Introduction to Arts Administration Community Class Projects
Florida State University Art Education students in the Introduction to Arts Administration (ARE4930) course planned a series of amazing projects that took place during Market Wednesdays to engage the study body.
During Market Wednesday on April 6, 2016, students in Section 1 Group A of the Introduction to Arts Administration course put on “Splash the Stigma Away”. This artistic project included paint, balloons, and fun! The project was in support of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). The FSU chapter of NAMI will also attended the event.
The activity allowed participants to create art with their friends and peers at FSU, while at the same time engaging in art therapy to release the burdens of mental illness stigmas. The end goal of the activity was to have a piece of art created by the Florida State University community that works to eliminate said stigmas. This project effectively coincides with the mission of both NAMI Tallahassee and NAMI FSU that promotes the awareness of mental illness.
The base of this project is a canvas with mental illness stigmas written across it. People were able to write down the mental illness that they personally connect with onto a paint filled balloon. Then they created art by throwing the balloon while at the same time releasing their hold on whatever it was they wrote down.
Section 1 Group A chose NAMI because of their close affiliation with it. Each member of the group has a connection to mental illness and are passionate in working to eliminate mental illness stigmas.
Students in Section 1 Group B promoted Sustainable Tallahassee on April 13, 2016, the following Market Wednesday. Sustainable Tallahassee is an organization whose mission is to create a sustainable community through education, networking, and promoting the “green industry”. As a group, Group B believes in Sustainable Tallahassee’s mission and chose to hold an event called “Picture a Sustainable Tallahassee” to support this organization and their goals. This event supported Sustainable Tallahassee’s mission to create a community that is more environmentally aware. The community project group aimed educate the Florida State University student body through informational flyers at Market Wednesday, on the 13th April 2016 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. They also promoted Sustainable Tallahassee’s educational booth at the LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival through the activity. The event also included a photo booth set up and props for students to pose with and post to their social media accounts, using the hashtag #sustainaNOLES. The production of the event aligned with Sustainable Tallahassee’s mission; the event utilized recycled or reusable materials to educate Florida State University’s student body on how to live more sustainably here in Tallahassee.
Students in Section 2 worked with the non-profit organization, Aging with Dignity, for their community engagement project this semester. Their class met each week on Monday and Friday from 3:30pm- 5:00pm to discuss ways they could help Aging with Dignity spread the importance of healthcare planning to younger audiences. There were two FSU Market Wednesday events held on April 6th, 2016 and April 13th, 2016. On April 6th, 2016 the students conducted a wishing well activity to show how much Aging with Dignity cares about keeping the dignity of individuals and their wishes alive. On April 13th ,2016, the students promoted Aging with Dignity at Market Wednesday by passing out flyers, buttons, pens, and interactive finger brochures designed by the students themselves.
As a class, students decided on Aging with Dignity because the organization;s cause is relatable to everyone. Aging with Dignity created and distributes Five Wishes, which is affectionately referred to as a “living will with a heartbeat.” Five Wishes is personal and truly represents the person who fills it out. The goal is to maintain the unique characteristics of people and preserve their dignity when they may no longer have the voice to do so when faced with death. Section 2 pooled their collective talents and created a video and an interactive brochure for promotion purposes at the two Market Wednesday events on campus. The students hope their project will inspire college students to research Aging with Dignity and Five Wishes and take the initiate to prepare for the ultimate “what if.”