WHO:

• Any community, faith, parent, civic, neighborhood, or government organization can use a Tackling Tough Topics art-integrated experience to improve the quality of their conversations around a difficult topic.  
• Smaller groups (under 15) within an organization are ideal to foster the most meaningful dialogue.
  
• Larger groups (over 15) will be divided into multiple workshops or multiple discussion groups..
  
• ​Virtual format vs in-person delivery may alter the size of groups, number of workshops needed, and discussion framework.
  
• No previous arts experience is necessary for participation. 
  
• Art supplies rarely need to be purchased.

WHAT:

• CATC meets with a  leader from your organization to plan out the arts-integrated learning experience focused on a selected topic. 
• Dates and times are set to move through the following workshop process:
  
  • Session 1 - Tough Topic Analysis  with Organizational Leader (~1 hour)
    
  • Session 2 - Art Skill Instruction and Exploration (~1 hour)
    
  • Session 3 - Showcase with Discussion (~1 hour)
    
  • Session 4 - Debriefing with Organization Leader (~1 hour)
    
  • Note: Participants will complete and submit their art work after Session 2.
• ​Virtual and in-person delivery available. 
  

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WHEN:

• Workshops are scheduled at dates and times that work for all parties.
  
• Morning, afternoon, and evening times are available. 
• Each virtual live session is 1 hour long.

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INVESTMENT:

• Virtual Delivery
  
  • Tackling Tough Topics arts-integrated experience: $1000/group of 15
    
  • Additional groups within an organization: $800/group (20% discount) 
    
  • Discussion and debriefing sessions can be added to this package as needed.
    
• In-Person Delivery
  
  • ​​Tackling Tough Topics arts-integrated experience: $1000/group
    
  •  Additional groups within an organization: $800/group (20% discount) 
    
  • Large in-person groups may be divided into smaller groups during the Showcase with Discussion session.
    
  • Discussion and debriefing sessions can be added to this package as needed. 

Tackling Tough Topics for Communities

 An Arts-Integrated Approach

Does your community need an arts-integrated experience?
If you answer YES to any of the following questions, then your group could benefit from

an arts-integrated experience:
• Do we need to see and hear perspectives that may be uncomfortable?
• Do we need to change our practices and policies to advocate for others?
• Do we get frustrated with meetings that seem to avoid the real problem?
• Do we get stuck rehashing the same problem instead of developing solutions?

"Heather's ability to inspire the use of creativity to help us delve deeper into the challenging subject of race was so valuable."

Using an arts-integrated approach can reduce barriers and highlight voices typically left out of important conversations. The non-threatening approach engages and empowers participants to deepen understanding and perspectives of self and others.

CATC is here to help your group explore important topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, wellness, burnout, and others that people tend to avoid.

Workshop Details

Feedback from community members:

"I couldn't understand how my thinking was so different or could be offensive, but with Heather's help I was able to see how I overlooked the symbols of the beliefs and cultures of others. I started to realize how limited my outlook was."

"It is inspiring to have so many people join in this conversation. I believe it will create a solid base for our ongoing work in combating racism in our church and community and society.

"The arts-integration process taught me to look for symbols and colors that had meaning to me as I searched for ways to address our collective racism."