WORKSHOPS

Arts & Democracy offers workshops that draw on our cultural organizing framework and incorporate case studies, hands on skill building, networking, and strategy sessions.

Workshops

Arts & Democracy offers cultural organizing workshops and learning exchanges ranging from a one-hour conversation in the midst of a conference, to a weekend long workshop. Workshops are designed with local cosponsors to support ongoing local organizing.
Topics
National , Film / Video / Audio / Digital , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

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Workshop resources

Muslim Women Write the Body

Muslim Women Write the Body was a series of workshops organized with writer Roohi Choudhry (Nov-May, 2022), focused on Muslim identity and the gray areas of faith, particularly for women. Participants explored their identities in relation to past, present, and future, considering gender, culture and more. Choudhry and guest artists Nsenga Knight, Demo Ibrahim, Hala Shah, Aizzah Fatima led workshops on Zoom with follow up debrief and coaching sessions. The creative work was presented live at our annual Community Iftar on the Avenue C Plaza. 



Topics
Northeast , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Literary , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Education / Awareness Raising

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Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2022

Arts & Democracy and Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY) presented Cultural Organizing for Community Change, a virtual event on January 8th.  Workshop presenters included Jose Richard Aviles, Sage Crump, amalia deloney, Dustin Gibson, Kayhan Irani, Maxine Rebeles, James Rojas, Juan Ruiz, Carlton Turner, The United States Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC), Ayako Maruyama, Urban Bush Women, and Rosten Woo. 

Topics
National , Community / Regional Development , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Education / Awareness Raising , Alliance / Movement / Field Building

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Workshop resources

Prokash / Reveal

Led by artist Monica Jahan Bose, the bilingual workshop series Prokash/Reveal took place from July - Oct 2021 providing an opportunity for immigrants and first generation youth to bridge multigenerational points of views related to identity, immigration, and biculturalism. The culminating performance on October 9 at the Ave C Plaza in Kensington, Brooklyn featured a community scroll that connected the tapestries created by participants and an open mic.

Topics
Northeast , Environment , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Visual Art , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Community Engagement

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Workshop resources


A Quest for Home Upside Down Edition

A Quest for Home Upside Down Edition was a series of workshops with Roohi Choudhry over the summer of 2020 that contributed to a Zine that was launched on Dec 12, 2020. Fifteen participants from the South Asian Diaspora from across the globe participated, with a desire and passion for storytelling. We wrote about the places and people we longed for, and talked about maps and counter-maps and imagination as a kind of knowledge. Though it was broken up into little squares, we made a kind of home.
Topics
International , Northeast , Immigration , Literary , Multi / Inter-disciplinary

Program
Cultural organizing resources

Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2020

Arts & Democracy joined with Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY to present Cultural Organizing for Community Change, December 5, 2020 on Zoom. The daylong workshop included a cultural organizing framework; connecting in small groups; and two rounds of participatory arts and popular education workshops. While we missed connecting face to face, our Zoom version of our annual workshop allowed us to extend the workshop to national and international participation.
Topics
National , Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building

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Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2019

This annual Brooklyn-based learning exchange, cosponsored with Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY) brought together organizers, artists, media makers, and policy makers to learn effective ways to deepen our work and engage our creativity in organizing for community change. The day included a cultural organizing framework, hands on skill building workshops, case studies, networking, and resources. It began at Groundswell with afternoon breakouts at Reel Works, Brooklyn Children's Theatre, and Gowanus Community Center.
Topics
National , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources

A Quest For Home

Every Saturday morning for six weeks, 10 strangers with different paths came together to write away their thoughts. At first, they all believed they had nothing in common. But they all yearned for love and acceptance. They were all on a quest for home. Read here about this journey and download the Zine that grew out of this workshop with Roohi Choudhry. 

