oppression in the classroom and in our organizational practices.
The same systems that create inequities in arts education have created inequities in the profession that favor white/middle-upper class teaching artists. Arts Corps prioritizes hiring teaching artists who reflect the experiences and identities of the young people we serve and provides pathways for young artists to develop their teaching artistry. Arts Corps is committed to the continual support of our teaching artists in their practices.
Tools and Resources
Arts Corps’ Arts Education & Social Justice Framework for Teaching Artists
This framework is specifically geared toward teaching artists. All arts educators are encouraged to make use of this resource, adapting it to the needs of your work or organization. When sharing this framework, please cite Arts Corps and its original authors, Roberto Ascalon and Tina LaPadula. The version available for download was updated by Carina del Rosario, Olisa Enrico, and Meredith Arena in September 2020.
Colorlines
Colorlines is a source for accessible media on race, power and democracy. We offer analysis, collective meaning-making, and opportunities to engage in power-building moments and movements.
Creative Capital
Creative Capita offers professional development workshops in asynchronous, online courses. The curriculum combines evergreen elements of artist professional development with contemporary critical frameworks in cultural discourse. It offers exercises from working artists, educators, and art industry specialists to enhance artists’ professional development.
La Red de Solidaridad de Inmigrantes en Washington (WAISN, Spanish)
La Red de Solidaridad de Inmigrantes en Washington (WAISN) es una coalición y red multilingüe y multicultural de más de 400 líderes inmigrantes, aliados y organizaciones que sirven a los inmigrantes, que apoya y construye poder para los inmigrantes y refugiados en todo el estado de Washington a través de servicios directos, educación, organización, promoción de políticas y financiación.
Learning for Justice
Learning for Justice is a community education program of the Southern Poverty Law Center that cultivates and nurtures dialogue, learning, reflection and action from those closest to and harmed most by injustices in the South.
Making Space, Making Change: Profiles of Youth-led Organizations
This report by Movement Strategy Center is intended for all organizations that do work with youth. It uses cases studies to outline the different manifestations of youth-led organizing and also provides analysis of the varying levels of being a “youth-led organization” that take into consideration leadership development and accountability.
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond NW
The People’s Institute Northwest supports and coordinates Undoing Institutional Racism workshops as well as providing technical assistance and organizing support to community based organizations, educators, social service agencies, government, faith based organizations, prisoner organizations, coalitions for social change, and youth groups.
Seattle Office of Civil Rights
The Seattle Office for Civil Rights works to advance civil rights and end barriers to equity. They enforce laws against illegal discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and contracting within Seattle city limits.
WA Immigrant Solidity Network Resource Finder English
The WAISN Resource Finder is a community-driven database of resources for immigrant and refugee communities in Washington State, actively vetting resources to ensure their accessibility to undocumented immigrants, providing detailed information about ID requirements, language support, and potential limitations based on immigration status.
WA State Office of Equity
The Washington State Office of Equity, located in the Office of the Governor, promotes equitable access to opportunities and resources that reduce disparities across state government and improve outcomes statewide.
WA State Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) Plan & Playbook
This plan and playbook outlines the framework and tools that Washington state agencies use to create a pro-equity anti-racist ecosystem.
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