Social action projects involve
students in addressing real-world problems by working
to understand the issues
involved and to contribute constructively to a solution. Art can be used
in these settings as a catalyst to
healing, raising public awareness, or
political activism. Social action projects are a wonderful way to teach
students the value of helping others
and to show them how art can make
a difference in people’s lives. These
sites point to engaging social action
projects and ways to connect your
students to the needs of others.
Empty Bowls
www.emptybowls.net
The Empty Bowls project invites
participants to create ceramic bowls
for use in serving a simple meal of
soup and bread at a public fundraising event. Guests choose a
bowl to use that day and keep as
a reminder that there are always
empty bowls in the world. In
exchange for a meal and a bowl,
guests are asked to give a minimum
donation of ten dollars. All money
raised under the name of Empty
Bowls must be used for fighting
hunger. For example, meal sponsors
may choose a local hunger-fighting
organization to receive the money
collected. Visit the Empty Bowls site
to learn how your students can participate in this project.
The Memory Project
www.thememoryproject.org
In the Memory Project, started by
Ben Schumaker, advanced high
school and university level art
students create original portraits
of children living in orphanages
around the world. The portraits are
then sent to the children as a personal keepsake that provides them
with a memory of their childhood
and helps to honor their cultural
heritage and identity. On the project site, you can browse a gallery of
finished portraits, see photos of participating students and orphans, and
find out how your students can get
involved in the project.
The New Orleans
Kid Camera Project
www.kidcameraproject.org
The New Orleans Kid Camera Project was created by Cat Malovic and
Joanna Rosenthal to address the
psychological and emotional impact
of Hurricane Katrina on children
returning home to New Orleans.
Through this project, young people
are given the opportunity to learn a
host of skills that they use to document their communities and tell
their stories through photography
and video. The project site includes
galleries of the kids’ photographs,
video podcasts, blogs, project information, news items, a mailing list,
and a page that describes different
ways to contribute to the project.
Film Your Issue
www.filmyourissue.com
Film Your Issue is an annual movie-making competition that encourages young people, ages sixteen to
twenty-five, to add their voices to
public dialogue on issues of concern
by producing thirty-to-sixty-second
“issue films.” While your students
may not actually participate in the
contest, you’ll find a number of
exceptional student-made movies
on this site to inspire your students to speak up about important
issues through film. There are also
guidelines and tips on making short
films, plus information on registering for the competition.
The Power of One
www.powr1.org
The Power of One is a student
organization, started in Florida’s
Broward County Public Schools,
designed to empower students to
become change agents and to make
a difference in the world. The group
encourages students to research
social issues and to start questioning what they can do to make a difference in the lives of other people.
Their website provides student
videos on hunger, poverty, unemployment, and other social issues;
suggestions on places to volunteer
and ways to help others; and information on joining the organization
and starting up a local Power of One
group.
Craig Roland is an associate professor of
art education in the School of Art and Art
History at the University of Florida in
Gainesville, Florida. He is the author of
The Art Teacher’s Guide to the Internet
(Davis Publications, 2005). rolandc@ufl.
edu
