The North Woodward Community Foundation

A Proposal Prepared for

The North Woodward Community Foundation

The PaintCreekCenter for the Arts “Family Festivals”:

Using Art to Promote Diversity and Cultural Awareness

In a Family-Friendly Environment

Submitted by:

The Paint Creek Center for the Arts

407 Pine Street

Rochester, Michigan 48307

Ms Suzanne Wiggins

Executive Director

(248) 651-4110

May 4, 2009

I. Executive Summary

The PaintCreekCenter for the Arts (PCCA) recognizes the growing ethnic and cultural diversity of the Rochester, Michigan community and its surrounding areas. This drives the need forcultural and diversity learning experiences and programs that promote understanding of and appreciation for the traditions and heritage of others. We know that art can be a very effective media for teaching, understanding, and appreciatingthe value of diversity. We also recognize that, to be truly effective, we must offer programs that involvethe entire family and provide “something for everyone”. This increases the opportunity for family members to learn individually about diversity and other cultures, and to enjoy these discoveries together, which maximizes the impact and value of the learning opportunity. It also expandsthe participants’ awareness of the role of art in cultural and ethnic traditions, which furtherpromotes their appreciation of diversity within their community.We therefore requestfunding from the North Woodward Community Foundation in the amount of $1,000 to help address these needs with the successful implementation of the PCCA “Family Festivals” program.

This program will use local talent and recognized experts to present, interpret and explain their rich ethnic traditions using a multitude of art forms. There will be a total of three festivals lasting six hours each on a Saturday in June, August and October, with activities highlighting a different ethnic culture and region. Examples of activities include dance, music, drawing, sculpture, storytelling, writing, and ethnic foods. The Family Festivals eventswill be structured and conducted so that entire families can participate in learning experiences together, rather than as individual family members in separate activities. Our past experience with arts-based events shows that those which are led by local artists and cultural experts, and involve the entire family, produce the richest, most effective kinds of learning opportunities forboth performers and participants.

The outcomes that the Family Festivals program will achieve include a significant, measurable reduction in the incidence of bigotry, prejudice and hate crimes in the southeast Michigan region, and a significant increase in the level of interest in diversity education and other cultural events in the area served by the PCCA.

II. Purpose of the Grant

Statement of Need –

According to the Detroit Regional Chamber, data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments show that the population in the Detroit Region grew by 1.5% (81,435) from 2000 to 2005. Further research reveals that much

of that growth is due to both automotive and other technical and manufacturing businesses based outside of the United States. As an example, OaklandCounty reports on their economic development website that they areMichigan’s leading center for international commercial activity withover 700 companies representing 33 countries with business locations there. Furthermore, 67 percent of foreign owned firms in Southeast Michigan are located in the county, and 50 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies have business locations in OaklandCounty. The net result of this migration in many cases is that as these families buy homes, enroll their children in public or private schools, and attempt to be assimilated into the fabric of their adopted communities, those communities become more diverse and less homogeneous. The Detroit Regional Chamber reports that, in 2004, a total of 383,970 residents of the Detroit Region (7% of the population) were born in foreign countries, and 44% of those arrived in the U.S. after 1990. The Oakland County Business Roundtable reports the county in 2004 had a 12.2% increase in racial diversity sincethe 2000 Census. In addition, the number of foreign born citizens

in OaklandCounty has risen from 10% to 12.4%.The table below shows some of the percentages for different racial/ethnic groups in according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau report:

% African % Hispanic

Community % Caucasian American % Asian Latino

OaklandTownship 94.1 2.0 2.61.2

Rochester 92.4 2.23.71.7

Rochester Hills 88.8 2.4 6.82.3

WestBloomfieldTownship 84.2 5.2 7.81.4

Troy 82.3 2.1 13.31.5

Auburn Hills 75.9 13.2 6.34.5

In summary, these data clearly indicate that diversity is steadily increasing in our southeast Michigan communities to levels not previously experienced. Given this inevitable change in the makeup of our communities, and the increased chance for interaction with those of different cultural or ethnic backgrounds, the question becomes whether the community members of all the ethnic and racial groups involved are able to adjust to their new environment.

