Arteria Collective

ASHEVILLE WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY IGNITES SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS, CULTURE AND RESTORATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION.

WE CURRENTLY OPERATE TWO PROGRAMS: A TEACHING ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM AND WORD ON THE STREET/VOZ DE LES JVENES (WOTS/VDLJ). THE PROGRAMMING YEAR FOR WOTS/VDLJ BEGAN IN JULY WITH A 3-DAY OVERNIGHT RETREAT FOR EXISTING PARTICIPANTS. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY AN ORIENTATION SESSION FOR NEW PARTICIPANTS, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY EXISTING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS AN ORIENTATION SESSION FOR NEW PARENTS, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY STAFF. AFTER THE RETREAT AND ORIENTATION SESSIONS, PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN A 10-DAY ARTS INTENSIVE WITH ACTIVITIES LED BY STAFF AND VISITING ARTISTS OF COLOR. PROGRAMMING DURING THE REST OF THE YEAR TOOK PLACE IN TWO PERIODS, SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER AND JANUARY-JUNE. DURING THIS TIME, PROGRAM STAFF ASSISTED PARTICIPANTS TO COLLECTIVELY SET A GOAL FOR THE YEAR, WHICH WAS TO PRODUCE A PUBLIC EXHIBIT OF THEIR ORIGINAL ART. DURING

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS, PARTICIPANTS WORKED WITH SUPPORT FROM STAFF AND VISITING ARTISTS TO CREATE EIGHT ORIGINAL MURALS FOR THE EXHIBIT, WHICH THEY TITLED "A BAD IDEA". THE EXHIBIT TOOK PLACE IN MARCH 2022 FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH AT REVOLVE ART GALLERY IN THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT. . PARTICIPANTS ALSO HOSTED A MOVIE NIGHT FOR BIPOC TEENS AT THE EXHIBIT SPACE AND STAFF WORKED WITH LOCAL BIPOC ARTISTS TO HOST A SOCIAL GATHERING AND DANCE PARTY AT THE GALLERY. THESE ACTIVITIES HELPED RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND MORE THAN $1,500 IN ORGANIZATIONAL REVENUE VIA ART SALES AND DONATIONS. OUR TEACHING ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM ENGAGED ARTISTS OF COLOR TO CONDUCT RESIDENCIES IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, THREE TEACHING ARTISTS CONDUCTED A FOUR SESSION MUSIC EDUCATION RESIDENCY

WITH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AT CLAXTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. DURING THESE SESSIONS, STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT SONG CREATION AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE AN ORIGINAL COLLABORATIVE SONG AND VIDEO. IN ADDITION, THE ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM CONDUCTED A CYCLE OF FAMILY VOICES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019. A TOTAL OF 11 SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE WITH PARTICIPANTS FROM THE YOUTH TRANSFORMED FOR LIFE TRAINING PROGRAM(YTL). THIS INCLUDED AN INTRODUCTORY SESSION, FIVE WRITING SESSIONS WITH JUST THE YOUTH, 4 WRITING SESSIONS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND A FINAL CELEBRATION. COMPLETED WRITING AND ARTWORK WAS USED TO CREATE AN ANTHOLOGY TITLED "THE AMAZING BOOK OF KIDS' THOUGHTS". ALL PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED A COPY OF THE ANTHOLOGY AND ADDITIONAL COPIES WERE PRINTED FOR SHARING WITH FUNDERS OR OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPANTS WERE FEATURED IN AN ON-AIR AND ONLINE SEGMENT PRODUCED BY BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO.