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Artist Stipend Now
Offered!
ArtCorps will
provide each 2009 volunteer with a small stipend to reduce personal
costs. Applications are now accepted!
Click here to learn more and to
apply now!
Help spread the
word! |
Preparing Your Application
To have the best chance
possible at becoming an ArtCorps Artist, gain as much experience as
you can in the following areas:
*Spanish
language
*Community-based art
*Popular education
*Community
organizing
*Cross-cultural adaptation
Consider taking a
course with the Cornerstone Theater Institute
or any of the organizations on the Community Arts Network.
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Contact Info
ArtCorps
www.artcorp.org
+1 (978)
927-2404
artcorps@nebf.org
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New Year
Momentum
Fueled by 2007 successes and reflections,
ArtCorps
has launched into 2008 with new momentum. Read about our
new partner organizations, new artists and new funders below!
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Countdown to Liftoff
8 :: Our 2007 partner organizations
plan for 2008.
"Through art, we can improve
community participation," they agree. ArtCorps artists "bring
new ideas to strengthen our organization's activities and
influence social problems in the community." The Riecken
Foundation, Asociación Manglé, and Fundahmer commit to
receiving new artists in 2008, and after 7 years with
ArtCorps, Save the Children Guatemala forges a partnership
to continue art for social action work with local artists.
7 :: Three new
institutional funders step in to support ArtCorps'
growth.
The Ford Foundation asks ArtCorps to
strengthen the work of an existing grantee. Guatemala's
largest private foundation, the Paiz Foundation, invests in
ArtCorps' commitment to its country. Art Ventures supports
artists empowering women and children.
6 :: ArtCorps welcomes four
inspiring new partner organizations.
World Neighbors
MesoAmerica supports the transformation of communities by
training local people to address hunger, poverty, disease and
other challenges that undermine their livelihoods, and by
inspiring lasting leadership and collective action for change.
The Association of Forest
Communities of the Petén "manages the rainforest with
social justice," facilitating and guiding sustainable
community management of forest assets and acting as the
primary political advocate for community forestry management.
The  Guatemalan office of Wildlife Conservation
Society is a returning partner, having received artists in
2005 and 2006. Sistema Atitlán is
charged with protecting the cultural and natural riches of
Guatemala's Lago Atitlán area and with empowering local people
to transform these riches into sustainable economic
opportunity.
5 ::
ArtCorps recruits 8 strong artists for 2008:
Theater artist Robyn Saxer from
California; visual artist Kate Sanders-Fleming
from Providence, Rhode Island; visual artist Laura Smith from
Massachusetts; visual artist Michael Kirby from
Baltimore, Maryland; theater artist Cristian Beltrán from
Valparaíso, Chile; visual artist Andrea Pérez from
Quito, Ecuador; visual artist Brenda Cleary from
Denver, Colorado; and visual artist Alayna Wool from
Baltimore, Maryland. Click on their names to visit their
blogs.
4 :: It is
difficult for the 2007 artists to say goodbye after connecting
with communities deeply through their projects:
a
Maya Mural recuperating Mayan values; art therapy with women
about gender discrimination and with youth about the call of
migrating north to the United States; countless painting
workshop in schools around personal hygiene, healthy eating,
and care for the natural environment; trainings for NGO
employees on relating to children through creative activities; and more. "Now that I have a
better understanding of the process and the cycle you go
through, I would do it again. I think Guatemala has more
positive development to come. I would love to continue being a
part of that growth by bringing more art into rural
communities," says one artist, "As for the future I feel like
I can accomplish anything."
3 :: Our 2007 artists reflect upon
achievements and challenges.
Comparing notes, they
discover that each artist's experience is different, and they
encourage ArtCorps to invest further in clarifying
expectations for each individual placement and to provide
training to their NGO counterparts on how to work with
community-based artists.
2 :: Alumna Aryeh Shell, ArtCorps
board and staff design our first ever joint artist and NGO
training, to take place in January 2008.
For four
days, artists will form a team and explore local culture and
history, popular education and community organizing
techniques,  and the process through which
community-based art supports these. On the fifth day,
artists and their NGO counterparts will meet for the first
time and explore the possibilities that art offers to each
organization under the guidance of ArtCorps staff.
1 :: Partner
organizations prepare housing and food arrangements for the
artists, as the artists research their host communities,
brainstorm projects ideas, pack their bags, and say goodbye to
friends and family.
Liftoff!
Artists, NGOs and
staff kick off the 2008 program in Antigua, Guatemala at the
training session, generously hosted by the Riecken
Foundation. Days are full and tiring but enriching.
Nohé from Asociación Manglé says, "It is good to meet and
share experiences with other organizations that are working
with artists--to know that we are not alone, that there are
more people and organizations fighting alongside us."
What's
next
Stay tuned to read about the work that unfold
during the year at each field site.
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