Virtual bridges �Connecting online with artolution
Through our Virtual Bridges initiative, we seek to create new platforms for virtual connection through the arts and technology, providing opportunities for relationship-building across borders, educational and creative programming in virtual spaces, and spreading life-saving messages to vulnerable communities in response to the pandemic.
Artolution facilitates online art-making experiences that allow participants to create collaborative works of art with their peers across the world. All of the following projects will provide opportunities to meet participants in other communities and countries, and learn about their cultures, lifestyles and social contexts.
METHODOLOGY
our mission
Strengthening communities in crisis through the power of art.
We focus on developing local leaders in the arts to use collaborative art-making as a tool for building community resilience, positive social change and the agency to shape their own story.
introduction
Artolution’s collaborative arts programs reach some of the world’s most isolated communities around the world: refugees, survivors of genocide and children who have experienced armed conflict, among others. ��The current COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the isolation and desperation of the youth, families and artists we serve. This document outlines our objectives during this time and our newly-developed virtual art-making programming, now being rolled out with local Artolution artist teams in our core programs across the world:
Goals & objectives
Now, more than ever, we are reminded that when we come together as individuals, we impact the larger community around us. During this time, we aim:
It begins with �our artists!
Artolution teaching artists meet together via video conference on a weekly basis to learn a variety of skills related to design, digital art, and storytelling. These training sessions are foundational to the Virtual Bridges initiative; our artists are then able to build on and use these workshops to take to their communities to discuss critical social issues and to build healthy relationships in this time of social isolation.
Artolution virtual workshops in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement for South Sudanese in Northern Uganda
PROGRAMMING
Designed for adaptability
Final collage from recent virtual painting project in Colombia
Artists and participants are learning a variety of skills related to design, digital art and animation through programs that are free and available on both Android and iOS on their cell phones or tablets. These skills are applicable to other design programs, such as Photoshop, and are therefore useful in educational and employment settings.
Artolution and our partner NGOs are providing reliable internet connectivity to our teams, even in remote areas and refugee camps. Each project is designed to be taught virtually; however, this initiative is also designed for accessibility. All foundational projects can also be followed along using analog tools (paper, paint, pens, pencils, markers or any other accessible materials).
CREATE YOUR OWN CHARACTER
A foundational aspect of the Virtual Bridges initiative is teaching participants how to create their own character. ��An Artolution artist meets with a group of participants via video conference to lead a workshop on character development. Participants will learn to create their own fantastical/mythological/ superhero character, including the origin story, superpowers, weakness, physical appearance, etc. They then explore their character through a variety of artistic mediums, using whatever materials they have around their home.
Activities:�
�Once each participant has created one or more works of art based on their characters, they will present them to the group.�
Requirements: Internet connection, device for video conferencing, and general drawing materials (pencils, paper, markers, etc.)
PROGRAMMING
Creating a digital artwork
Artists and participants will learn a variety of skills related to design and digital art through programs such as IbisPaint X, available on both Android and iOS on their cell phones or tablets.
Participants will learn to:�
The result will be a digital art collage that combines the works of all the participants, as well as short videos of the process, which can be shared on social media platforms.
�Requirements: Internet connection, smartphone or tablet. For the DIY stylus; a piece of aluminum foil, a pencil, a piece of cotton/q-tip, small cup of water and tape.
PROGRAMMING
Colombia: digital art and design workshop
ANIMATE YOUR CHARACTER
Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of creating a simple work of animation featuring their character. This workshop uses the app FlipaClip, available on Android and iPhone. ��The final result is a compilation video that features the work of each participant. �
Requirements: Internet connection and device for video conferencing. Download FlipaClip app on smartphone or tablet.
PROGRAMMING
MAKE A TALKING PORTRAIT
Participants will learn to create a portrait of their character and watch it come to life! This workshop involves
learning traditional portraiture skills, which they then use to make a full-color rendering of their character. Using the cell phone app MotionPortrait, available on Android and iPhone, participants will learn to make their characters speak. The end result is a short video featuring each of the final works.
