Teaching Students To Be Proactive In Art

It’s no surprise that people around the world appreciate art. The same goes double when in regard to students and teachers. Creating art and nurturing the young to do so responsibly is a remarkable way to get students to become advocates, to be proactive in the arts.

This calls for some creative thinking on the part of students, teachers, school administrators and parents. Together, they can make the child’s artistic endeavors pay off in bringing about more appreciation for the arts and what they can achieve. There are a number of ways of getting to this goal and we’ll need to look at just a few to get your own projects off the ground.

Today, kids are part of the internet. They can’t live without it. They’ve got the full known body of humanity’s knowledge in the palm of their hand. With social media now the king of content online, utilizing this venue can bring about astonishing results.

Teachers and parents should engage with the students and take pics and videos and post them online. Sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, feature easy to use menus for posting art images. This allows for the public not only to view the art, but to become active participants in the child’s experience. People who like the art will share, like, and comment allowing for the dissemination of the art and whatever message the art is attempting to convey.

Here’s where being proactive comes into play. The students should use art to send a message about an area of interest that can be just about anything. Somwhere there will be people of like interst who will appreciate the art and there’s a good chance that the most entertaining works will go viral.

When this happens, the website traffic to the schooo’s website will benefit. Let each child pick their cause whether it’s pet rescue or celebrating a local historic holiday. People searching for such subject matter may run into the students’ work and then the fun begins. As the kids see the effect their work makes, they’ll realize that there is a great responsibility with art, as it can change entire mindsets or bring the world to the attention of a worthy cause. They’ll make valuable contacts that can furthr their education an dprepare them for the workforce.

 

 

Start A Museum

Another great idea is to start a museum. Teachers and administrators can create a museum that spotlights the students’ works. Well framed and presented in key spots around the school, this will allow for the other students and faculty, as well as proud parents, to see what the kids are doing and help with encouraging commentary and support. The museum can be mobile.

Talk to local business like banks and great bistros to see if they’ll allow an exhibition. Thsi will really get the word out. Students may find new friends and sponsors or even mentors if top artists themselves frequent the location. A great way for enjoying photo ops too. Ask your local government and see if you can put works from your museum in the post office or city hall. It will make the civic leaders look magnanimous and foster greater amity between the public and officials.

One can easily raise money for this idea. Either parents and teachers can chip in, or local business. Art stores in particular. There may even be tax incentives for such an endeavor, and that will sweeten things fo rbusinesses who’ll then see participating as a return on investment like no other.

 

Online Venues For Artists

There are tons of websites dedicated to showcasing art. Most are free and allow for artists to network with potential clients and other artists and teachers. A schoool with a fine arrt program might find that others will be interested in their programs and teaching methods.

Teachers can network and even make deals that benefit one and all. A website called Artsonia is a prime example of this new approach. The site will, with parental permission, display a student’s work. Studentss will find an active worldwide audience and a networking bonanza. To make things even more interesting,

Artsonia has an online store that allows for the public to buy merchandise with the student’s artwork on it. A way to make money and disseminate young people’s art. If that isn’t enough to whet your whistle, teachers who submit the art can get 15% of sales! It’s a great way to generate capital for art supplies, holding events, and more.

Artsonia isn’t the only site like this, and more are emerging every year. People who invest in the students’ art pursuits can also make money which is an incentive right there. It’s great because in most cases their investment is tax dedcutible. So you can’t really lose following this route.

 

Murals Rule

If there’s one thing a youngster loves, it’s drawing on the wall. As soon as they’re able to hold a pencil or a crayon, they’ll make a bee line to the nearest uncovered wall and start going like Michelangelo. Murals brighten up any area and inside the school is a good place to start. It would be a team project and everyone can pitch in regarding ideas.

Once again, raising money for this shouldn’t be difficult and the children will learn management and concept and design, and more. Again, pics and videos of the murals, especially their construction makes for great content for web dissemination. A school’s AV department can benefit big time from this and turns the endeavor into a community effort that brings excitement and joy for all. Also, students will learn why it’s important to add messages that project good will about any number of good causes.
Final Word

As students mature with their art and projects under good teacher guidance, they will automatically become more reliable and responsible. They won’t sit on the sidelines when the community, country, or world needs a voice to stick up for it. In the end you’ll have better students, teachers, parents, and allies.

About The Author

Professor David Percival

Director of AHVC programme, and specialist in art and technology, including presence research, mixed and virtual reality.