When there is a lack of understanding and appreciation for other ethnic and regional traditions, or cultural differences exist between the members of two communities, bigotry, hatred, prejudice and stereotypes often result. Young children are especially vulnerable to the destructive consequences of bias and stereotyping. According to the

Anti-Defamation League ( “Although children are not born with prejudice, by early childhood they have already acquired stereotypes or negative attitudes toward those that they perceive as “others.”(Lessons in Respect, 2003). Researchers tracking the development of racial attitudes in children found that almost half of the 200 children they studied had racial biases by age six (Parents Magazine, 2001). Another study reported on the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) states that children are aware of racial and gender differences at a very young age, and by age twelve they have formed stereotypes. These studies illustratethe fact that the foundations for hatred are formed at a very early age and that diversity and anti-bias training are critical when children are young.”(Italics are mine).

A study by Derman-Sparks (1989) and Katz (1982) found that “Predispositions acquired [in early childhood] can often lay the foundation for the manifestations of prejudice, which left unexamined, have the potential to escalate into violent acts of hate as children grow older.” Again quoting the article “Diversity and Tolerance Education in Schools” from the NCPC website, “[recent] data collected from 2,800 police departments in thirty-two states revealed 4,755 bias-related crimes...In many cases, such behavior results from lack of education and exposure to people who are different from oneself. Instituting programs that teach students how to relate to others from different backgrounds and cultures helps students learn early in life how to appreciate diversity and relate peaceably to other people.”

Diversity education programs are needed that can focus on entire families, and especially young children, in a family-friendly way. As stated in the NCPC article referenced above, “Educating students about other cultures, races, religions, and gender helps them understand people different from themselves. Understanding ultimately leads to greater tolerance. Instilling critical thinking skills, creating role-playing, and cooperative learning have proven effective teaching tools.” However, these programs and their message must be applied early and often throughout a child’s life. Recent studies show that tolerance education is most effective between the ages of four and nine years. Therefore, it is important to teach tolerance to young children and continue reinforcing the message over time.

One of the most effective ways to teach anawareness and appreciation for the value of diversity is through various art media. Using the artistic heritage and beauty of a region or culture often promotes understanding on a level that is hard to match using other methods. With respect to educating our children to live, work and succeed in an increasingly pluralisticsociety, Lorena Johnson states in her article “An Art Centered Approach to Diversity Education in Teaching and Learning” that “An arts-centered approach to diversity education...can provide students with the essential knowledge,

experiences and skills to function, learn think and communicate across cultures.” An art-centered approach to diversity education “provides students with both a window and a mirror – a window into others’ reality, experiences, stories and memories, and a mirror that reflects the student’s own cultural identity and community” The PCCA Family Festival program is therefore our approach to the strategy of using the arts to teach diversity and tolerance in a family-friendly setting. This series of six hour learning events will use multiple art forms to help the participants learn about, understand and appreciate the contributions of a different culture and racial group (African Americans, Asians and Hispanic/Latinos) to their community on each of the three days it is offered.

Another need results from arts-centered learning eventsthat are targeted for particular age groups or individuals, as opposed to being a learning opportunity for entire families of all ages. Such programs prevent the sharing of the learning experience within the family and across generations. Past programs at PCCA, such as the Saturday Passport Parties and the Asian-American Cultural Art Series that offer “something for everyone”, have shown that learning programs involving the whole family are the most successful. The Family Festivals program that we are currently planning will provide even richer, more diversified cultural experiences.

Our target audience includes a cross-section of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw county residents from pre-school children through senior citizens. Studies have shown that 60% of our audience resides in OaklandCounty. This population is largely suburban, highly educated, with a median household income in 2005 of $69,071. As mentioned previously, U.S. Census Bureau figures state that this population is made up primarily of Caucasians, African American, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asians.

Other Similar Programs –

PCCA tries very hard not to duplicate similar programs in surrounding areas, so that the available level of funding is maximized across southeast Michigan. Current anecdotal evidence and observation leads us to believe that no other diversity or culturally-based arts programs are currently planned or implemented in this area to address the need for diversity instruction and appreciation in a family-friendly, focused setting.

In July and August 2006 we presented a three-day Asian Cultural Arts Series, partnering with various Asian artists and community groups. This series was sponsored by Pulte Homes and supported by many local businesses, and featured hands-on art activities, artist demonstrations, music and dance performances, and foods reflective of the extensive Asian population of this area. This series drew a cross section of visitors from all over the community, and broadened the audience for all our programs.In fact,

our guest registry indicates that we serve visitors of all ethnic groups from all over southeast Michigan, as well as regional, out state, and international visitors.

