ADVOCACY

Our collaborative, student-generated land acknowledgment welcomes all.

Zoey Graf

Art educators are teachers, learners, community connectors, and creative dreamers. Bringing novel experiences to students is part of our daily work, and we encourage them to take risks, try new things, and share their ideas. We must also embody this adventurous spirit when advocating for the value of art in our communities.

Outdoor Art Opportunities
One powerful way to advocate for your art program is by seeking opportunities that increase the visibility of art-making experiences within the school community. Our two most successful outdoor projects involved unconventional modes of making. Sharing student-created public art with families, neighbors, and the larger community offers a daily visual reminder that art can improve our lives.

For one meaningful project designed to help students better understand the land we live on and the people who first lived here, they designed words and images that were translated into permanent vinyl decals for our front doors. Everyone who arrives at our school immediately connects to this artwork, and visual art becomes an essential welcoming tool. Text and images combine to broaden expectations of what art can be and where it can exist.

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