Our work in Art and Society seeks to better connect the arts with the lives of various Rhode Island communities and to introduce those who have been traditionally excluded from the arts to the practices of art production. Our programs work in a variety of media and traditions, and many are interdisciplinary, breaking boundaries between the arts and education, health, and community development. The Cast provides high school students and volunteers with space to experiment and create in the theater arts. Students develop skills in play writing, acting, and design as they work toward a public performance. The Cast seeks to encourage imaginative potential, share in the fun of creating, and nurture new ways to communicate.
Teams teach workshops in creative writing, dance and the visual arts.
With the conviction that effective teaching is an art form, volunteers work as a community of learning teachers. The Mount Hope Technology Education Initiative , a partnership with the Mt. Hope Learning Center, works with youth, adults and senior citizens to provide computer training. The program is creating a web site on the history of Mt. Hope including archival research, oral history and documentary work. The pairs share their experiences, offer academic support and engage in art activities. Volunteers and inmates explore the arts as a medium for expression, enjoyment, and personal reflection.