Partners in Arts Participation
ACHF Arts Access
Partnerships are developed between social service organizations and arts organizations to better serve underserved communities. More Minnesotans are able to participate in the arts. Social or human service organizations use arts to help achieve their service goals. Perceived or real barriers to participation are addressed. To evaluate the learning, we hired an evaluation consultant, Blue Sky Consulting, to help create a tool measuring the effect of Monkey Mind Pirates language, characters, and concepts on participating youth. We embedded a reflective drawing activity into program activities. Jointly designed by Z Puppets and Blue Scarf, the “Map to My Island of Calm” instrument allowed participants to reflect in two ways. First, they were instructed to make a map to their Island of Calm, expressing and creating their definitions of calm using the 5 senses. Then, they were instructed to turn the map over and write or draw responses to three reflective questions about how they will know when they need calm, what obstacles might arise and how to deal with those challenges. In the surveys and in-person after the show, parents and guardians commented that their children were sharing these techniques and using the language of Monkey Mind Pirates with them at home to talk about stress.
The Mankato Family YMCA, in partnership with Z Puppets Rosenschnoz and the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, provided 25 low-income youth ages 6-12 with free enrollment in a week-long, multi-disciplinary arts and yoga Monkey Mind Pirates camp, culminating in a public performance. Eighteen of the twenty-five participants were also participants in the YMCA’s Brother/Sister mentoring program that matches at-risk youth with adults to increase their self-confidence, social and communication skills, positive behaviors and help improve relationships at home, school and within the community. Each day, the artists led the participants through sessions combining music, puppetry and mindfulness. With project funds, the YMCA was able to provide each participant with a daily lunch and snack and arranged transportation upon request. Each participant also received a Monkey Mind Pirates CD, workbook, yoga mat, and the puppets they created. Our goal was to provide these children with effective tools for overcoming stress that they can use for the rest of their lives. Most of the kids in the Brother/Sister program are considered “at-risk” because they struggle with extremely difficult circumstances on a daily basis. Many of the participants come from single-parent homes and live below the poverty level. They often do not get the same opportunities as their peers because of financial constraints and lack of transportation. The adult mentors are often looking for activities they can do with the children that will have lasting positive impact. From the YMCA’s experience with this and similar programs, we identified and found temporary solutions for the following barriers: Transportation: the Y provided free transportation to anyone who requested it; Economic: funding made the program free for all participants; Nourishment: lunches and snacks were provided for all participants; Education about stress: Monkey Mind Pirates workshop content provided basic information about specific forms of stress frequently encountered by children, and skills to effectively deal with them. The skills were taught and practiced each day and included yoga, meditation, self awareness and breathing. 2: The project created a partnership between the Mankato Family YMCA, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and Z Puppets Rosenschnoz. The YMCA managed the registration and coordination of facilities, transportation and lunches, in addition to marketing support. The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota provided marketing support, including info about the camp and public performance in their newsletters, social media and posters on site. An intern from Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota also served as a stage manager for the camp and performance to provide continuity for the youth participants. The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota also provided activities for the youth participants for a pre-show pizza party and also pre-show arts activities for the public in the lobby. Z Puppets facilitated coordination of the project administration and marketing, in addition to leading the arts experience and performance.