Thirteenth International Conference on The Arts in Society

Abstract

Newcomers may experience a difficult insider/outsider dynamic in St. John’s, Newfoundland due to homogeneity of the local population. We explored experiences of belonging through our community-based Open Studio (OS) project, a voluntary after-school program, involving art making to help immigrant and refugee youth adapt. This process took a participatory action research perspective. It was grounded in ideals of Adlerian theory, collaborative community development, feminist thought and social justice. Art making was a social and developmental process not reliant on common language. We used a plain language needs assessment, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group. The process generated data on how OS informs cultural experiences and feelings of belonging and integration. As a space for social connection the OS was effective. We drew connections between Bettner & Lew’s (1990) four Crucial ‘C’s’ framework and some of our outcomes, namely that each of the Crucial ‘C’s’, surfaced for the participants. The OS was effective as a space for social connection. Courage evolved through art making and leadership competencies developed during mini-printmaking workshops with Canadian peers, and through experiencing and responding to a sense of risk to speak about and show one’s work in a school-based art exhibition. Additionally, friendships formed between ESL students who were not previously acquainted, thus connections were fostered.