THEA 140: Middletown Arts

May 21, 2018July 20, 2011 by yfchen

This civic engagement class will explore how students can be active participants in society by defining and practicing the integration of art and social change. Community organizations find creative solutions to political, social and economic issues in urban, rural and global communities. Community artists have been collaborating with and working for community organizations, service providers, cultural & educational institutions, and government agencies as active agents for social engagement and change. This class will survey the Middletown arts community, including Kid City, Oddfellows, the Buttonwood Tree, ArtFarm, and Wesleyan’s Green Street Art Center, as well as individual artists living in Middletown Artist Cooperative (MAC) 650, an art space. Students will be integrated into activities and programs, attend community and board meetings, and meet with founders, directors and artists to understand the social dynamics that infuse art into everyday society and create environments that offer distinct and unique partnerships and collaborations. Students will also be introduced to WESU 88.1 FM, a community service of Wesleyan University. Class deliverables will be public service announcements, Main Street monologues, and other creative methods that highlight and showcase the arts in Middletown.

Read more about the project in the Middletown Patch: