ART 392 2E - Community Art Practicum

3 Credit(s)

This course explores how studio artists, art therapists, art historians, and art educators join with community partners to create art programs that strengthen and nurture communities. Particular emphasis is placed upon the role of art and artists as they participate in and act upon the community as leaders from an environmental perspective. Students will be challenged to critically examine their understandings of community from an ecosystems perspective as well as how they form, attend to, and act as stewards in their relationship with the natural world as artists. Students will work individually or in pairs to develop and implement a community-based art project which integrates community art goals with the principles of an environmental studies approach. As a class, students will prepare and sponsor an on-campus art workshop for a selected community partner. Students will also explore course topics and objectives selected to provide an understanding of the social, economic, political, geographic, and other factors that influence access to and shape community beliefs, practices and values in art programming. Course also requires an off-campus practicum of 3 1/2 hours/week for 15 weeks.

Course Fee: $35
Prerequisite(s): COR 1 or equivalent; sophomore status, a major or minor in the Art Department, and consent of instructor.