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Pandemic Pedagogy Projects

New Artists’ Personal and Professional Development Programs for the Pandemic

The education of artists in the US was already in a state of crisis before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Questions of equity, purpose, the infection of art by capital, and the legacy of colonial systems of thought and education left many to wonder whether an arts education was either viable or valuable. Old institutions struggled with rapidly changing social mores, and the economics of education in America made art school unavailable to all but the most privileged. Initiatives sprang up at arts schools around the country to try and remediate the schools’ shortcomings in ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ - but as fast as these initiatives were launched, deeper levels of the crisis reared their heads, from unsustainable debt accrual by students to the economic exploitation of part time faculty.

Then the pandemic hit, and many of these programs lost one of the last elements of undeniable value in an arts education - the presence of a community of critical peers and supportive teachers. Classes moved online, and thousands of students (and faculty) around the country wondered whether an arts education via video conferences was worth it anymore.

A wave of artists went on leaves of absence, deferred their studies, or simply dropped out, unable to rationalize the cost of an arts education when the classes were moving out of the studio and onto their computers. And beyond graduation, the landscape of arts professions was decimated by the economic devastation of Covid-19. 

This is why we launched the Pandemic Pedagogy Projects - to serve learning-artists whose educational support system were interrupted by the pandemic, and by arts’ institutions insistence on economic ‘normalcy’ even in the midst of global disaster.

TEACHING ARTISTS: DO YOU HAVE AN EXPERIMENTAL COURSE OR CONCEPT THAT YOU THINK WOULD UNIQUELY SERVE ARTISTS DURING THE PANDEMIC? REACH OUT TO US AT INFO@ARTISTSLITERACIES.ORG AND LET’S TALK! WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EXPERIMENTS IN ARTS EDUCATION AND THE CHANCE TO TRY NEW, MORE EQUITABLE MODELS FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND LEARNERS-

PANDEMIC PEDAGOGY 3 is now open for registrations!

Pandemic Pedagogy returns for Fall 2022!

Learn more and apply to the two new courses below.

Note: All participants will receive tuition grants (i.e. free tuition!). There is a $50 deposit, for participant accountability, which will be returned upon successfully completing the course.

ArtWorth - Fall 2022

Apply to ArtWorth here by October 21, 2022

ArtWorth
Online, Nov 1— Dec 20, 2022
Tuesdays 4:00(pm)pst/7:00(pm)est—5:00pst/8:00est + weekly independent mtg
Facilitator: Sakura Kelley

ABOUT:
As artists, is money the enemy? Is money the solution? How do can we develop a sense of worth within our current structures of power? ArtWorth is an experimental, project based, art class that explores questions of money, making and worth. We will cover practical strategies for navigating these questions, including guidance from guest speakers. Working in small groups, participants will develop an "ArtWorth project" to experiment with and define worth and value according to the group's needs and aspirations. A class fund will be available as a starting point for our cohort projects.

More info here

Note: This is a class for artists of color

Queer Photo Camp - Fall 2022

Apply to Queer Photo Camp here

QUEER PHOTO CAMP
Online, Nov 3— Dec 22, 2022
Thursdays 4:00(pm)pst/7:00(pm)est—5:30pst/8:30est
Facilitator: Sakura Kelley
ABOUT:
Do you have a need for new images? Do you want to be encouraged to make new things and work with other image-inclined queer folks of color? Whether being queer is central to your work, if it's a footnote felt but not explicitly seen, or if there's something queer about the way you see the world— this is the class for you! Rainbow technicolor or monochromatic, let's see what's on your mind! This photo-centric class encompasses images made with cameras, phones, screen grabs, scanners, and more. Weekly meetings will consist of discussions, exercises, and sharing new work. Please join us!u tell your story online can make all the difference.

More info here.

Note: This is a class for artists of color

“What’s in the Way: Meditation for BIPOC Artists" is now open for registration (spring 2022) - click above!


PANDEMIC PEDAGOGY 2 - FALL 2021:

Click for more info and to apply!

Click for more info and to apply!


COURSES FROM PANDEMIC PEDAGOGY 1 - WINTER/SPRING 2021