Arts & Engagement
In a recent column, David Brooks made the case for studying the liberal arts at a time when accounting majors are having the best luck finding work. He talked about the ability of the arts and humanities to tap into emotions inaccessible through other means – a gateway to understanding that which cannot be quantified or deconstructed.
The places we live in can be measured, mapped and analyzed on multiple fronts. But they are also defined by the multiple stories within, by the nature of their landscape, by the motivations of leaders and laborers and by the feelings people carry with them. If we want to plan for and create sound futures for our cities and towns, we need to incorporate the arts and humanities into community building.
The arts build community in many ways. Participating in a great community theater experience can provide self-affirmation, a connection to others, and a sense that there are various ways one can contribute to making your place a great place to live. Restoring the historic theatre on Main Street can help connect people to place and history, create space for new creation and exploration, and contribute to environmental, design and revitalization goals by recycling a building of beauty.
In an increasing number of communities across the country, the arts are going deeper. Arts- or humanities-based civic engagement, according to the Animating Democracy Project, is when, “the artistic process and/or art/humanities presentation provides a key focus, catalyst, forum or form for public dialogue/engagement on the issue. Opportunities for dialogue/engagement are embedded in or connected to the arts experience. In addition, the arts may provide a direct forum to engage in community planning, organizing, (or) activism…”
There have always been artists whose work is inherently political, or whose choices and methods deliberately aim to engage people whose voices are not typically heard. Similarly, there is a long tradition of community-based arts organizations affecting change through the arts in neighborhoods or particular groups related by age, race or ethnicity, or artistic discipline. Many non-profit arts organizations recognize that their success depends on creating community engagement beyond their regular group of members or subscribers. They’ve also recognized the powerful assets at their disposal in the pursuit of this work: the ability of the arts to access people’s feelings and to provide a safe space and a means to express themselves when other methods are intimidating, inaccessible, or inadequate to the task.
When I think of how arts and humanities can contribute to larger transformation in the community, it is directly tied to that emotion. The arts can create a welcoming space for those who may not otherwise be inclined to participate in community processes. When I worked for the Arlington County (VA) Cultural Affairs Division, we partnered with the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development and neighborhood organizations on redevelopment efforts in Nauck. This neighborhood was settled before the Civil War by free blacks, who were later joined by freed slaves and former soldiers who became some of Arlington County's first black landowners. Working with a folklorist, residents told stories in a variety of forums to create a shared oral history. Teens worked with a folklorist as part of a summer jobs program to interview, photograph and videotape neighborhood seniors. The resulting body of work, and the shared experience informed the design of the neighborhood’s central square as well as commercial and residential development. The resulting projects reflected and honored the neighborhood’s character and history. By validating the individual, soliciting and honoring stories, by allowing analogy and representation the arts and humanities can help more people connect.
Other examples of successful programs abound, along with guidance on how to plan, implement and evaluate arts-based civic engagement programs. One such program, Animating Democracy, is in its 12th year of fostering artistic activity that encourages civic dialogue on important contemporary issues. The website provides outstanding tools, including case studies and planning and evaluation resources along with current news: http://www.americansforthearts.org/animatingdemocracy/
The Community Arts Network is a “portal to the field of community arts, providing news, documentation, theoretical writing, communications, research and educational information.” With international content, CAN is a fantastic resource that includes the most experienced people out there working in arts-based community work. www.communityarts.net
Read, be inspired, and tell me what is happening in your neighborhood!
