Engaging Classrooms and Communities through Art

The Guide to Designing and Implementing Community-Based Art Education

By (author) Beth Krensky, Seana Lowe Steffen

Publication date:

16 December 2008

Length of book:

204 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780759110670

At the same time that arts funding and programming in schools are declining, exciting community-based art programs have successfully been able to build community, foster change, and enrich children's lives. Engaging Classrooms and Communities through Art provides a comprehensive and accessible guide to the design and implementation of community-based art programs for educators, community leaders, and artists. The book combines case studies with diverse groups across the country that are using different media - including mural arts, dance, and video - with an informed introduction to the theory and history of community-based art. It is a perfect handbook for those looking to transform their communities through art.

Section I. Understanding Community Art
Chapter 1. Introduction to Community Art and Community-Based Art Education
Chapter 2. The Practice of Community Art: From Setting the Stage to Making Art
Chapter 3. The Art Practitioner: Making the most of Opportunities and Challenges
Chapter 4. The Participants: Seeing the Power of Community Art
Chapter 5. The Theory behind the Practice

Section II. Modeling the Practice of Community Art
Chapter 6. Murals
Chapter 7. Photography
Chapter 8. Graphics in Posters and Billboards
Chapter 9. Video
Chapter 10. Dance

Appendices
Appendix A. A Brief History of Murals
Appendix B. A Brief History of Photography
Appendix C. A Brief History of Posters and Billboards
Appendix D. A Brief History of Video
Appendix E. A Brief History of Dance
Appendix F. General Resources

This is an indispensable book for educators, activists, and anyone interested in social justice. Krensky and Lowe Steffen's guide to community-based arts education challenges the notion that art is a luxury reserved for elites and practiced by the gifted. In their hands, art education becomes a democratic, transformative tool for invigorating blighted communities, reducing student dropout and alienation, and inspiring participants to solve social problems. Krensky and Lowe Steffen's clear, step-by-step examples show how to build partnerships between non-artists and professional artists, kids and seniors, and local communities and schools. Engaging Classrooms andCommunities through Art will inspire citizens, politicians and social service agencies to previously unheard of levels of performance, reflection and creation.