Behavior, participation (action, activism, advocacy)
The authors cite nonprofits collaborating in an education system to introduce the concept of collective impact, defined as, “the commitment of a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social...
Last Updated: July 19, 2013
In order to better understand film as an agent of social change, this article offers examples of documentary films that have led to change in viewer behavior, public policy, and discourse. After examining the successful impact of these examples,...
Last Updated: July 19, 2013
Sparkwise, a new kind of digital dashboard developed by design and innovation firm, Tomorrow Partners, uses visually compelling platforms to share the stories of impact of films and visual media. Measuring the impact of films and visual media is...
Last Updated: July 19, 2013
Marty Pottenger discusses Art at Work in Portland, ME and the evaluative practices that were used in assessing participant impact. This resource captures Pottenger’s contribution from Animating Democracy’s 2012 Social Impact & Evaluation Blog...
Last Updated: August 21, 2013
Porch Light (an initiative of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in partnership with the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services) Powerpoint presented at the Animating Democracy/Americans...
Last Updated: August 23, 2013
When governmental and civic entities employ the arts to engage people in public processes, they often find new and effective ways to motivate participation, make decisions, and solve problems.
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
Cultural organizing exists at the intersection of art and activism This paper explores the power of cultural organizing with examples of groups and individuals placing art and culture at the center of organizing strategies: organizing from a...
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
In this paper, Lyz Crane draws on the work of practitioners and researchers to characterize the field of arts-based community development in which arts and culture can help achieve place based change related to the physical, social, and economic...
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
Musicians are powerful allies who leverage their activities in ways that amplify the messages and strategies of social justice movements and that draw the necessary resources—creativity, targeted audiences, press, funding—to make change possible;...
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
Open space documentary is an emerging framework for community-based media. Intentional participatory media experiments are proliferating across rapidly developing and evolving distribution platforms.
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
In towns all across the United States, young people are using music and art to make interesting, creative, and positive things happen in their communities. They are punks, rappers, educators, singer-songwriters, artists, and community organizers who...
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
Caron Atlas' essay on MicroFest: Appalachia focuses on the connections between civic capacity, imagination, and moral economy in Appalachia.
Last Updated: September 4, 2013
Social / Justice / Practice: Exploring the Role of Artists in Creating a More Just and Social Public
As a long-time activist and co-founder of the Boston-based Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI), Lori Lobenstine discusses making meaning and creating change in the public sphere through the integration of social justice strategies with art...
Last Updated: January 13, 2014
The Crossroads Charlotte project began in 2001 when the town of Charlotte, North Carolina participated in a national survey on social capital. The survey found that the community had high levels of faith-based involvement and philanthropy, but...
Last Updated: August 14, 2014
Our Mission
Forklift Danceworks celebrates the extraordinary in the ordinary by creating original performances inspired by the movement of everyday life. By engaging a diverse body of participants and audience through its performances, outreach...
Last Updated: August 14, 2014