Resources for Facilitators/Teachers
Organizations:
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- Amplifier! – Community website that accepts art submission campaigns of various social issues and distributes the work around the world.
- Beautiful Trouble – Global community network of organizers, artists, trainers, and writers, sharing resources and trainings for social movements and grassroots organizing.
- Ruckus Society – A multi-racial network of trainers dedicated to providing necessary tools, preparation, and support to build direct action for social change movements.
- Advocates for Youth – Youth Activist Toolkit pdf
- Learning for Justice – Resources for students, teachers, and communities to establish human rights and equality for all.
- Center for Artistic Activism – Foundation that helps activists, artists, and organizations to be more effective in bringing about social change. C4AA has resources such as interviews with artistic activists, webinars, training courses, research reports, and more!
- Actipedia – Open-access, user-generated database of creative activism. It’s a place to read about, comment upon, and share experiences and examples of how activists and artists are using creative tactics and strategies to challenge power and offer visions of a better society.
- The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) – A non-profit organization that uses the power of art and design to increase meaningful civic engagement.
- #artmakingchange - research mapping the landscape of socially engaged art practice.
Education Tools and Lesson Plans:
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- Favianna Rodriguez Educational Resources – Webpage of articles, activities, instructional videos, reports, and publications created by activist artist Favianna Rodriguez.
- Learning for Justice: Art and Activism Lesson Plans (K-2, 3-5)
- National Guild for Community Arts Education – Free webinar "Supporting Youth-led Activism through Creative Youth Development"
- Amplifier! Lesson Plan ‘In Pursuit of ____’
- New York Times Article: "The Power to Change the World: A Teaching Unit on Student Activism in History and Today”
- Lesson about laughtivism from Yes Men Organization and how goofy humor can convey serious social issues.
- The Aeffect App – A free online tool from C4AA for planning effective creative social interventions, helping you develop a stronger project and evaluate impact.
Books:
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- Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It by Jamie Margolin – Climate change activist and Zero Hero co-founder Jamie Margolin offers the essential guide to change-making for young people.
- The Guerilla Art Kit: Everything You Need to Put Your Message out into the World (with step-by-step exercises, cut out projects, sticker ideas, templates and fun DIY ideas) by Keri Smith
- The Art of Protest: Culture and Activism from the Civil Rights Movement to the Streets of Seattle by T.V. Reed – One of the best books on the history of art and activism.
- The Dandelion Insurrection Study Guide: Making Change through Nonviolent Action by Rivera Sun (See the entire Dandelion Trilogy)
- Strategic Questioning Manual by Fran Peavey – Strategic Questions are Tools for Rebellion
- Re: Imagining Change: How to Use Story-Based Strategy to Win Campaigns, Build Movements, and Change the World by Doyle Canning & Patrick Reinsborough – This book provides resources, theory, and hands-on tools for the next generation of innovation changemakers. This is an inspirational and practical book with the methodology developed by the Center for Story-based Strategy.
- Strategic Questioning Manual by Fran Peavey – Strategic Questions are Tools for Rebellion
- Engaging Classrooms and Communities Through Art: A Guide to Designing and Implementing Community-Based Art Education by Beth Krensky and Seana Lowe Steffen – This book is a comprehensive guide to design and implement community-based art programs for educators, community leaders, and artists.
- Social Justice Art: A framework for Activist Art Pedagogy by Marit Dewhurst – An examination of why art is an effective way to engage students in thinking about the role they might play in addressing social injustice.
- Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde and John Parra (Children’s Picture Book)
- Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders and Jared Andrew Schorr (Children’s Picture Book)
- List of Art & Activism Books from Morningside University https://morningside.libguides.com/art-activism/books
- Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom by Matthew R. Kay – This book helps prepare teachers to initiate and facilitate meaningful and productive dialogues about race within the classroom through practical strategies to engage students. Kay argues that high school classrooms are one of the best places to have these conversations and offers methods and guidance for getting them right.
- Beginner’s Guide to Community Based Arts by Mat Schwarzman – illustrated training manual for youth and adults to show the power of arts for social change.
- Tim Rollins and K.O.S: A History by Ian Berry – interviews, history, and catalog of works created by Tim Rollins and the Kids of Survival.
- Towards a Promised Land – This book documents Wendy Ewald’s work with 22 children new to the British seaside in the town of Margate.
- The Best Part of Me – A picture book showcasing the question Wendy Ewald asked several children, “What is the best part of you?”, and presents their answers in a deeply personal book with black-and-white photographs taken by the author. And ideal book for teachers to use to discuss body image, self-esteem, and diversity with children.
- America Border Culture Dreamer : The Young Immigrant Experience from A to Z – First and second generation immigrants to the US from all around the world collaborate with renowned photographer Wendy Ewald to create a stunning and surprising catalog of their experiences from A to Z.
- In Peace and Harmony : Carver Portraits – This book documents Wendy Ewald’s collaborative public art installation, in which she worked with a group of elementary students in Richmond, Virginia. The project culminated in the display of 29 billboard-sized portraits hanging in outdoor locations across the neighborhood, each marked with the students’ own words in their own hands. This book documents the process and installation giving an insider view of this powerful project.
Important Activist Artists and Their Work:
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- Ai Weiwei – Chinese artist and activist, whose work includes sculpture, installations, architectural projects, photographs, and videos.
- Banksy – Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed. His work features satirical street art and subversive epigrams which have appeared on streets, walls, and bridges throughout the world.
- Favianna Rodriguez – Interdisciplinary artist, cultural organizer, and social justice activist based in Oakland, California. Her art addresses social migration, gender justice, climate change, racial equity, and sexual freedom.
- Shepard Fairey – Frank Shephard Fairey is an American street artist, graphic designer, illustrator, and activist.
- Tania Bruguera – Cuban installation and performance artist whose work is about social issues of power, and control.
- Faith Ringgold – American artist known best for her narrative quilts, Faith Ringgold is a painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, and performance artist and her work covers the social issues of racial justice and feminism. To date, she also has illustrated 17 children’s books including the award-winning Tar Beach in 1991.
- Zaria Forman – American artist known for hyper-realistic pastel drawings that document climate change. She travels to remote regions of the world to collect images and inspiration for her work which is exhibited worldwide. Her goal is to help people experience the sublimity of these environmentally sensitive landscapes, so they will be inspired to protect and preserve them.
- Edward Burtynsky – Canadian Photographer known for large-format photographs of industrial landscapes. His work depicts locations from around the world that represent the increasing development of industrialization and its impacts on nature and human existence.
- Guerrilla Girls – An anonymous group of feminist female artists fighting sexism and racism within the art world.
- Suzanne Lacy – Renowned pioneer in socially engaged and public performance art. Her installations, videos, and performances deal with sexual violence, poverty, incarcerations, labor, and aging.
- Tim Rollins and K.O.S – A history of artwork produced by Tim Rollins and the kids of survival.
Other Misc. Resources:
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- The Commons Social Change Library – Online collection of educational resources for campaign strategies, community organizing, digital campaigning, fundraising, diversity, and more!
- Ted Talk Videos about Art and Activism – Playlist of videos about how art can grab attention, send a message, and make a statement for social change.
- Tate Museum Activist Art – Collection of activist art that is grounded in various political and social issues.
- List of 25 community arts projects – A worldwide list.
- Guide to Social Change Led by and With Young People – This is a guide from the University of Nebraska by Adam Fletcer and Joseph Varvus. This publication is for anyone wanting to learn about the powerful trends in social change led by young people.