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Inner-City Arts collaborates with Instagram on New Initiative #spreadheART

Create Wherever You Are! Grab some chalk and a friend (whom you are social distancing with) to do our next #visualart mini project, "Sidewalk Self-Portrait!"

Los Angeles, CA. With school campuses and arts institutions shuttered since March, cultural and educational organizations everywhere have swiftly transformed their service models for virtual spaces. In the case of creative learning center Inner-City Arts, that has meant engaging its young people in virtual classrooms through its long-standing relationship with Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as sharing instructional and cultural enrichment content online through its new, self-paced Art Space programming. Now, Inner-City Arts is collaborating with Instagram on a new initiative called #spreadheART to highlight stories of people across the globe creating art during this time.

“Create Wherever You Are” is one project for self-expression. Oreganizers say, “Grab some chalk and a friend (whom you are social distancing with) to do our next #visualart mini project, “Sidewalk Self-Portrait!”

The campaign launched Thursday, May 28 on Instagram (@InnerCityArts) with a collage of short videos highlighting celebrated global artists and students making art while sheltered in place, including NYC artist and author Adam J. Kurtz (@adamjk), Italian street artist Alice Pasquini (@alicepasquini), Australian muralist George Rose (@george_rose), NYC illustrator Grace Miceli (@artbabygirl), Ghanian musician Lord Paper (@lordpaper_), LA actor and Emmy nominee Richard Cabral (@richardcabralofficial), and Indian street artists

Do & Khatra (@dostreetart, @bykhatra). Four Inner-City Arts students from its “Work Of Art” employment program join to give an inspiring glimpse into how they are spreading positivity through their creations.

“The transformative power of creativity and caring relationships have always been critical to the well-being of the young people we have served since 1989, and even more so right now,” shared Inner-City Arts Co-Artistic Director, Michael Sample. “We are very grateful to Instagram and these generous artists from around the world for helping us create this initiative for our global community. It’s an opportunity for us to inspire each other, and encourage one another with heartfelt, creative messages that can spread healing and hope during this time.”

The true call to action for #spreadheART is to connect everyday people wherever they are through the making and sharing of art. Communities from all over the map will be encouraged to “Create Art. Share Heart. Inspire the World” with their own artistic messages. To give the public more insight into the spirit of the campaign, the kickoff will be marked by an Instagram Live conversation at 4pm PT with artists Lord Paper, George Rose, and Inner-City Arts student Samantha Nieves, hosted by Marissa Herrera, Inner-City Arts Associate Producer of The Rosenthal Theatre.

“During Covid-19, we’ve seen people using Instagram in creative ways to express themselves and stay connected—from hosting Instagram Live dance classes to posting visual artwork depicting their life in quarantine” says Carolyn Merrell, Global Head of Policy Programs, Instagram. “Our partnership with Inner-City Arts is designed to help celebrate how people are using art to come together during this time, and foster a sense of community and hope as we move into a new phase of recovery.”

In June, user-generated #spreadheART creations will be selected for a curated public art exhibition that will be projected outside Inner-City Arts’ Skid Row campus and other iconic Los Angeles landmarks.

ABOUT INNER-CITY ARTS
Founded in 1989, Inner-City Arts is a learning oasis in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Under the guidance of professional teaching artists, Inner-City Arts’ students are immersed in a safe and supportive environment where they may engage in a variety of visual and performing art forms in a studio setting. Services include core classes during the instructional day for grade K-8 students, after school and weekend workshops for teens and creativity based professional development training for educators. Children who attend Inner-City Arts develop skills that are highly valued in the 21st century workforce such as collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. WWW.INNER-CITYARTS.ORG

We are encouraging anyone to capture their creativity with a photo or video (dance, sing, play music, draw, paint, write) and share a message of love, hope, or healing with hashtag #spreadheART. Find the campaign on Instagram at @innercityarts.

Those seeking to support Inner-City Arts’ efforts to help youth and families with creative arts learning can get involved and make a donation of any size.

Elisa Klein

As the Editor and Publisher of Society Page, it’s my privilege to collaborate with Development Officers in the nonprofit community to honor patrons who make a difference. I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) I'm a nationally published writer with a passion for the work of nonprofits.