Art Education Creates Connections Through Art

The School of Art at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences is pleased to present art education service learning course exhibition, “Inclusion, Creating Connections Through Art.” 

The one-night only, free exhibition will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at the Fine Arts Center Gallery.

In 2013, the art education department head Angela LaPorte developed an intercession service learning course in collaboration with local nonprofit Life Styles Inc., a community-based program that provides support for adults with mental, physical and/or developmental disabilities.

The course provides future art teachers with a unique opportunity to participate as learners in an inclusive environment alongside Life Styles clients. In turn, the Life Styles clients embrace lessons that inspire and unlock their own creativity.

Lindsay Broshears, director of adult development at Life Styles, said she has seen both groups gain new perspectives that help them become better teachers, students and artists.

This year as course planning began LaPorte envisioned an additional layer of diversity to the class. She wanted to bring in another group to join the students and clients, broadening the scope of how all participants benefit from an intergenerational, inclusion experience.

“We were thrilled when Dr. LaPorte reached out again this year, said Lindsay Broshears director of adult development at Life Styles Inc. “The collaboration between the U of A art education department and Life Styles is a wonderful practice in representation and inclusion.” 

In collaboration with Life Styles, the education staff from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and an art teacher from The New School new curriculum was developed.

The class now hosts students from art education service learning course, clients from Life Styles and a select group of 7th through 9th grade New School art students. 

The course began with a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art where all participants were introduced to the current exhibition, “In the Garden.” This experience set the stage for discussions, inspiration and artwork that features learned lessons and each participants own imaginary garden.

 “The objective is to provide an inclusion experience through art education for participants who have little to no interaction with other age groups or people with disabilities, and discover the value in it for all constituents,” said LaPorte. 

The School of Art invites all to see the creativity created through this course and celebrate all participants from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at the Fine Arts Center Gallery.

This story originally appeared in the University of Arkansas’ Newswire publication. Please visit news.uark.edu for more stories like this.