Other past PCCA projects, such as theAsian-American Cultural Arts Series and the Saturday Passport Parties, addressed the need for an arts-based diversity and cultural learning experience. However, they were limited in both scope and the extent to which they encouraged participation for the whole family. In particular, the Saturday Passport Parties were not specifically designed to engage the parents or encourage their participation with their children. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why the Saturday Passport Parties were discontinued. Our intent and objective with the Family Festivals is to address these additional needs and expand the program’s appeal, which would include engaging performance, art-making activities, storytelling, experiential workshops, cultural objects, and delicious ethnic foods, all in a forum that promotes and encourages participation for all members and generations of a family.

Goals, Objectives and Outcomes -

Three specific goals have been identified for this program:

1. To help program participants increase their awareness and appreciation of the value of a diverse population in a community
2. To help program participants understand how art reflects different cultural and ethnic beliefs and traditions
3. To show how art provides insight into the beauty and richness of diversity

To ensure that these goals are achieved by the Family Festivals program, the following objectives have been identified as being critical to the program’s success:

• At least 50% of the participants will have learned something about another culture that is new to them or they were not aware of before
• At least 75% of the participants will acknowledge that the Family Festival events were informative, educational and helpful with respect to how they perceive and interact with people of different races or ethnicities.
• At least 50% of the participants will have participated in more than one of the three different festivals offered
• At least 70% of the participants who come from families of three or more people participated as a family unit (including at least one parent)
• At least 50% of the participants indicate a strong interest in attending similar art-centered diversity and cultural events offered in the future.

The survey questionnaires, which are discussed further in the “Evaluation” section, will be constructed to reflect these objectives. They will then be summarized and analyzed after the event to track and understand how well these stated objectives were satisfied.

The desired outcomes of this program can be stated as:

• A recognizable and measurable reduction in the incidence of hate crimes and racially-motivated incidents in the area served by the PCCA.
• A measurable and significant increase in the level of interest in future diversity awareness and cultural events in Rochester and the surrounding communities

Program Description -

The PCCA Family Festivalprogram consists of three separate, one-day cultural heritage festivals (African American, Asian and Hispanic/Latino), each held on a different Saturday during the months of June, August and October but using a similar structure and art media for each. It represents an improvement over past PCCA programs in that it expands upon the cultural scope represented by the Asian-American Cultural Arts Series, and is more family-oriented than the Passport Parties by virtue of the increased opportunities for family members of all ages. The program activities will be held in the PCCA historical building in downtown Rochester, which provides easy access to the facility and ample parking. When combined with the available tent space, this allows us to handle over 400 people at a time. Furthermore, the availability of on-hand art materials and our ability to adjust the sample sizes of food used in the demonstrations provides us with significant flexibility. Each festival will highlight a different culture or country, as expressed in a variety of art forms. These events will incorporate engaging performances by artists, actors, and dancers; art-making activities such as drawing, painting or clay modeling; storytelling; experiential workshops; demonstrations of cultural artifacts that can be shared with the community; and delicious ethnic foods. A choice of age-appropriate versions of the same program will be offered concurrently for children and adults, so that meaningful events could be held for all ages. For example, mask making, calligraphy, puppet-making, book-making, origami, and painting are all examples of available children’s activities, while corresponding adult activities will focus on lectures, musical performances and dance, art discussions, and drawing.

The project director for the Family Festival is Mary Fortuna, the full-time PCCA Festival Director since 2005, and previously the Exhibitions and Education Director. A former gallery director with 18 years experience with non-profit arts organizations, she is responsible for the development of our long range festival and educational events plan.

Ms. Fortuna heads up a committee that is selecting, planning for and executing each of the events that make up the festivals so that they are culturally accurate with respect to the intended custom or tradition. She will also work with local professional artists, administrators, community leaders and art patrons to create a visually exciting and engaging experience which celebrates our rich cultural diversity. For example,

employees and volunteers from the J C Drum company in downtown Rochester supported and participated in a recent Saturday Passport Party by demonstrating an African Drum Circle for event participants. And local Asian American and African American artists gladly volunteered to lead classroom discussion and demonstrate different regional art forms, including clay sculpture, dancing, music, and drawing during the Asian American Cultural Series event. PCCA members will also provide valuable additional resources for identifying and obtaining qualified teachers, artists and performers, as well as providing critical program-related assistance.