Topics
Northeast , Human Rights / Social Justice , Immigration , Literary , Multi / Inter-disciplinary

Program
Cultural organizing resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change 2018

This annual Brooklyn-based learning exchange, cosponsored with Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY), brought together organizers, artists, media makers, and policy makers to learn effective ways to deepen our work and engage our creativity in organizing for community change. The day included a cultural organizing framework, hands on skill building workshops, case studies, networking, and resources. It began at Littlefield, and afternoon breakouts took place at nearby Gowanus community organizations including Fifth Avenue Committee, Gowanus Neighborhood Convervancy, Interference Archive, and Theater Mitu.
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources

Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn 2017

This annual Brooklyn-based workshop, cosponsored with Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY), brought together organizers, artists, media makers, and policy makers to learn effective ways to deepen our work and engage our creativity in organizing for community change. The day included a cultural organizing framework, hands on skill building workshops, case studies, networking, and resources. The workshop took place at 540 President Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn, at Groundswell, Reel Works, and Spaceworks.
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

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Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn 2016

Cultural Organizing for Community Change took place in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 9:30am - 6:00pm. The day-long learning exchange included a cultural organizing framework, skill building workshops, a neighborhood tour, a visual arts installation, discussion of the NYC cultural plan, networking, and resource sharing.
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Education / Awareness Raising , Alliance / Movement / Field Building

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Workshop resources

Adda Art

AddaArt project (Adda + Art) engaged Bangladeshi women and girls in oral history and artmaking in Kensington, Brooklyn. Led by Monica Jahan Bose, AddaArt included the sharing of stories, painting on saris, the creation and exhibition of kathas (quilts), a public performance, and a video.


Topics
Urban , Northeast , Immigration , Visual Art , Community Engagement

Program
Cultural organizing resources


Social Media Workshop

The Social Media Workshop took place March 6. The first half, led by Carlos Pareja, was about shooting a video with your camera phone. In the second half, led by Daniel LaTorre, participants developed a social media strategy.
Topics
Northeast , Film / Video / Audio / Digital , Community Engagement

Program
Workshop resources

Internet and Social Change: Building Culturally, Politically, and Technologically Connected Communities

January 9, 2016, Behailu Academy, Charlotte, NC

Internet + Social Change, Building Culturally, Polically, and Technologically Connected Communities interactive workshop. National sponsors were Arts & Democracy and Media Democracy Fund. Local partners included Behailu Academy, PowerUp NC, QC Family Tree, and The Tribe. Special guests included Center for Media Justice, Color of Change, Coworker.org, and Media Mobilizing Project.
Topics
Southeast , Film / Video / Audio / Digital , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn 2015

Cultural Organizing for Community Change took place Sunday, November 22 from 9:30-6pm in Gowanus Brooklyn. Organizers, artists, media makers, and policy makers came together to learn effective ways to deepen their work and engage their creativity in organizing.
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources

2015 KY Cultural Organizing Learning Exchange

With a focus on racial inclusion the KY Cultural Organizing Learning Exchange brought together artists, activists, advocates, & educators from across Kentucky at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bowling Green on June 19, 2015. The Learning Exchange was presented by Arts & Democracy, Kentucky Foundation for Women and Alternate ROOTS.
Topics
Southeast , Civil rights , Human Rights / Social Justice , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Community Engagement , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Cultural organizing resources


2014 Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn NY

November 15, 2014, 9:30am - 6:00pm
At Groundswell, Reel Works and Spaceworks, 540 President Street, Brooklyn

Organizers, artists, media makers, educators, and policymakers came together to learn effective ways to deepen our work and engage our creativity in organizing for community change. The day included a cultural organizing framework, hands-on skill building workshops, case studies, resources, and networking opportunities.

Co-sponsored with Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY (NOCD-NY)
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement

Program
Workshop resources

Art Meets Activism: A Cultural Organizing Workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina

October 18, 2014, Behailu Academy, Charlotte, NC 

Over thirty artists, activists, neighborhood leaders & youth from Charlotte gathered for a Cultural Organizing workshop, produced by Arts & Democracy in collaboration with the UNCC’s College of Art + Architecture and the Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP).

