Introduction of Community Art Engagement with Social Context
— How to plan community art workshops / exhibitions with NGOs and social organisations
With the increasingly complex social landscape, the intersection of visual art and community engagement has become a vital avenue for fostering dialogue, understanding, and change. This course is designed for artists, facilitators, and arts practitioners interested in leveraging the transformative power of community arts within non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social organisations. Participants will become equipped with the skills necessary to plan impactful visual arts workshops and exhibitions that resonate with diverse communities and address pressing social issues.
Throughout the course, participants will explore the frameworks that underpin art as a tool for social engagement, examining case studies that highlight successful collaborations between artists and community organisations. The curriculum emphasises the importance of understanding the unique social contexts in which these workshops occur, ensuring that artistic practices are culturally relevant and sensitive to the needs of the beneficiaries.
Participants will come away with practical strategies for designing workshops and community engagement that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. They will also learn how to create inclusive environments that encourage self-expression and empower individuals to explore their identities through art. The two instructors are professional key players in the arts-social cross-sector, bench-marking how artists and arts managers inspire and lead social engagement programmes with significant public exhibitions, such as Oxfam Hong Kong’s Poverty. Full-time exhibition (Working Poverty), BGCA’s Jockey Club Arts Make SENse (Arts for SEN children), ELCHK’s Jockey Club Artistry Creative Ageing Project (Arts for Seniors), Plan International’s Voices of the Children- Haai Ji Faat Baan (Children’s Rights) and Art-is-land Teaching Artist Training funded by CSTB.
Participants will be introduced to the current landscape, while learning from hands-on experienced professionals in implementing programme framework that not only enhance artistic expressions but also promote social awareness and community building. Join us in this journey to harness the potential of art expressions in addressing social challenges and fostering community resilience.
Course Content*:
*The course content may be adjusted based on the teaching pace and practical circumstances.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Art and Social Engagement (Vangi Fong and James Chong)
– The Role of Visual Arts in Current Society
– Understanding the Needs of Funders/ Communities/ Beneficiaries
– Defining Goals and Objectives for Project
– Historical Context: Art Movements and Social Change
– Can “Art” be a verb?- Theories of Engagement
– Case Studies: Successful Community Art Projects
Lesson 2: Understanding the Community (Vangi Fong)
– Researching Community Needs and Interests
– Identifying Target Groups
– ABCD- Assets Based Community Development
– Building Rapport and Trust within Communities
– Adapting Arts and Media to Diverse Audiences
Lesson 3: Practical Techniques in Community Arts (Vangi Fong)
– Overview of Various Art Forms by Local Cases
– Techniques for Encouraging Creativity and Self-Expression
– Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity in Art Practices
– Safety and Accessibility Considerations in Art Making
Lesson 4: Collaborating with NGOs and Service Organizations (James Chong)
– Building Partnerships: Identifying Potential Collaborators
– Understanding the Mission, Goals and hidden agenda of Partner Organizations
– Ethical Considerations in Community Art / Engagement Practices
– Navigating Funding and Resource Allocation
– Case Studies: BGCA’s Jockey Club Arts Make SENse (Arts for SEN children)
Lesson 5: Designing Workshops/ Engagement (Vangi Fong)
– Principles of Workshop Design: Structure and Flow
– Selecting Appropriate Art Mediums and Techniques
– Integrating Social Themes into Artistic Practice
– Creating Inclusive and Supportive Environments
Lesson 6: Evaluating Impact and Sustainability (Vangi Fong and James Chong)
– Methods for Assessing the Social Impact of Projects
– Reporting Outcomes to Stakeholders and Funders
– Possible Trends in Art and Social Engagement
– Course Reflections: Career Planning and Industry Development
Tutor
Vangi Fong
Vangi is a first-generation graduate of HKBU Visual Arts Academy, with a minor in Humanities. She is involved in community arts, art education and public participatory projects, specialising in curating art experiences and community participation initiatives. She is also an independent curator, university lecturer and director of The Hill Workshop, which she founded in 2012 to organise community art projects for schools and NGOs using various mediums. Vangi is dedicated to exploring different approaches to art intervention and promoting participants’ understanding of personal identity as well as their empathy towards others.
James Chong
Graduate of the first Profession Certificate in Arts Management course at the Hong Kong Art School in 2002, James is a seasoned arts administrator and social entrepreneur specialising in cross-sector collaboration. From writing theatre reviews and managing bookstores and restaurants to being a safety supervisor in the construction industry and organising public education activities at an international NGO, James went on to establish a social enterprise that promotes reading. He secured multiple sources of funding and participated in numerous social innovation projects that incorporated art and culture.
He has also published a multi-sensory audio description picture book “The Gift Beyond”, which won the Best Publication Award in the “Children and Youth Category” of the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Award 2023. After graduating with a Master degree in Anthropology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2020, James taught “Social Work and Social Entrepreneurship” class at Hong Kong College of Technology and is currently teaching Digital Creativity and Cultural Management courses in Master of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University.
| Period | 16 April to 21 May 2025 (every Wednesday) |
| Time | 7:00-9:30pm |
| No. of Lesson | 6 (Total of 15 hours) |
| Fee | HK$3,290 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | Cantonese supplemented with English |
| Course Code | ASSC-2193B-R |
| Age | 16+ |
| Entry Requirement | N/A |
| Venue | 15/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre |
