CURRENT, UPCOMING, & PAST PROJECTS
Visioning the Future of the Creative Equity Fund (2023 - 2024)
A collaborative initiative with the Seattle Foundation that aims to drive systemic change in Seattle's arts and culture sector by reevaluating and refining the goals of the Creative Equity Fund to align with evolving needs and opportunities. This project fosters a culture of continuous learning, promotes inclusivity, and seeks to streamline grant processes and facilitate grantee feedback. It also emphasizes the importance of measurable progress, storytelling, and the integration of artifacts to enhance the learning experience and create a more inclusive arts and culture landscape in the city.
Summer Residency Program (2021 - 2024)
Creative Generation launched its own Summer Residency program in June 2021, which aspired to mentor new professionals with the necessary tools, training, and resources to change the landscape for the future. With our commitment of honoring diversity and enabling radical inclusion and recognizing the negative impacts of traditional internship structures, we desired to work with individuals from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the sectors in which the organization works. Here, residents would develop specific skills applicable in arts and culture, education and youth development, and social and policy change. Additionally, honing their commitments to and clarity of identity and values, skills in written communication, presentation for learning, research, project management, and media/artistic practice.
Social Justice Arts Education (2021 - 2024)
Creative Generation’s foundational research identified the need for a paradigm shift in pedagogy to more effectively cultivate creativity in youth. This shift - as observed through the practices of artistic, cultural, and creative education programs around the world - requires the deep integration of arts-based pedagogies with civic and social practices. Beginning in 2020, the organization explored this through a series of activities including a paper, crafting teacher education curricula, and conducting workshops for both educators and students understand and advocate for Social Justice Arts Education (SJAE), which advances the cultivation of creativity and cultural diversity whilst encouraging learners to use imagination and creativity to envision possible futures for themselves, their communities, and the world.
PAST
Responsive & Community Engaged Forecasting (2022 - 2023)
The Appell Center for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in York, Pennsylvania has a mission to inspire, educate and entertain through professional performing arts experiences that bring together York County’s diverse voices. Further, the Education & Community Engagement wing of the organization set forth its intent to serve as a cultural hub in York. In the summer of 2022, ACPA worked with Creative Generation to to convene residents throughout York County, Pennsylvania — virtually and in-person — to learn about the ways they engage civically, creatively, and interpersonally with the arts, arts education, and the Appell Center and its theatres. Across conversations and responses, there was a recurring sentiment that the arts landscape is dominated by programming for older, white audiences with financial means. In general, the public is seeking transparency and trust and to engage in meaningful collaboration with ACPA as a welcoming spaces.
Responsive Review of Practice (2023)
Between May and August 2023, the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and Creative Generation embarked on a project to document and consolidate the best practices in virtual arts learning observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative involved gathering insights from SEADAE members and provided guidance for creating virtual arts learning opportunities, integrating technology into standards, and developing standards-based assessments. The research focused on understanding the evolution of technology in arts education, from pre-pandemic practices to changes necessitated by the crisis, and identified key practices to retain in a post-pandemic world. The research highlighted the resilience of arts educators and stressed the importance of continued technological integration, collaboration, professional development, digital access, diversity, and equity in arts education. The findings underlined the significance of student involvement, professional development, technology adoption, inclusivity, and the use of open-source resources and community collaboration. By embracing these recommendations, the arts education community can create a more inclusive, technologically enriched environment, fostering creativity and inclusivity in the digital age while ensuring equitable access to the arts for all students.
Case-Making & Systems Change in
Arts and Cultural Education (2021- 2022)
A collaborative project between Creative Generation and ElevateArtsEd emerged to better understand how practitioners - such as artists, educators, community leaders, and more - can make the case for and also advocate through arts and cultural education to drive systemic change and address the complex challenges faced by communities. This project seeks to learn from the arts as well as other sectors about the characteristics of effective advocacy and how to utilize these lessons to inform ongoing efforts. The foundation of this work represents both the science of advocacy - building blocks for understanding what effective advocacy looks like - and the art of advocacy with calls for improvisation, adaptability, and generative thinking, all characteristics of art-making.
