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BENCHMARKS: YOUTH SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
BENCHMARKS: YOUTH SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
BENCHMARKS is a comprehensive, student arts residency program that inspires young people to confront major social issues and become engaged citizens through creating large-scale, meaningful artworks created on benches for public exhibition citywide in NYC parks - to effect social change. This program serves up to 800 New York City public school students in grades 5-9 in 36 schools in all five boroughs. Following a summer parks exhibition, the social-action benches are returned to the schools to beautify their school communities.
BENCHMARKS Teaching Artists work alongside classroom teachers to deliver a robust visual arts curriculum that addresses contemporary social issues selected by students (eg., racism, gun violence, gender inequality, drug abuse, homelessness, bullying, pollution), includes visits with distinguished and world renowned Guest Artists, and culminates in the creation and public display of meaningful, issue-based works of art on benches in all five boroughs. This program is aligned with the NYS Learning Standards for Social Studies (middle school) and the NYCDOE Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts.
BENCHMARKS STUDENTS:
BENCHMARKS STUDENTS:
Learn art skills, concepts, and techniques
Explore major social issues through research and discussion
Meet with distinguished and internationally recognized artists
Create large-scale collaborative murals for public exhibition
Participate in a high-profile citywide event and five borough events with dignitaries, artists and press
Gain self confidence, a sense of social responsibility, and strengthen team building skills
Build peer leadership skills through facilitating a peer-to-peer workshop on social action and art
BENCHMARKS INCLUDES:
BENCHMARKS INCLUDES:
In-class Student Instruction to examine the history and practice of public art, examine community social issues and ultimately create a collaborative mural on the surface of a bench
Guest Artist Visits with distinguished artists at studios, galleries and museums
Citywide Event (Washington Square Park) at which students unveil their social-action benches and speak out on major social issues – dignitaries will honor students (press event)
Borough Events take place at the five installation sites (one park in each borough) at which students present their benches (press events)
Peer-to-Peer Workshops in which a select group of students become the teachers and facilitate a social-action arts workshop with an invited class to strengthen peer leadership skills
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