Around the world, various organizations use art and culture as tools for social inclusion and community development. Through volunteering, these entities promote creativity and access to artistic education in vulnerable communities. This article explores 4 international entities that use art as the common thread in their work.
Free Arts Los Angeles: from trauma to triumph
Based in Los Angeles (United States), Free Arts LA uses art as a means of expression and recovery for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or situations of vulnerability. Through 1:1 mentoring programs and creative workshops, a group of 225 volunteers work with young people to strengthen their self-esteem and emotional skills. Its objective is to promote the resilience, empowerment and personal growth of all its students between 5 and 18 years old.
The programs they offer not only focus on children in underserved communities, but also support those in hospitals who do not have access to arts programs.
You can take a look at their work here.
Arts Collaboratory: artistic networks for change
Arts Collaboratory is a transnational program that has a total of 25 arts organizations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. With a focus on collaboration and experimentation, Arts Collaboratory fosters social innovation through arts and culture, providing resources and opportunities for emerging artists.
Its main objective is to explore the potential between working together in the creation of art and social transformation.
Among the most important areas we find the renewal of the initial models of the project. Methodologies that focus on working with art from different parts of the world; resulting in a translocal collectivism.
You can take a look at their work here.
Rock Paper Scissors Children's Fund: the Hear My Voice Program
This non-profit entity provides help to girls in the most rural areas of Vietnam. It offers art classes throughout the year for a total of 134 girls, providing them with a creative space where they can freely express their dreams and challenges. The community that is created provides the girls with friendships; They have weekly classes with the help of mentors.
Teachers and mentors, in addition to teaching classes, visit girls and their families in their homes to understand and address their educational needs.
You can take a look at their work here
The Ludwig Foundation of Cuba: an inspiring environment for artists
The Ludwig Foundation was created in 1995 by Peter and Irene Ludwig, and is located in Havana, Cuba. The mission proposed by the creators of the Foundation was to give a voice to Cuban artists; who could carry out research work and apply the use of new technologies in their art.
It is a foundation that focuses on creating a bridge between the community of Cuba and other places in the world. They do this through programs that include performances, festivals, exhibitions, courses, seminars, scholarships, grants...
You can take a look at their work here
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