Taking place on the 100th day of the Trump administration, the second annual citywide Teaching Artists Summit will provide a space for reflection and instruction on ways that arts pedagogy can create meaningful platforms for democracy, protest, and self-care.

Guest facilitators will share insights into empowering students during moments of societal change, lead a guided exploration of the Art Center’s exhibition PUBLIC SCHOOL, and introduce teaching artists to experiential processes that can be incorporated into their own classroom practices.

Organized by Chicago Artists Coalition and Hyde Park Art Center, the Summit will be open to teaching artists working across disciplines, contexts, and student populations from throughout the city. We will implement an application process to ensure that participants reflect the diversity of teaching artists and practices in Chicago.

9:30 – 10:00 am | Arrival, Check-In, Coffee, Artmaking

10:00 – 10:20 am | Welcome + Introductions

10:20 – 10:45 am | Morning Keynote Talk with Rachel L.S. Harper (Founder of Seen + Heard and PUBLIC SCHOOL co-curator)

11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Exploration + discussion of PUBLIC SCHOOL with exhibiting artists

Irina Zadov // Chicago Home Theater Festival
Irina Zadov will be facilitating a map making workshop as part of the Chicago Home Theater Festival Neighborhood Field Guide Project. This story collecting initiative will feature interviews, oral histories, art work, and organizing tools designed to pave cultural safe passages through neighborhoods often deemed as “dangerous” by illuminating marginalized stories and asking question which challenge collective assumptions.

Jacinda Bullie and Jaquanda Villegas // Kuumba Lynx
Let’s enter the space focusing on our radical purpose! Jaquanda and Jacinda will facilitate hands on activities, providing for a moment of self reflection before the day begins.

Jim Duignan and David Ladon // Stockyard Institute
Jim Duignan and David Ladon will have a mobile recording setup at which participating teaching artists will be invited to share reflections about their own experiences as teachers and students.

12:00 – 1:00 pm | Leisurely Lunch

​A catered lunch with be provided by Chicago Artists Coalition and the Hyde Park Art Center.

1:00 – 2:00 pm | Resistance Pedagogy Workshops focusing on protest and self-care.

Protest Banner Making // led by Aram Han Sifuentes
​Make your own banner or contribute to the collective banner for the Protest Banner Lending Library.

Talking Back with Punk Rock // led by Drea Smith
Drawing from current events, social and personal issues, participants of this workshop will develop lyrics that “talk back” to what’s going on in society at the moment and pair them with punk inspired chord progressions. Using punk rock as the model, teaching artists will work together to develop a message to send out to the world in the form of a song. Teaching artists will learn tools used in rock band classes to teach simple chord progression and internal rhythm and apply them to writing a song together as a band.

Zines and Pamphlets // led by Regin Igloria
This workshop will be an introduction to simple bookbinding techniques that allow for mass distribution. Materials, both traditional and non-traditional, will be emphasized including methods for building content. Participants will create a variety of books that can be worked into curricula of any subject.

Self-Care and Wellness Practices for You & Your Students // led by Rhonda Wheatley
Rhonda Wheatley will lead a wellness-focused discussion and open sharing session to help fellow Teaching Artists identify ways to integrate wellness practices into their lives and into the classroom. Writing exercises and practical tips for deepening focus and creativity as well as tactics for confronting self-doubt and the “inner critic” (and more) will be covered.

2:30 – 3:00 pm | Afternoon Keynote Talk with Lauren Ash (Black Girl in Om)

Lauren Ash, multifaceted creative entrepreneur, wellness visionary, and artist, explores the necessary relationship between holistic wellness and self-care for artists in a post-Obama political era. Reflecting on the vital role of artists now in sparking critical thought and continued revolt and representation, Lauren calls attention to the power of art for social change and revolution, as well as healing. Through this address, Lauren hopes to encourage artists to take time for both spiritual self-renewal and political community activism and advocacy.

3:00 – 4:00 pm | Happy Hour (optional)