Turnaround Arts
Learning Framework

Our Framework

Turnaround Arts Learning Framework: Arts-full Practices for Belonging

By collaborating with communities where students and adults Experience the Arts, Make Art, and Connect through the Arts in joyful and culturally responsive ways, Turnaround Arts champions belonging-supportive environments that respect every student’s identity, capacity to succeed, and their individual agency. These arts-full spaces encourage all participants to learn and thrive.

Components of the Learning Framework

 
 

Experiencing the Arts

  • Arts experiences are broadly defined and may include performances, exhibitions, creative writing publications, community events, and more.

  • When we experience the arts, we are in the role of audience, viewer, and/or participant.

  • We make meaning of arts experience through observation, analysis, and interpretation.

 
 
 
 
 

Making Art

  • Art-making involves creating and sharing original artwork. 

  • When we make art, we are in the role of artist and/or maker.

  • We grow as artists when we engage our authentic voice, personal relevance, and critical response in our art-making.

 
 
 
 

Connecting through the Arts

  • Arts connections refer to creative learning and arts integration across the curriculum.

  • When we connect through the arts, we are in the role of learner, teacher, administrator, and/or community member

  • We embrace creative learning when we build non-arts knowledge/skills and artistic capacities alongside each other, and when we use the arts as a means of interpersonal connection.

 
 
 

The Arts and Belonging

Arts-full practices support a sense of belonging for all students, enabling them to achieve the greatest learning and academic success.

Some outcomes to work towards:

  • IDENTITY- Students see themselves as artistic contributors with important stories to share.

  • MINDSET- Students see “people like them” as both successful artists and welcome audiences.

  • COMMUNITY- Families and community members are involved in arts experiences as artists and audiences.

 

The science proves that belonging helps the brain feel comfortable and allows us to focus on higher order thinking and learning.

Belonging in Brief

In these bite-sized videos, listen to experts in the field define belonging and its importance.

Why Turnaround Arts and Belonging?

Download the Learning Framework

Experience the Arts, Make Art, and Connect through the Arts. Create arts-full spaces that help all participants learn and thrive.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the invaluable contributions and collaborations to the Learning Framework from:

Framework Creators

Dr. Edie Demas

Laura Epperson

Stephanie Lash Kilpatrick

Other Turnaround Arts Team Members (current and former)

Holly Bass

Jonae Davis

Emilia Pazniokas

Erin Whalen

Thought-partners

Courtney J. Boddie

Sara Boyce

Dr. Niki Elliott

Jenna Fournel

Lorraine Martinez Hanley

Mel Harper

Tia Hentele

Ping Ho

Ron Gubitz

Dr. Jennifer Katona

Alysia Lee

James Miles

Dr. Linda F. Nathan

Jacqueline Suskin

Michael Wiggins

Dr. Dennie Palmer Wolf