Integrating art into agendas

In social justice work, art and creative expression are often placed in a a support role. Many organizations will sing a song together, but once the music stops, the powerpoint and real content comes out. But if free expression is part of the world you’re trying to create, then it’s important for you to integrate art as more than decoration.

I have been integrating more music into my facilitation, and now use songs to support groups in conflict. With one group we sang a simple opening together, then when the discussion got hard I invited the group back into singing. During this second song, tears began to flow from people’s eyes. The conversation that followed carried more compassion and honesty.

As a byproduct of Colonization and middle-class socialization, external-facing goals have displaced art as a central components of community. But when you dare to integrate artistic practices into your facilitation, you dare to open up your thinking in unexpected ways.

Now I know bringing in art can feel awkward. I feel it in my working class family, who always sing when we get together, but when we go out in public our songs get real quiet. But I have learned that those songs have supported my family think creatively and thrive when crises hit.

So if you want people to think creatively during your sessions, then try using an artistic practice to focus the session. Go for something simple and familiar to you’re group member’s experience at first. And I bet you that soon, they’ll be asking for what new art activity you’ll share with them.

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