Designing New Futures for Arts Integration (2022)
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art launched an exploratory phase of work, alongside Creative Generation and WolfBrown, to seize this critical moment as an opportunity to explore how the arts can support learning through arts integration. The exploratory phase aimed to address how the arts can foster learning, creativity and engagement as well as academic, social, and emotional wellbeing for students in a post-pandemic education landscape. The exploratory phase of work culminated in a two-day convening in Bentonville, Arkansas on October 3 & 4, 2022. The event was attended by 55 guests with a wide range of perspectives including high school and college students, artists, teachers, teaching artists, school administrators, after-school arts programs, museum staff, foundations, and government officials, as well as researchers and experts in education policy and entrepreneurship.
Reinventing Strong Practices (2022)
A project of the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with WolfBrown and Creative Generation, that fosters a community of learning amongst teaching artists in Philadelphia schools in which we celebrate current practices but inspire future curiosity.
Ethnographic Research Initiative (2021 - 2022)
Given the current socio-political climate of the U.S. at the time of this research, as well as the pervasive lack of understanding about the Black experience around the world, the need for Afrocentric cultural awareness has never been greater. As part of the Black Teaching Artist Lab’s (BTAL) Ethnographic Research Initiative, BTAL and Creative Generation co-created a research strategy to evaluate and compile research by, for, and about Black teaching artists in the U.S. and field a national study to better understand the demographic composition of this community of practice and elevate their attitudes and perceptions about their work to drive important dialogue. This report combines the findings of desk and field research with analysis and perspectives from the Black teaching artists, educators, and cultural practitioners on the research team on three primary topics: 1) The Importance of Community, 2) Cultivation of Black-Centered Spaces, and 3) Discrimination within the U.S. Education and Cultural Systems.
Diversity Task Force Facilitation & Documentation (2021 - 2022)
From September 2021 to February 2022, the Bloomingdale School of Music (BSM) collaborated with Creative Generation to initiate and document the activities of its Diversity Task Force. This dedicated group of individuals within the Task Force worked on creating a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at shaping BSM's future strategic plan. Creative Generation facilitated a series of virtual meetings that emphasized community-building, knowledge sharing, and diverse engagement methods in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion within arts and music education. The resulting recommendations spanned five key areas, including General Budget, Professional Education & Learning, Marketing & Outreach, Programming, and Human Resources & Operations, providing invaluable guidance for BSM's strategic planning. The project also underscored the significance of ongoing reflection and learning, encouraging BSM to continue these practices to deepen their comprehension of the complex topics addressed in the recommendations.
Youth Right Now = Truth Right Now (2021)
Creative Generation embarked on a venture that observed the Teaching Artists Guild (TAG), a member-driven organization that supports teaching artists, and their newly constructed program entitled, Youth Right Now = Truth Right Now. While there are many professional development workshops for teaching artists (TAs) throughout the country, there are very few opportunities for TAs to learn from the young people they serve. By showcasing BIPOC youth leaders, TAG reiterated that centering the work means recognizing the injustices that have been built into our system. The end result of the Youth Right Now = Truth Right Now project was an archive of five workshop videos, with associated blog posts, and this cumulative reflection to give insight into what helps build creative, nurturing and thriving environments for young artists.
Creative Youth & Community Development (2020)
Commissioned by ArtPlace America and led by Creative Generation, seeks to explore the intersections of arts & culture, community development, and youth development through community-based, youth- and practitioner-led research. In 2020, the initiative produced a series of web-based tools and resources created by and for practitioners operating in this intersecting space.
Learn More.
We Can't Go Back (2020 - 2021)
From August to December 2020, the Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie podcast and Creative Generation collaborated with twenty-two inspiring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, educators, and community activists through the “We Can’t Go Back.” The interviews aggregated leadership strategies, educational tools, and an archive of the stories of BIPOC professionals whose work took action - inspired by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other countless victims at the hands of police - to further community understanding, counteract White Supremacy, and disassemble anti-Blackness in cultural and educational systems. This cumulative reflection highlights the many anti-racist, liberatory, and intersectional feminist practices, strategies, and fundamental shifts in arts and cultural work – both pedagogical and institutional – to reimagine a future to which the arts education field may move toward. Readers are invited to pause and reflect on the question: If we can't go back, where do we go from here?
