Our Mission
To educate people, in particular school-going children, as to the power of art as a means of change within oneself and your community. To inspire children to create and commit images representing matters of concern both as individuals and to the community as a whole
Education
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A key function of art is to educate vulnerable young people who may be affected by such problems as drugs, violence and poverty. Our focus is to give students from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to learn new skills and express their creativity.
While art can be used as an educational tool to inform both observer and participant, art can also be employed as a therapeutic instrument. Used in conjunction with more traditional treatments and recovery programs, different art forms are used to treat issues affecting young people.
Given the expressive and personal nature of art, it can be utilized to encourage communication and help educators reach people who are unable to express their feelings and emotions through verbal communication. The Art Not Violence project , which aims to raise awareness of violence, especially against women and children, is a great example of this. Many of the images are created by participants in sexual assault and domestic violence programs; helping the women involved deal with their own issues, as well as working towards changing cultural attitudes. Social change is both the process and effect of efforts to positively alter societal conditions. It encompasses a range of outcomes—healing, increased awareness, attitudinal change, more diverse and increased civic participation, movement building, and policy change to name just a few. Engaging young people in the arts can help in both transforming individual lives and creating a new generation of artists who may go on to produce important works that raise awareness of the issues they feel passionate about. Socially engaged art encourages change, and/or provide a platform for reflection, collaboration, and building community. It can focus on the residents of a single city block, or reach out to a global audience.
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