programs
Public
Exchanges
Public Exchanges is a public platform for the voices and visions of the Art Start community of youth and families.
What is the Public Exchanges program?
Art can be a powerful starting point for bigger conversations about what communities envision for themselves and what they want others to see and know about them. Art Start Public Exchanges is a public platform for the voices and visions of the Art Start community of youth and families.
What does the program include?
- The Art Start Portrait Project
- Family Portrait Project
- Putting it Into Context infographic campaigns
- Gallery exhibitions
- Social media and outdoor media campaigns
- Murals
- Music videos
- Public forums.
Partnerships are critical to amplifying this platform. Our partners include the public library system, public school districts, arts and media professionals, artists and galleries, design agencies and universities.
- New York
- Milwaukee
- Contact us to exhibit in other cities!
- Casa Romero
- RxR, Starrett Lehigh
- Black and Latino Male Achievement Department, Milwaukee Public Schools
- Alice's Garden
- Harbor District
Program Benefits
Vulnerability in a Safe Space
Through creative arts workshops, self-examination, and in-depth dialogue, youth participating in Public Exchanges projects are given the opportunity to share their dreams and hopes in community with like-minded youth and trusting adults.
Self Actualization
Participating youth’s visions come to life whether as large-scale photographic portraits, oral histories and video stories, or youth-led publications, murals and more.
Optimism
Through various Public Exchanges projects, particularly the Portrait Project, participants are able to self-determine and declare publicly their visions for their future selves and communities.
Inspire change
The Art Start Portrait Project and Family Portrait Project challenge visitors to examine their own stereotypes and one-dimensional rhetoric about families experiencing homelessness and historically marginalized youth. Some visitors feel moved to participate in working toward greater social justice and others may feel inspired to examine how they themselves wish to 'be seen”.
Installation Learning and Curation
As our Public Exchanges projects are participant-led, they are a part of every process including designing the display or exhibition of their projects. These are practical transferrable skills that can benefit their future careers.
Public Platform
In addition to the positive impact that these public projects provide for participants, it is equally gratifying for those who witness the projects and see themselves represented and feel motivated by those in the projects.
