2017-458-E Arts - Carter Hubbard - 2017-18 Arts Grant Agreement

Browse Search

DocuSign Envelope ID:A0B1 EB25-DA83-4024-9927-D69B64746F70 It is the goal of Floraffiti 2018 to encompass more participants from broader parts of Orange County, in addition to the participant partner organizations of 2017, including Boomerang Youth, Inc, and The NC Art Therapy Institute. Additional partnerships are being created with the Chapel Hill Public Library, youth groups in local high schools, PTA Thrift Shop's YouthWorx, Transplanting Traditions, and Chapel Hill Seniors. Floraffiti as a placemaking tool took a minimum four years to catch the eye of the public. 2017 was the first year that Floraffiti, specifically as a placemaking project, was truly widely known. This type of community art project is new and growing to become a tool for personal and community growth. A deepened and broader impact is yet to be realized in regards to the community engagement piece and continuation of this project is warranted to fulfill its reach. In addition to expanding the scope of the project with more people, we are working on including Floraffiti as part of a world-wide event called Si Art D y,April 14th, 2018. It is a day designated to take the time to look at art as a group followed by a discussion of the work, perhaps around lunch. Floraffiti wants to partner with a local arts organization as a host for this event, taking people outside of the gallery and consider art as design in open spaces,temporary and permanent. Community Impact Employing nature as an art form more deeply roots the experiences of workshop participants in addition to sharing their personal stories with the larger community. It was discovered to be a bonding experience for those involved in 2017. Some teens found that they were leaders and others helped those with no experience in gardening. It was an exercise in working together through discussions as the participants planned and designed the words in the sites available, all empowering components of the project. Some of the participants planted words in Spanish, their native language, explaining to the audience the meaning of the word in the context of their spoken word piece performed. Floraffiti would like to continue to foster and engage the cultural diversity that truly represents the community at large. For the adult participants, it was the community reaction, inclusive of post event i remarks that were overheard that made a deep impression. It was the bold and brave stories told by the adults at the Art Therapy Institute that drew strong admiration from the crowd. Some of them were invited to share their stories for the teens at Boomerang. This art form can be used for positive change in communities to address issues socially, and culturally, reaching across lines of difference and expanding the message of tolerance of diversity,fostering and strengthening strong relationships. Sonia Frischemeier, the Director of Operations of Boomerang views this project as a well- rounded opportunity for the teens to develop their voice in public and participate in community service through the integration of engaging cultural arts. She finds this important to the fabric and vitality of the community.