THE SUMMER CHALLENGE

Stewardship and Leadership at New Urban Arts

“Our mission is to build a community that empowers young
people to develop a creative practice they can sustain
throughout their lives.”
 Summer Art Inquiry Studio Team Advisory Board
Youth Mentorship Program

Arts Mentoring Fellowship

Artist Professional Development Program

PROGRAMS
Youth Mentorship Program
•after-school program with art classes
•2006: 167 students
•2010: 455 students, 75% active participants
RISD, BROWN, AND NEW URBAN ARTS
• Tyler Denmead - Founder
BFA, Brown University

• Art + Design Education Department classes

• Tamara Kaplan - Operations Manager

RISD, MA, Museum Education

• Jason Yoon - Executive Director

RISD, BFA, Painting and Art History
BROAD STREET STUDIO RIVERZEDGE ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
Providence, RI Woonsocket, RI Boston, MA
BROAD STREET STUDIO RIVERZEDGE ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
Providence, RI Woonsocket, RI Boston, MA

• no set class times

• students not paid
• students don’t clean up
• responsible students
clean up for others
BROAD STREET STUDIO RIVERZEDGE ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
Providence, RI Woonsocket, RI Boston, MA

• no set class times • set class times

• students not paid • students on salary
• students don’t clean up • set cleaning times
• responsible students • responsibility enforced
clean up for others
BROAD STREET STUDIO RIVERZEDGE ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
Providence, RI Woonsocket, RI Boston, MA

• no set class times • set class times

• students not paid • students on salary
• students don’t clean up • set cleaning times
• responsible students • responsibility enforced
clean for others
DELIVERABLES
What is the mission of after-school programs?
 staff
mentors
students

support system time to socialize

sense of belonging

HOME-PLACE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

connection to community learning opportunities

safe space
support of others youth-directed
physically safe youth-centered
emotionally safe work within community

emotional adjustment

interpersonal skills
leadership skiills
initiative
self-confidence
connection to community competence
engagement in learning

confidence
responsibility

CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
 staff
mentors
students

support system time to socialize

sense of belonging

HOME-PLACE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

connection to community learning opportunities

safe space
support of others youth-directed
physically safe youth-centered
emotionally safe work within community

emotional adjustment

interpersonal skills
leadership skiills
initiative
self-confidence
connection to community competence
engagement in learning

confidence
responsibility

CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
FIELD RESEARCH
methods:
• group & individual interviews
• in-context immersion
• user testing
 staff
mentors
students
“[NUA] is a home away from home” lots of socializing, building friendships
support system time to socialize
sense of belonging
strong friendships with mentors
after-school space between fall/summer sports
HOME-PLACE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES
“[NUA] has a welcoming & open atmonsphere”
Mentors from RISD
connection to community learning opportunities
safe space
support of others youth-directed
physically safe youth-centered
emotionally safe work within community

“I feel welcomed here” emotional adjustment

Students leading
emotional adjustment independent projects

interpersonal skills
leadership skiills
school tutoring initiative
self-confidence
connection to community competence
engagement in learning

Large number of staff/mentors that are former students confidence

responsibility

CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
 “I’m afraid I might lose [my work], so I take it home now”

“I’m scared of losing work here. A lot of things get misplaced”

“Some people just leave a mess”

“I don’t trust leaving things here, so students take their work home”
“People leave without cleaning up”
unclean space
damaged supplies
damaged artwork
“I felt more of a community last year”
student ownership of studio “There has to be a culture shift where adults are on board, as well”
respect for peers respect for space
studio
space

student behavior

“the old students had respect for the space”

limited room for lockers and art supplies

COMPLAINTS limited space
securing valuables
Students had items stolen this year

storage space
 staff
mentors
students

support system time to socialize

sense of belonging

HOME-PLACE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

connection to community learning opportunities

safe space
support of others youth-directed
physically safe youth-centered
emotionally safe work within community

emotional adjustment

interpersonal skills
leadership skiills
initiative
self-confidence
connection to community competence
engagement in learning

confidence
responsibility

CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
 staff
mentors
OPPORTUNITY: build community students

support system time to socialize

sense of belonging

HOME-PLACE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

connection to community learning opportunities

safe space
support of others youth-directed
physically safe youth-centered
emotionally safe work within community

emotional adjustment

interpersonal skills
leadership skiills
initiative
self-confidence
connection to community competence
engagement in learning

confidence
responsibility
OPPORTUNITY: build stewardship
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
BROAD STREET STUDIO RIVERZEDGE ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
Providence, RI Woonsocket, RI Boston, MA

same problems at NUA

possible solutions?

• no set class times • set class times

• students not paid • students on salary
• students don’t clean up • set cleaning times
• responsible students • responsibility enforced
clean for others
STAFF FEEDBACK
 MONITOR PROGRAM LOCKERS
select students monitor supplies, storage lockers that can also
ensure all students clean up showcase artwork

“...how would we monitor the Yes!

monitors?”

“There are too many people just telling

people to clean up” TURN IT INTO A
SUMMER PROJECT?

No. Yes, with leftover funding

 MONITOR PROGRAM LOCKERS
select students monitor supplies, storage lockers that can also
ensure all students clean up showcase artwork

“...how would we monitor the Yes!

monitors?”

“There are too many people just telling

people to clean up” TURN IT INTO A
SUMMER PROJECT?