Topics
Southeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement

Program
Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Social Change in New Orleans

July 19, 2014, Blue Plate Artist Lofts, New Orleans, LA

Two dozen artists and activists from the New Orleans area gathered for the 4th annual Cultural Organizing workshop, produced by Arts & Democracy in collaboration with Junebug Productions. 

Topics
Midwest , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement

Program
Workshop resources

Cultural Organizing for Social Change, Frankfort, KY

Saturday, May 10, 2014, KY Domestic Violence Association, Frankfort, KY

Over 40 artists, organizers, activists and policy advocates from across Kentucky and beyond came together to participate in this day long workshop focused on Cultural Organizing for Social Change in Kentucky.  While the group was quite diverse, they shared a belief in the power of art & culture to advance social justice for all Kentuckians. The purpose of the workshop was to connect individuals, organizations and resources to create and sustain cultural organizing as a statewide strategy.

Topics
Midwest , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Community Engagement

Program
Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change - Brooklyn

November, 2013, Groundswell, Brooklyn, NY

Cultural Organizing for Community Change provided a space where artists, media makers, organizers and policy makers could learn effective ways to deepen their work and strengthen their capacity to connect creativity, culture, and organizing for community change.
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources

Arts and Activism 101: Arts as a Catalyst for Social Change, Los Angeles, CA

Arts & Democracy Project was proud to partner with the AFL-CIO to integrate arts and culture into their 2013 International Convention. We hosted a two hour "Action Session" workshop for delegates to learn the basics of cultural organizing then apply them to creating art for a march later in the day. Nationally recognized Los Angeles artist Ramiro Gomez led the workshop. Gomez creates representative cut-outs primarily of domestic workers and places them in the affluent environments that employee such workers in real life. He led participants through a process of creating their own cut-outs, which were later placed throughout downtown Los Angeles in a convention-wide action.
Topics
National , Visual Art , Alliance / Movement / Field Building

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Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Frankfort, KY

Cultural Organizing for Community Change (Frankfort, KY) provided a space where artists, activists, cultural workers, organizers and educators from across Kentucky came together to strengthen their relationships, and deepen their capacity to use the tools of creativity, imagination, and culture for social justice organizing. This participatory workshop featured case studies, tools, strategies, networking and relationship building.

Topics
Midwest , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources

Cultural Organizing Weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana

This workshop provided a space where artists, activists and organizers learned effective ways to deepen their work and increase their impact by activating the tools of creativity and imagination.  By using a combination of local and national resources, the workshops also promoted networking and collaboration.
Topics
Regional , Southeast , Community / Regional Development , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources


Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn, NY

Cultural Organizing for Community Change provided a space where artists, media makers, organizers and policy makers could learn effective ways to deepen their work and strengthen their capacity to use the tools of creativity, imagination and organizing for community change. The workshop included cultural organizing framework, skill building workshops, networking opportunities, and an intergenerational conversation with cultural organizers. 

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Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources



Quilt at Hopscotch House

Kentucky Foundation for Women Workshop

Arts & Democracy Project held a day-long cultural organizing workshop for women activist artists at the Kentucky Foundation for Women's Hopscotch House retreat just outside of Louisville.
Topics
Southeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources


BCC: Building Collaborative Capacity - NYC

Building Collaborative Capacity is a series of workshops, gatherings, and partnerships that help build the connective tissue necessary to deepen collaborative work so it can be truly effective.
Topics
Northeast , Democracy , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Political Engagement , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Cultural organizing resources

Cultural Organizing for Community Change, Brooklyn 2015

Our upcoming cultural organizing workshop in Brooklyn will take place Nov 22. We will post the developing agenda for the workshop soon. 
Topics
Northeast , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Leadership and Skill Development

Program
Workshop resources