Community Partner Spotlight EPIC Arts
by John Futrell Education Director, RedLine Contemporary Art Center RedLine’s EPIC Arts Program was initiated in 2010 in response to the need for increased support for arts education in Denver schools and a desire expressed by RedLine’s artists to work with under-resourced students in the Five Points neighborhood and beyond. This semester-long project is designed to engage students K-12 who are living in stressed communities and would otherwise have limited or no access to quality arts education. The EPIC Arts program provides opportunities for students to explore social issues through contemporary art. Each semester, RedLine Resident Artists and Denver community artists are matched with educators and students, resulting in unique art collaborations. In 2018, the EPIC Arts program worked with thirteen schools ranging from third to twelfth grade and served 223 students. “Participating in the EPIC program helped me introduce bigger questions surrounding social justice issues into my classroom. It also helped me let go of more skill based projects and opt for idea driven projects. The skills following the ideas, not the other way around.” – Kristen Emerling, Academy of Urban Learning
2018/2019 Highlights Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy Coat Drive for Those in Need Grade 2 The second graders at Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy created pillows for individuals experiencing homelessness. They felt like the world was too hard for people living on the street and wanted to offer them something soft. Their generosity did not end there. They started a coat drive that ran throughout EPIC Arts program Fall Exhibition and collected more than fifty coats! The coats were donated to The St. Francis Center after the exhibition ended.
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