Opportunities and resources: we all need them.
Perhaps you are a high school student looking to go the direction of socially engaged art. Perhaps you are an artist early in your professional career. Or maybe you have been doing this work for decades and could teach us all a thing or two.
No matter your background, you may find this following list of interest. You will note that I work in social practice and community-engaged dance, with a focus in intercultural, inter-group and international projects. This resources list is skewed in those directions. My practice is an acknowledged departure from teaching artistry in both the fields of arts integration and community-based arts. I also do not consider my practice dance therapy and do not offer resources in those areas, but what I do offer here will hopefully be helpful to some of you out there.
It is a hearty but not completely comprehensive list so please feel free to add additional links and resources in the reply section below. I will offer resources in the following categories:
- Undergraduate Programs
- Graduate Degree, Professional and Certificate Programs
- Fellowships, Jobs/Internships, Volunteer Opportunities and Residencies
- Groups, Initiatives and Organizations
- Readings, Videos, Webinars and MOOCs
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Socially Engaged Art at Goddard (low residency)
Performing Arts & Social Justice with a Dance Concentration at University of San Fransisco
Community Arts BFA Major at California College of the Arts
Minor in Social Practice and Public Forms at California College of the Arts
Contextual Practice BFA Major at Carnegie Mellon University
Graduate Degree, Professional and Certificate Programs
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Community Arts at Lesley University
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching Artistry at Wayne State University (3 years, part-time, low-residency)
Educational Doctorate (EDd) in Equity Studies in Education at Simon Fraser University (Canada)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Art, Education, and Community Practice at NYU Steinhart
Master of Fine Arts (M.FM.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. in Performance as Public Practice or M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities at The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Socially Engaged Art at NCAD in Dublin, Ireland
Socially Engaged Practice in Design and the Arts (Certificate) at Arizona State University
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Socially Engaged Art at University of Indianapolis
Performance Art and Social Practice continuing education course at Seattle Central College
Conferences, Institutes and Labs
Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Arts in Society
Social Emotional Arts (SEA) Certificate at UCLA
The Dance + Social Justice Conference
Dance Exchange Summer Institute
The Institute for Somatics and Social Justice
Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI)
Social Practice Lab at Duke University’s Rubenstein Arts Center
Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute
Fellowships, Jobs/Internships, Apprenticeship and Volunteer Opportunities and Residencies
Exchange Programs: The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers a number of fully-funded international programs. Many of these opportunities are posted with little notice so check regularly.
(SPAN) Social Practice Artist Network
Daniels Spectrum Artist-in-Residency for community-engaged professional artists
A Blade of Grass Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art
Imagining America Page Fellowship for graduate students
Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) volunteer opportunities
On-the-Move cultural mobility network’s list of residencies and other opportunities, many of which are in Europe
Idealist volunteer opportunities and job postings
BCorps Jobs Board openings at certified B Corps, companies that meet rigorous social and environmental standards
Creative Time jobs, internships, fellowships, and volunteer opportunities
Peace and Collaborative Development Network’s PCDNETWORK professional opportunities (jobs, fellowships, internships, etc. in social change, which also provides the following links for job seekers.
- UNJOBLIST jobs at UN agencies and other Intergovernmental Organizations
- RELIEFWEB jobs in International non-profits
- Rework jobs in impact with companies working on social and cultural innovation
- International Organization Careers Website employment opportunities in International Organizations (site sponsored by the US Department of State)
- SKOLL WORLD FORUM JOB LIST– Job and Fellowship postings related to social entreprenuership, the social sector and corporate social responsibility.
- The Posner Center for International Development Job Board – Is a coworking space based in Denver, Colorado with over 60 member organizations. Their job board lists openings at Posner and the center’s members.
- Mission Investing Job Bank – shares career opportunities in mission investing at member foundations, affiliate member organizations and other organizations
- Social Enterprise Alliance Job Board – Positions in the social enterprise sector.
- Social Impact Jobs – List from Echoing Green, one of the leading orgs in the field.
- OpenGov Hub Member Jobs – Job opportunities from organizations based at the OpenGov Hub in Washington, DC.
- Be Social Change Jobs – Maintains a job board of positions and internships in key social change orgs.
- Open Gov Jobs – Positions related to open government.
- Impact Design Hub Jobs – Jobs at the intersection of public interest, social impact, humanitarian, and community design.
- Jobscsr.com – positions worldwide in the following sectors Social, Environment, Economic, Health & Safety, Climate Change, Human Rights, Finance.
- Give to get Jobs – Opportunities in the for profit sector that are involved in social change.
- ICT4D Jobs – Opportunities in information and communication technology for development.
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy Job Board – Careers in international Affairs, largely NY and DC based positions.
- Zebra Jobs – A leading online portal for jobs in Africa, many focused on development related issues.
- JOBS FOR CHANGE – Useful resources and guides to careers in social change.
- FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION – Listing of Jobs at Key US nonprofits involved in international affairs.
