Beginner's Guide to Community-based Arts - Softcover

Mat Schwarzman directs the Crossroads Center in New Orleans that trains youth leaders nationwide in community-based arts activism. He holds a Ph.D in Transformative Learning from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He was founder of the East Bay Institute for Urban Arts in Oakland, an arts-based youth development program and chair of the Arts & Social Change Program at New College of California. Keith Knight is an award-winning cartoonist & rapper. His two nationally-syndicated comic strips, "The K Chronicles" and "(th)ink." have appeared in publications worldwide, including Salon.com, ESPN the Magazine, L.A. Weekly, and the Funny Times. He has released five books and his band, the Marginal Prophets, won a 2004 California Music Award for their semi-conscious hip-hop album, "Bohemian Rap CD"Author

IF YOU HAVE DREAMS TO SHARE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

Ten transformative local arts projects come alive in this comics-illustrated training manual for youth leaders and teachers. This energetic guidebook demonstrates the enormous power of art in grassroots social change. It presents proven models of community-based arts programs, plus techniques, discussion questions, and plentiful resources.

"Cartoons as an educational tool, at last! Here's an inspired book of true stories, written in the language of comics, which graphically conveys the struggles and artistic triumphs of community activism."
?Eric Drooker Illustrator/activist and author of graphic novels Flood! and Bloodsong

"This book gets it. The Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts conveys a holistic understanding of social change in the natural form of edutainment. A must-have for young artists."
?Carlton Turner Regional Development Director, Alternate ROOTS

"By the time they finish this entertaining and inventive book, beginners will become pros. And a whole new wave of community-based artists should be revving up and getting down to work."
?Lucy R. Lippard Author of Get the Message? A Decade of Art for Social Change

"High school principals take note: this is an ideal manual for promoting high-level learning - how to use what you have learned to make a difference. It offers a process for activating young people by tapping into the creativity that resides within us all."
?Tom Tew Founding Principal, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts

Graphic storyteller Keith Knight is an award-winning cartoonist, rapper, and hip-hop musician with two nationally syndicated comic stripes, "The K Chronicles" and "(th)ink."

Author Mat Schwarzman mentors youth leaders nationwide in community-based arts education. He holds a PhD in Transformative Learning and directs the Crossroads Project for Art, Learning and Community in New Orleans.