The CityArts Values
At CityArts, love and connection are at the heart of what we do
“Let’s get to the heart of what we are really about — inviting people to love each other. There is no other message, no other way. When you and I are gone, the way we will be remembered is by how much we loved others.”- Sister Ann Keefe, CityArts Founder
We create art as an act of care, love, and respect to express our ideas, celebrate our humanity, and make sense of our complex world
We discover through play, joyful exploration, and deep inquiry, unique perspectives different from our own and the possibilities of our imaginations
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We connect with one another as artists through our unique experiences, art making, and the desire to build a better world
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We honor and care for ourselves: Where we’re from, who we are, and where we’re going
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We learn by respecting, embracing and sharing our diverse cultures, diverse abilities, and diverse perspectives
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We ask and reflect upon critical questions about the social issues affecting our communities and unique identities
The CityArts Cycle
The CityArts Cycle maps out the seven key elements of a CityArts curriculum. Teaching Artists use this as a framework for curriculum design. The Cycle ties all CityArts workshops together, no matter the discipline, Teaching Artist or location. The CityArts Cycle is inspired by National Core Arts Standards, The ArtsLiteracy Project Performance Cycle, and The Design Thinking Process, and can be integrated into Literacy, STEAM, visual and performing arts classes.
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Connect: Young Artists develop connections with: one another, their Teaching Artist mentors, the subject matter and themes being explored in their classrooms, art, and their communities. All other elements of the CityArts cycle relate back to connection making.
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Build a Safe Space: Teaching Artists work to create a trusting community that is rooted in mutual respect where student ideas, feelings, and abilities are validated.
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Discover: A diverse variety of techniques and resources that demonstrate past and present art traditions are introduced and help Young Artists gain inspiration and develop new perspectives.
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Ideate: Students are given time to work independently and in groups in order to come up with project ideas using a variety of processes.
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Create: Young Artists put skills into action as they work with a variety of tools to make art on independent and collaborative projects.
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Evolve & Reflect: Young Artists take a critical look at their projects, observe their peer’s work, and offer feedback. They take new perspectives into account as they further develop projects.
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Present & Celebrate: Programs end with a celebration to showcase final work to families, friends, and communities. Demonstrations are seen as leadership opportunities, as they spread awareness about workshop content and inspire audiences.