A Message from our Executive Director Growing up in California’s Central Valley, neither of the two elementary schools in my small, rural town offered an arts education program like Art in Action. In school, I recall art being one of the two “free time” choices - art or reading - a self-guided, quiet activity to fill the time after you have completed your in-class work while your classmates finished their assignments. I always chose reading. Reading offered me the ability to learn about the world beyond my tiny hometown. I was introduced to cultures that were foreign to me, and the stories made me wonder about life as a kid in another country. Little did I know that learning about art could spark the same wonderment about different cultures. Participation in the arts helps children to develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills by exposing them to different cultures and experiences beyond their own family or community. This encourages children to gain a different perspective, fostering empathy and understanding. Cultural awareness, cultural appreciation, and empathy are predominant themes in Art in Action’s new “Art in Cultural Understanding” lesson line. I am excited to share more about these lessons as we launch them in 2020. Now, I invite you to read an article written by former Art in Action intern and Peace Corps volunteer, Hannah Baker, as she speaks about the creation of our newest lesson: |