�Activities:�
Requirements: Internet connection and MotionPortrait app on smartphone or tablet; paper, pencils and any coloring tools (paint, colored pencils, markers, etc.)
Create your own story
Another foundational aspect of this program invites participants to envision their character in a world of their own creation using recognized elements of building a story.
During the workshop, the lead artist will teach storytelling fundamentals: setting, plot, narrative arc, theme, character development, etc. While collaborating together on a story, participants will also learn how to build a complete narrative from beginning to end. �
Upon completion of the group story, each individual participant will create their own personal character stories to present to the group in the next session.
Activities:�
Requirements: Internet connection, device for video conferencing, and general drawing materials (pencils, paper, markers, etc.)
storyboard
PROGRAMMING
Animate your story
Participants will learn to animate their storyboard using stop motion animation techniques. Each participant will present their animated story to the group. The final result will be a short compilation video that includes everyone’s animation. �
Activities:�
Requirements: Decent internet connection, device for video conferencing; Stop Motion Studio app.
For model figurine: flour, water, salt, a mixing bowl, food coloring or washable paint, a small cardboard box/shoe box. Also, various crafts materials, i.e. scissors, colored paper, glue, paint, etc.
Artolution virtual workshop in Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan
PROGRAMMING
PUPPET THEATRE
Participants will learn to create their own puppets using household materials. ��Together, they write a short theatrical skit featuring their puppets as characters. After rehearsing it, they will perform it online and make a short film.
Activites:�
Requirements: Internet connection and device for video conferencing. For puppet-making, materials may include some of the following: paper plates, cardboard tubes (from toilet paper etc.), empty egg cartons, colored paper, empty plastic soda bottles, glue, tape, paint, scissors.
MASK MAKING AND VIRTUAL THEATRE
Using video conferencing, lead artists will guide a group of participants in the writing and rehearsing of a short theatrical piece. After developing the characters for the skit, participants will learn how to create masks using household materials. Once complete, each participant will act in the production, using their masks to illustrate their character.
Activities:�
Requirements: Internet connection and a device for video conferencing. Mask-making materials include items such as: paper plates, paint, shoe string, glue, markers, scissors.
VIRTUAL DANCE-OFF
Participants will teach each other dance steps, resulting in the creation of new choreographies and a virtual dance party. Artolution performance teaching artists will then guide the group through the process of creating a dance-based performance that tells a story. The resulting work will be a live, online performance and a short film that can be shared on social media.
Activities:�
Requirements: Internet connection and a device for video conferencing.
2020 virtual dance-off between participants� in Brooklyn, NY and Cali, Colombia
VIRTUAL REALITY PROJECTS
Artolution artists and participants equipped with Virtual Reality (VR) headsets will meet in a virtual space, where they will learn 3 VR art-making programs. Each participant will create their own avatar and will have the opportunity to create art in real time with people in other communities and countries around the world.
Activities:�
Requirements: Each artist and participant will require a VR headset such as the Oculus Quest. If small groups are able to meet in person, they can share a headset. Internet connection and smartphone are also required.
Digital art exchanges
Artolution facilitates virtual exchanges between vulnerable communities to create a space for learning about each others’ cultural differences, similarities, and stories. Digital art exchanges can be done using any of the virtual activities described above.
In the example to the right, displaced youth in Colombia, including newly-arrived Venezuelans, and Syrian refugee girls in Jordan learned about one another, created digital art together, and shared a connected experience.
Requirements: Internet connection, devices to create digital art, art pieces can also be done with analog tools.
Our impact
Artolution has teams of local teaching artists, each trained and certified in the Artolution methodology, leading community programs year-round in the Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan, the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, and the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement for South Sudanese in Uganda, as well as regular projects in Colombia, Brazil, the United States and more.
~6,000
Our programs have served over 6,000 participants from refugee, displaced and vulnerable communities.
30
Local, international and corporate partnerships that were built in 2019
Core Region
Artolution’s Presence in 2019
64
Artolution has trained and certified 64 artists across the world to run collaborative art-making programs.
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Artists in Uganda
Rohingya Artists
International Artists
Syrian Artists
Colombia Artists
Thank you!
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Artolution is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in NYC