No. Yes, with leftover funding

SUMMER CHALLENGE
proposal for a summer art inquiry class
THE SUMMER CHALLENGE
A Summer Art Inquiry Program
• 5-week summer course
• student and mentor involvement
• stipend for participants
• 4 hours, 3 days a week

GOALS
• build leadership
• stewardship
• teach skillset
THE SUMMER CHALLENGE
A Summer Art Inquiry Program
• 5-week summer course
• student and mentor involvement
• stipend for participants
• 4 hours, 3 days a week

GOALS
• build leadership
• stewardship
• teach skillset
THE SUMMER CHALLENGE
A Summer Art Inquiry Program

PLANNING
Project Proposals Proposal Content Project Selection RISD Fellowship

•mentors submit ideas •project description •staff choose proposal RISD students lead
•incentive: •program goals •select 12 students program with mentor
•large budget
•improve
facilities

5-WEEK COURSE
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4, 5 Public
Investigation Presentations Begin Building Build Project Exhibition

•form groups •choose materials •buy supplies •invite public

•create and draw •field trips •begin final project •advertise
•prototype •buy supplies •present program
•present group
designs
•choose 1 design
THE SUMMER CHALLENGE
A Summer Art Inquiry Program

PROJECTS
Project Proposals Proposal Content Project Selection RISD Fellowship

•mentors submit ideas •project description •staff choose proposal RISD students lead
•incentive: •program goals •select 12 students program with mentor
•large budget
•improve
facilities

5-WEEK COURSE
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4, 5 Public
Investigation Presentations Begin Building Build Project Exhibition

•form groups •choose materials •buy supplies •invite public

•create and draw •field trips •begin final project •advertise
•prototype •buy supplies •present program
•present group
designs
•choose 1 design
FUNDING:
• Summer Inquiry Program funds
• Long-term: Commissions from clients

Rhode Island Department of Education • 21st Century Community Learning Centers • Citizens Bank Foundation •
The RI Foundation • National Endowment for the Arts • RI Council on the Arts • Hasbro Family Foundation
• The Minerva Foundation • City of Providence Dept. of Art, Culture, & Tour • Leveraging Investments in Creativity
COMMON COMPLAINTS
• student responsibility
• unclean studio
• damaged artwork
• limited storage space
• theft
• no space for art

IMPROVEMENTS
• leadership
• responsible students recognized
• project raises interest
• teach by example in the fall
• stewardship
• maintaining space
• contributing to NUA
EVALUATION:
• each program seen as iteration, leads to changes next year
• survey students about experience
• indicators: engagement, awareness
• unwanted changes
• keep good notes on progress
IMPLEMENTATION
proposal for the first Summer Challenge
STORAGE SYSTEM ON WALLS
• simple materials
• address theft problem
CURRENT STORAGE
• no locked storage for
personal items
• limited space
• students don’t bring
personal supplies

NEW SYSTEM
• temporary storage
• personal items only
SKETCHING
• dimensions of wall and boxes
• locking system
EXHIBITION DISPLAY CASES STORAGE CONTAINERS
• boxes can be reversed inside of the storage unit • boxes slide into wall unit for storage
• creates opening to display artwork • can attach locks for security
 LEADERSHIP
who will plan the summer challenge every year?
THE SUMMER CHALLENGE
A Summer Art Inquiry Program

PROJECTS
Project Proposals Proposal Content Project Selection RISD Fellowship

•mentors submit ideas •project description •staff choose proposal RISD students lead
•incentive: •program goals •select 12 students program with mentor
•large budget
•improve
facilities

5-WEEK COURSE
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4, 5 Public
Investigation Presentations Begin Building Build Project Exhibition

•form groups •choose materials •buy supplies •invite public

•create and draw •field trips •begin final project •advertise
•prototype •buy supplies •present program
•present group
designs
•choose 1 design
“As you heard from Provost Shefrin earlier this week, we had decided to
reconsider the closing of the Office of Public Engagement...”

“It is my hope that through strategic planning we will find a sustainable and integrated
model to bring public engagement, including major community initiatives
like Project Open Door, to our core.” - John Maeda, email to campus May 20
RISD’S NEW URBAN ARTS FELLOWSHIP
RISD students apply to work in collaboration with a New Urban Arts
staff member or mentor to lead a summer program

RISD EXPENSES: NUA EXPENSES:

• summer living expenses for 1-4 students • stipend of NUA participants
• budget for transportation •supplies for summer projects
• trial period for 3-5 years • trial period for 3-5 years

RISD BENEFITS: NUA BENEFITS:

• community involvement • leadership within the program
• student opportunities • continuity of involvement
• partnership with a respected and • partnership with a respected
influential local organization organization
RISD’S NEW URBAN ARTS FELLOWSHIP
RISD students apply to work in collaboration with a New Urban Arts
staff member or mentor to lead a summer program

RISD EXPENSES: NUA EXPENSES:

• summer living expenses for 1-4 students • stipend of NUA participants
• budget for transportation • supplies for summer projects
• trial period for 3-5 years • trial period for 3-5 years

RISD BENEFITS: NUA BENEFITS:

• community involvement • leadership within the program
•student opportunities • continuity of involvement
• partnership with a respected and • partnership with a respected
influential local organization organization
IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?
WILL IT WORK?

“[NUA is] unique to the context of our community and

we have built our programs through trial and error.”
thank you