- JUSTMEANS – Jobs in Social Change and Environment.
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS – Listing of jobs in International Affairs.
- DEVNETJOBS – Listing of Many Positions in International Development and related fields.
- Next City Jobs– Jobs focused on urban issues and innovation.
- Jobs for Change – Wonderful resources on nonprofit jobs.
- OneWorld Jobs – brings the latest jobs and volunteer positions from organisations working to create a better world.
Artslink international grants and fellowships
Mladi Info with lists of scholarships, fellowships, conferences etc. mostly in Europe.
Alliance of Artists Communities case study residencies in social practice.
Surdna Foundation grants for artists engaging in social change
U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program (for artists, faculty, researchers or staff) Deadline is August 1, 2018 – This is the program I did. Let me know if you have questions or want my help reviewing your application!
U.S. Fulbright Student Program (for current masters and PhD students, recent grads, and young professionals in the arts and other fields) Deadline is October 9, 2018.
Baba Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship travel to Africa
Charles B. Rangel Fellowship offers both a graduate fellowship and summer enrichment program
American Music Abroad international tour opportunities for students, adults and ensembles
Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship graduate study in any academic field relevant to the work of the Foreign Service
Institute for Current World Affairs international fellowship for applicants under 36 years of age
Donald Payne Fellowship for graduate students
Diplomacy & Diversity Fellowship for graduate students and young professionals
UNAOC International Fellowship Open to participants between 25 to 35 years old, from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America, with a strong interest in intercultural exchanges. The theme of the Fellowship 2018 being “Fostering youth resilience to prevent violent extremism and build sustainable peace.”Apply by April 8, 2018 for this year’s program.
“It totally breaks open your thinking!” As a 2010 UNAOC Fellow, @shawnlent from #USA visited countries like #Egypt, #Morocco & #Qatar. Watch to learn about her Fellowship experience.
Interested in becoming one of this year's #UNAOCfellows? Apply now: https://t.co/KNAnMZm33M pic.twitter.com/R7xR3Mn0z5
— UNAOC (@UNAOC) March 22, 2018
Groups, Initiatives and Organizations
The International Centre of Art for Social Change
Battery Dance – Dancing to Connect
Do-It-Yourself
Design your own volunteer or apprenticeship opportunities at your local children’s hospital, veterans’ affairs group, refugee center, homeless shelter, juvenile detention facility, or public or private religious school (insular or divided communities).
Readings, Webinars and MOOCs
Performing Revolutionary: Art, Action, Activism by Nicole Garneau and Anne Cushwa
The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Politics
Americans for the Arts Social Change
“How art creates social change in 5 TED Talks” b
“Bringing the Arts to the Conversation on Social Change” by Claudia Juech and Carolina García Jayaram
Robert Battle: On dance and social justice
Animating Democracy’s “Dance and Civic Engagement”
“The Scales of Socially Engaged Practice” by Hannah Hull
“What is Social Practice, Socially Engaged Art, and Civic Practice?” b
UNESCO’s Centre for Arts Research in Education, forum on dance and social justice with Bharata Natyam artist Kavitha Krishnan
“20 Change-Making US Artists You Should Track During 2018” by Shawn Lent
“30 International Artists You Should Track During 2018” by Shawn Lent
“Who Are the Key Figures in Socially Engaged Art Today?” by Patina Lee
Social Justice Funders webinar by Americans for the Arts
Bibliography listings and Glossary for the Duke MOOC on Public Art
Americans for the Arts’ On-Demand Webinars including Arts Deployed and Current Trends in Public Art & Social Practice
Creative Capital: Values-Based Goal Setting
4 Questions for Artists Working in Social Justice
On Social Practice and Performance by Andy Horwitz
Who Gets to Perform? The Ethics and Aesthetics of Social Practice by Simon Dove
Arts-based Conflict Resolution, an interview with Michelle le Baron
Acting Together documentary and toolkit (peacebuilding and theatre)
Dancing to Connect’s Cultural Diplomacy Toolkit
Imagining America publications, case studies, research, blog and Public journal
Dancer Citizen online scholarly journal
ASC! (Art for Social Change) resource articles and publications.
50 Titles, 50 Perspectives: A Reader’s Guide to Art + Social Practice by Broken City Lab
Dance, Human Rights, and Social Justice: Dignity in Motion by Naomi Jackson
Movement as Cultural Diplomacy at Battery Dance
Arts in the Public Interest Archives
Outside the Citadel, Social Practice Art Is Intended to Nurture by Randy Kennedy
How the Art of Social Practice is Changing the World, One Row House at a Time by
Alliance of Artists Communities resource list
Free PDF Books on Race, Gender, Sexuality, Class and Culture
Am I a Dancer Who Gave Up? by Shawn Lent (Huffington Post)
Photo: “The promise of Spring” Johannesburg, South Africa, by Unsplash contributor, Zelda Gardner @enskye
Thank You So Much Shawn