ArtThrust Teen Empowerment Program: Teaching Youth to Fly Against Resistance

ABSTRACT

Many communities across the United States are striving to foster positive social change, despite limited financial and human resources. Although there is no formula for change that will work in every community, transformation is happening through the efforts of artists and social workers using group methods. This article illustrates one model that connects contemporary art making, social practice art, and group art methods with art therapy activities. It will provide the foundational principles used in the ArtThrust Teen Empowerment Program to create positive change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth within a one-week intensive art-based program.

KEYWORDS:

• Art
• art therapy
• contemporary
• deliberative
• feminist
• group work
• LGBTQ
• nondeliberative
• social practice
• social work