BGCA’s Ashley Payton and Briana Boyd are BACK to introduce the INCREDIBLE themes for the 2023 BGCA National Arts Contest! We are already feeling inspired.
There are many ways to explore artistic styles and art forms. Boys & Girls Club of America approaches Arts learning in three different ways: 1) Arts Specific, also known as “arts for art’s sake,” 2) Arts Enhanced, and 3) Arts Integrated.
Let’s dive deeper into the Arts Integrated approach. Integration is the act of combining two or more parts to make a unified whole. Think about dessert- different ingredients are integrated to form that good ol’ apple pie. Or R&B music, the integration of both rhythm and blues. Similarly, within the Arts Integrated approach, youth are engaged in the creative process by exploring connections between specific art forms (Applied, Visual, Digital, and Performing) and another subject area to deepen their understanding of both the art form and the other subject area. An example of the Arts Integrated approach in programming is Lyricism 101, which helps youth explore and build technical skills in the arts through hip-hop and musical composition and literacy through storytelling.
The 2023 National Arts Contest is taking the Arts Integrated approach as we introduce new thematic categories. They feature some of the key elements for positive youth development and other important subjects youth and staff across the Movement have expressed interest in. The new thematic categories for the 2023 National Arts Contest are:
- Setting Expectations: Being Your Best Self
- Speaking Up: Youth Voice & Leadership
- Social Justice Through the Arts
- Wellness Inside & Out: Personal and Community Wellbeing
Why now? These new categories are a part of a larger strategy to make BGCA’s National Arts Contest more inclusive and responsive to what youth and their communities find value in. Connecting these themes with our four art forms- visual, applied, digital, and performing- is in perfect alignment with BGCA’s values. We know we are going to see not just creative and stunning pieces of art, but that we will see youth engage in critical conversations about the powerful impact of positive self-concept, youth leadership, social transformation, personal and communal healing, and joy.
Let’s take a closer look at the four themes and some guiding questions you can use to help youth as they make decisions about their projects. And even if you aren’t planning to participate in the National Arts Contest, you can use these to inspire events and projects all year long.
Theme #1 Setting Expectations: Being Your Best Self
We can support youth in their journey to discovering positive self-identity and self-efficacy by creating environments and expectations that normalize excellence and authenticity through . . . you guessed it . . . arts integration!
Click here for a deeper dive into this image, which features the various processes and structures that can support youth and teens with both holistic and creative self-development. Remember, being and giving your best self might look different depending on the day and the situation. Similarly, art showcasing youths’ best and authentic selves can take on various forms and artistic expression.
Guiding Questions for this category:
- What does my art say about what I value or believe in?
- How does my creativity express my interests and personality?
- How does my creative process demonstrate my diligence and commitment?
Theme #2 Speaking up: Youth Voice & Leadership
Recently while visiting the Edward H. White High School Club at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, I was able to be in the company of empowered teens, and it was truly one of those feel-good moments that you think only happens on TV. Two teen Club members led the tour, and it was evident that they are forces to be reckoned with. It wasn’t just because of their eye contact and firm handshakes, but they spoke passionately and clearly articulated their Club experiences in a way that demonstrated exercising their voice is a practice that has been normalized and encouraged. The teen members are under the guidance of a Club Director who thinks of youth voice and leadership with a “yes, and” mindset and how to problem solve with a “yes, but” mindset. This not only positively impacts the teens’ Club experience, but it allows them to critically think, amplify their voices, and strengthen their leadership skills. How powerful is that?
We often think of youth voice and leadership as only being about serious matters, but it can be fun too! The same Club shared the story of how the teens wanted to host a haunted house event for Halloween. Even though the director has only been in her position for less than a year, her response was followed by a series of “yes, and…” and “yes, but…” statements that required the teens to take leadership responsibility for the project while also supporting their teen voices! They set a theme of Icons of Terror, and did everything from marketing to designing a layout that optimized their Club’s space. Art was integrated as they used their resources, creativity, and imagination to create a haunted house they were proud of and an experience they will never forget.
Guiding Questions for this category:
- How can I use art to amplify my voice?
- What creative product can I create that demonstrates my expertise and thought leadership?
- How can I use art to educate others and be a positive role model?
Theme #3 Social Justice Through the Arts
As youth development professionals, we must identify approaches for supporting youth to be agents of change for themselves and their community by integrating arts-based and cultural activities with justice-minded practices. Social justice protests in 2020 struck a chord that continues to resound today. People across the Movement expressed interest in more social justice and arts-integrated content which has allowed youth to take action as they grow in their critical consciousness of self, social, and global awareness.
Examples of social awareness for social justice that youth can engage in might include communication and collaboration, recognizing and appreciating diversity, and building empathy and respect for others. These could manifest through a voting campaign or hosting an art show highlighting BIPOC artists. Reflecting both inward and outward about our personal stances on justice issues is a daunting task for adults, so imagine the magnitude this has on growing and developing youth! It might be easier for youth to understand, express, and advocate through an artistic lens, so let’s allow them to lean into creativity-based experiences that support their current and future-led social action.
Guiding Questions for this category:
- How can I use art to imagine a better world?
- Who does my art speak to and for?
- How does my creativity reflect the times?
Theme #4 Wellness Inside & Out: Personal and Community Wellbeing
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of overall health. Now that we know what wellness is, I want to talk about vacuuming. Sometimes it serves as a calming retreat as I become more mindful of my breathing…inhale on the forward pulls and exhale on the reverse. Other times, I get a burst of energy and I’m moved to put on a performance! Is it a far reach to say that that the act (art) of vacuuming presents an opportunity for me to practice wellness?
There are seven different types of wellness: intellectual, physical, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, and environmental. When I vacuum, I can experience about three or four different types of wellness. And we are not going to overlook the line art that was created in the process- you’d pay big bucks to see my handmade, crisp, symmetric, vertical lines! Wellness is an active term that includes all the intentions, choices, and actions we take toward optimal health and well-being, and we can tap into arts-based strategies to bring about wellness in ways that we might not have expected. Wellness and art are all around us, and I challenge you to help youth see that.
There are several resources that can help get you started, including Silk, an interactive generative art experience that supports emotional wellness. Bomomo allows users to choose between various shapes and motions to create abstract designs that can represent spiritual wellness. You can also check out this list of 100 Art Therapy Exercises to incorporate into your life, home, classroom, Club, and community.
Guiding Questions for this category:
- How can I experience joy and healing when engaging in the arts?
- How does the creative process cultivate my intellectual and social consciousness?
- How does my art contribute to others’ joy and healing?
Arts learning is a dynamic experience and practice as it can be utilized for pure leisure, exploration, self-actualization, and as a tool that deepens our understanding of other subject areas. There are many entry points and outcomes (download the BGCA Arts Experience Map for information on arts entry points), but one consistent fact is that arts are demonstrative and impactful. The new 2023 thematic categories facilitate a unique experience for youth across the movement to explore, appreciate, and elevate themselves as well as cultivate a more just and joyful world.
To learn more about the 2023 National Arts Contest and our other Arts resources, check out these links!
- 2023 National Arts Contest Staff Guidelines
- 2023 National Arts Contest FAQs
- Book an Arts consultation here!
- Click here to join BGCACreates, our online community for teaching artists!
- Visit Spillett Leadership University and search, “Arts Learning Journey” to access a collection of trainings offered to support youth development professionals leading Arts programming
- Register here to attend the Preparing for the 2023 National Arts Contest Webinar on Thursday December 15
What are your favorite arts programming ideas? How do you integrate arts into other program areas? Let us know! Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
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