The Arts provide a bridge to being heard, sharing one's truth, being connected with others and working to change structural inequities. Elliot Eisner, in his article What Can Education Learn from the Arts highlights 4 key learnings the arts provide:
1) Promotion of self-initiated learning
2) Pursuit of alternative possibilities
3) Intrinsic satisfaction through using one's mind
4) A different way of thinking about and being in the world, which supports voice and empowerment
I'll add a fifth learning, that is that the arts connect us with others through creative means.
How do you include the Arts in your program?
A few ideas:
Listen to music. A few of my faves are Jeremy Dutcher , Leon Bridges , Florence and the Machine, and Morgan Wade
For projects, invite learners to share their ideas via a poem or a painting or a dance. You can always ask for a 1-pager written piece to accompany the chosen art form.
Include culturally-relevant art forms, such as drumming, weaving, chanting
Here is the link to Eisner's article in full. To book a session around ways to integrate the arts into practice e-mail me at REiLlearning@gmail.com