Making Art, Making Change August 18, 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Media Contact person: Deirdre Visser, Conference Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Home Phone: (415) 647-0370

“Making Art, Making Change”: Catalyst, 2006
August 18-19, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco

Making Art, Making Change is a first-time conference which will bring together 300 diverse participant-learners—from artists to educators, youth, and social activists—to explore the intersections of art, education, and social justice as we work towards tangible, local, positive change.

The event will illustrate the varying ways different artistic disciplines can promote critical thinking, capture and express individual experiences, develop creative ideas, and forge new connections on both the social and intellectual levels. The conference will be held August 18thand19th at the Herbst Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The first night of this unique event, Friday August 18th, will feature performances, storytelling, and calls to action. The following day, August 19th, participants and workshop facilitators will explore how art can answer those calls and move us toward a more just and equitable society. Featured performers and facilitators include poet-laureate of San Francisco, devora major, Oakland-based Destiny Arts, singer/songwriter Hyim, and the San Francisco Mime Troupe. The target audience includes youth workers (educators, teaching artists, arts organizations serving youth), youth, parents, and artists from all over the Bay Area. Together we will address the following questions:

• How can the arts be a medium for building communities and learning to create a just and equitable society?
• Can youth and youth organizations use the arts to effect systemic, long-lasting positive change?
• How can youth contribute to social justice and creating change through their own art-making?

In summary, Making Art, Making Change will broaden our understanding of the dynamic relationships among art, education and positive social change. We hope to see you there!

--Performing Arts Workshop, 2006