Cultural and Community Contexts for Art-Making

Cultural and Community Contexts for Art-Making is an intensive cross-cultural travel residency course that introduces the student to the meaning and function of artistic expressions within the communities of the host country or culture. Through on-line readings and portfolio development and on-site interaction in the host culture, participants will dialogue and participate with artists and their music, dance, poetry and art. Participants will gain first hand knowledge of the local cultural world-view, explore models of arts-based mission and service among the poor, and the relationship between culture, art and transformation. Specific attention will be given to cross-cultural skills and the dynamic of culture in community development. Cultural Competency Portfolio and Mapping Project are required.

Course Objectives

• Articulate a clear definition of community, based upon theoretical models, and demonstrate the ability to identify indicators of community through asset-based and needs analysis
• Articulate a working definition of culture and demonstrate the ability to assess cultural traits and their impact on art decision making and experience
• Define cultural differences between cultural and ethnic groups and demonstrate skill in communicating and working in multi-ethnic environments including negotiation and conflict resolution modalities
• Explain how culture impacts a society’s concept of aesthetics, demonstrating aesthetic and functional views of the arts in society and the assets and conflicts to community development
• Exhibit cross-cultural skills in functioning ably in industrial and non-industrial sectors of society.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate growth in cross-cultural communication and art-making skills through a Portfolio of Intercultural Competence.Reflect on arts and community development through a mapping project that demonstrates skills in 1) sketching or photography, 2) assessing local assets, 3) understanding political, socio-economics, and culture through a Mapping Project.
• Participates effectively in art-making interaction and teaching through an arts camp, project or program.

For further information on this course, check out the Culture in Community Contexts site for the August 2012 Colombia trip.