I AM BEACH Grant Application
Executive Summary
I AM BEACH is a youth-led community arts initiative that aims to place positive images of youth of color in the Rainier Beach neighborhood through an art installation series. We request a grant in the amount of $40,000 to fund this project that will install 3 art pieces in the Rainier Beach Community Center, Our Safeway and New Holly Family Center.
Organization
I AM BEACH envisions a space where all Rainier Beach youth are reconciled to self, family, community and world in order to thrive, create and bring their voices and talents into actualization. I AM BEACH is on mission to create positive youth-owned spaces and youth-designed and made art installations that break negative perceptions of youth of color and other vulnerable youth populations.
I AM BEACH” was created after a survey conducted with community members and parents as well as a listening project with youth of Rainier Beach where participants voiced need for positive influences for youth in their community and more positive opportunities for youth to be involved in. Participants thought the art installations should be showcased in space where the community visits so that community members could be reminded of the power of resilience in Rainier Beach and their part in that movement.
I AM BEACH” was created after a survey conducted with community members and parents as well as a listening project with youth of Rainier Beach where participants voiced need for positive influences for youth in their community and more positive opportunities for youth to be involved in. Participants thought the art installations should be showcased in space where the community visits so that community members could be reminded of the power of resilience in Rainier Beach and their part in that movement.
Project Description
Over the next year the "I AM BEACH" series and initiative will produce 3 art installations at 3 separate sites within the community, with the projected sites being Our Safeway, Rainier Beach Community Center and New Holly Family Center. Each installation will have different theme, projected themes being " I AM FREE", "I AM AWAKE" and "I AM CHANGE". The series will be completely youth-led and spearheaded and will be documented in a video series that will be made into a documentary and shown throughout the community and city in order to call others into this work. "I AM BEACH" seeks to call each resident of Rainier Beach into action and will need the following participants:
After art installations are completed and video journals are edited, community members and stakeholders ( and anyone!) will be invited to a ribbon-cutting and public panel-forum at each installation site. Public panels will consist of participants of the projects and allow the community to engage with youth in the process of creating art pieces as well as ask questions of participants.
Once displayed at sites, "I AM BEACH" pieces will be available for viewing for at least 3 months at each site. During that time, anyone who comes in contact with these pieces will be able to interact with the art piece by answering the question, "What does this image evoke of youth of Rainier Beach?" and posting their answer on a community bulletin board that will be displayed next to each image and each site as well as on social media through the #IAMBEACH platforms.
- 10 youth participants for each site; with a total of 30 youth artists
- 3 Artist Mentors for each site; with a total of 9 Artist Mentors
- Board Members; ages 12-90, projected need for 10-15 members ( board members to be in charge of items such as: press engagement,marketing and social media, community gathering event planning )
- Community gathering spaces for monthly meetings to talk about project status
- 3-5 video editors and/or producers; ages 12-90, to conduct video journal series and create documentary
- 20 community members to commit to take surveys throughout project
- community and outside stakeholders for funding and support, we want to pay all artists involved and create the most compelling art installations possible!
- ALL commmunity members to come to art openings at installation sites
- ALL community members and art-viewers to participate in ongoing “I AM BEACH” stories as collected at each installation site
After art installations are completed and video journals are edited, community members and stakeholders ( and anyone!) will be invited to a ribbon-cutting and public panel-forum at each installation site. Public panels will consist of participants of the projects and allow the community to engage with youth in the process of creating art pieces as well as ask questions of participants.
Once displayed at sites, "I AM BEACH" pieces will be available for viewing for at least 3 months at each site. During that time, anyone who comes in contact with these pieces will be able to interact with the art piece by answering the question, "What does this image evoke of youth of Rainier Beach?" and posting their answer on a community bulletin board that will be displayed next to each image and each site as well as on social media through the #IAMBEACH platforms.
Project Goals , Objectives and Outcomes
Goals:
To create 2-3 youth-made art installations that illustrate positive present youth involvement and/or historical youth figures in Rainier Beach using text, photos and/or two-dimensional art.
Objectives:
To create 2-3 youth-made art installations that illustrate positive present youth involvement and/or historical youth figures in Rainier Beach using text, photos and/or two-dimensional art.
Objectives:
- To create 2-3 youth-made art installations in 1 year in spaces where youth in community already gather.
- To create artist teams consisting of at least 5-10 youth artists and 2 artist mentors for each installation site with goal of finishing projects in 6 months.
- Youth have opportunities to grow artistic skills and invest in community.
- All youth artist teams given opportunities to lead and vision and utilize and grow talents.
- Youth artists engaged in positive relationships with self, team and community
Monitoring & Evaluation Plan
At the very beginning and very end, youth will complete the following survey to track the building of positive identity within them. Additionally, I will have community members complete a separate survey in order to track their perception of youth in their community and if it has changed at all since the beginning of this initiative.
Additionally, youth and community members will participate in documentary style video series through out this initiative. These videos will be shot at community meetings and in the areas where art installations are being made. These videos will aim to capture 100% of youth involved in project and 10-25 community members who commit to being part of the video series and project.
Here are some sample questions that will be asked throughout project:
Youth Questions for Video Journal
Additionally, youth and community members will participate in documentary style video series through out this initiative. These videos will be shot at community meetings and in the areas where art installations are being made. These videos will aim to capture 100% of youth involved in project and 10-25 community members who commit to being part of the video series and project.
Here are some sample questions that will be asked throughout project:
Youth Questions for Video Journal
- Describe an experience where you felt racially profiled by the police?
- Describe an experience you felt profiled based off your race, religion, gender and/or sexual orientation
- What do people say about Rainier Beach? What do you say?
- How would you describe your expectations for yourself? How would you describe others expectations of you?
- Describe a time you witnessed ( or experienced as a young person) profiling of youth based off their race, religion,gender and/or sexual orientation
- What are the pressures on youth in your community?
- What do people say about Rainier Beach? What do you say?
- What are your expectations of youth in your community?
Allies
“I AM BEACH” is partnering with Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Rainier Beach; A Beautiful and Safe Place for Youth, Rainier Valley Chamber of Commerce to establish relationship with reputable organizations who already seek positive community development in Rainier Beach. We desire to develop relationships with our host sites for the art installations, these sites being: Our Safeway, Rainier Beach Community Center and New Holly Family Center to make this initiative sustainable within our community. Additionally, Rainier Beach High School will host artist teams in the school's various art rooms and New Holly Family Center will host monthly community gatherings.
Budget
Estimated budget for I AM BEACH initiative is as followed:
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