PAST
Audience Outlook Monitor (2020 - 2021)
The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) commissioned WolfBrown to conduct its COVID-19 Audience Outlook Monitor study with a cohort of arts and cultural organizations in the Pittsburgh region. The COVID-19 Audience Outlook Monitor is designed to help organizations understand how and when audiences and visitors will feel safe attending in-person events and how they are engaging with arts organizations during closures. The study is also being deployed through cohorts of arts organizations in other cities across the U.S. and internationally.
Learn More.
Community Discussions (2020)
The Arts Council made a commitment to do more for our Black arts community in a Statement of Solidarity on Black Lives Matter. These commitments included the creation of a Black Arts Action Committee (BAAC). The BAAC would be a paid council (five people at the outset) of Black arts leaders, arts professionals, and artists that will help us better understand how the Arts Council and the arts community can support and work with the Black arts community. A BAAC member will also sit on the GPAC Board of Directors. Developing this committee included identifying interested individuals to hear and learn from Community Discussions, which took place on November 17th, 2020 via Zoom.
Topics of discussion at the Community Discussion included identifying resources needed to advance Black artists, arts organizations, and art forms; identifying necessary changes within the Arts Council and/or the arts community in Greater Pittsburgh; identifying intentional ways to keep Black staff and visitors safe; providing more financial support for Black artists, individuals, and organizations; among other topics.
We cultivated an audience of 70 individuals from internal recommendations from GPAC staff and board members (including members, program and network participants, grant panelists, grant awardees, Network for Arts Administrators of Color, Coalition for Racial Equity, etc) and external sources including organizations that GPAC has a relationship with, invited program officers at specific funders (Heinz, Opportunity Fund, Pgh Foundation, RAD) and leadership at entities like - 1Hood Media; Arts in HD; Young Black Pittsburgh; Cocoapreneur; Boom Concepts; MCG; Kelly Strayhorn Theater; Neighborhood Allies; Office of Public Art; Bridgeway Capital; University of Pittsburgh, Pt. Park University, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, and others. In addition, GPAC sent invitations to the Advancing Black Arts mailing list.
During the conversations, there were two forms of interaction: Breakout and Full Group Discussions
All participants were paid $25 for their time.
Working Groups (2020 - 2022)
Born out of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for similar organizations and arts administrators to share resources, discuss common issues, and connect with the arts community virtually. These meetups have continued to provide camaraderie for arts professionals in the region. Individuals of any career stage – intern to executive leadership – are welcome to join! All groups are currently meeting virtually.
Programming Plan (2022)
A fresh set of eyes entered the Arts Council in 2020 as the world collectively questioned current systems, leading to redesign. Here, various lived experiences were being recognized through intentional consideration compared to the limiting status quo. What a perfect moment to start at an organization when your position is both new and demands innovation. To hold true towards meaningful collaboration and transformation, it requires a 360 mindset; connecting the past, present and future. This solicited three specific actions towards understanding the arts ecosystem through internal and external perspectives. First, staff listening sessions were composed of hour-long meetings with individual programmers or departments to share their thoughts on how programming operates and coexists with the rest of the organization, including their desires on how these items should function. From these thoughts, recommendations were crafted to optimize programming. Second, monthly programming meetings to evoke consistent conversations upon programming frameworks, where selected staff come together to address current issues. Third, town halls with the general public, artists and arts organizations were conducted to hear how they view the arts environment and our programming, which also captured their desires on how these items should function. This action in particular has prompted ongoing conversations with staff on how to be accountable to our findings. From these specific interactions at the Arts Council and beyond, important nuggets of wisdom have emerged to inform the new era of programming.
Town Halls (2022)
André Solomon (Manager of Programs), Sarah Schreck (Manager of Marketing) and Morgan Kasprowicz (Manager of Research and Special Projects) collaborated in town hall design. Being a privilege to hear community voices, these events would embody meaningful engagement and mutual respect. Their efforts generated thoughtful timeframes, questions and communications to invite feedback that would support the foundation for Pittsburgh’s arts and cultural practices for years to come. It is important to note that these Town Halls were held in tandem with surveys intended to allow for an additional method of feedback.
Learn More: Process, Uncovering Findings, & What’s Next?