We Are

Goal: employ 8 arts professionals - Arts professionals, all of whom have significant connections to the Northside, have been engaged.
Goal: engage 24 local residents in creative production - partially achieved and still in process.
Goals: foster community connections by hosting a series of creative workshops around themes of cultural identity; and provide safe conversation and work space for 4 teams of creatives -
Stage 2 (Idea Formation) workshops are scheduled for Jan 21, Feb 11, Mar 4, and one TBD. Stage 3 (Development) workshops are scheduled for Feb 18, Mar 11, Mar 18, and Apr 8.
Goals: lead artists will acquire or enhance skills in creative design; work collaboratively to plan workshops, and identify goals and production strategies; use network connections to engage the community in the project and to recruit participant creatives from the community; seek input from the community about project direction and development -
A good deal of planning was done in the late fall, in group sessions and in one-on-one sessions. Arts professionals have outlined strategies and methodologies for workshops and are using networking connections to recruit participants. This involves connecting to identifiable community groups and personal networks. Witness is assisting with outreach with flyers at community venues and through local community news outlets.; Employed 8 arts professionals to facilitate creative workshops; engaged 25 local residents in creative production of posters. Hosted five creative workshops around themes of cultural identity, providing safe conversation and work space. Idea Formation and Development workshops were held on Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 4, Mar 11, and Mar 18. A final development workshop was held on June 5. Lead artists acquired/enhanced skills in creative design; worked collaboratively to plan workshops and identify goals and production strategies; used network connections to engage the community in the project and to recruit participant creatives from the community; sought input from the community about project direction and development. In conversation with the project administrator and other lead artists, arts professionals outlined strategies and methodologies for workshops and used networking connections with identifiable community groups and personal networks to recruit participants. Witness assisted outreach with flyers at community venues and through local community news outlets. To date, output has met or exceeded expectations. A total of thirty-four posters were produced. Additional work was created for and included in a booklet collection of artwork, prose, and poetry. Posters and poster books are being distributed at Sumner Library, North Central Library, UROC, Homewood Studios, and other locations of participant creatives' choosing. A celebration and recognition of participants' work will take place early in the fall. One measurable impact of the project has been in the number of engaged participant creatives. Twelve of the twenty-five participants report never having previously participated in a community-engaged arts project. Our hope is that people who view the posters and peruse the poster booklet will take away some new insights.