CAD Reach

Since the fall of 2012, Chicago Art Department has been an Art Department for Perspectives Charter School’s Rodney D. Joslin Campus, leading monthly art programs for middle and high school students. CAD teaching artists meet with a different grade each month, leading a group of 40-60 teens through art making practices. In the fall of 2011 CAD partnered with with Hyde Park Art Center, who now host the workshop series and allowing CAD teaching artists to work with Art Center teaching artists and resources. With art making at the Hyde Park Art Center, students are able to make art in classroom studio art spaces, see professional exhibitions, and interact a working artist community. Here is a Flickr link to see some examples. Many of CAD resident artists have had education goals as part of their residencies, it continues to be a part of a larger learning experience.

With this program CAD is aiming to expand the idea of learning for teaching artists, while also enriching the lives of Chicago youth through art making. Beyond technical skills, students will be encouraged to embrace contemporary social issues and how to address what matters to them. By trying, making, and sharing art, CAD aims to inspire Perspectives students and prepare them for next steps in their lives.

Each of the Pespectives classes offer an opportunity for CAD artists to grow and learn from working in a learning environment. While working with the teens, CAD artists learn about their art practice through teaching others.

While some artists participate looking to improve professionally as educators, many artists choose to participate because it gives them a chance to connect with a younger generation. In this way their is an active mentoring component built into the opportunity.

For more information about Perspectives Charter Schools, please visit perspectivescs.org. For more information about this partnership program, please contact Mike Nourse at [email protected]