What is an Artivist?
This year, SF Youth Theatre is thrilled to receive the SF Arts Commission (SFAC) Artivist-in-Residence grant to nurture the artistic and professional talents of emerging and expert teaching artists over the course of three years. As a cohort, Artivists will design and implement socially responsive art and creative learning experiences as a means to heal and build community. In turn, Artivists are provided equitable compensation, professional development, coaching support, and opportunities to further their artistic practices as educators.
By naming the teaching artist cohort Artivists, SFAC strives to cultivate a healing and social justice-based approach that reflects and empowers BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals and vulnerable populations. This cohort will enable SFYT to reach a larger youth population by expanding our services throughout San Francisco through partnerships with SFUSD and community-based organizations.
SFYT is proud to welcome three emerging teaching artists to its Artivist Cohort: Daniel Benitez, Danika Butler and Guillermo “Yiyo” Ornelas. They will be mentored by a brilliant team of established SFYT teachers: Sally Davis, Maica Folch, and Michelle Jordan-- experts with years of experience in youth theatre. This teaching partnership model will simultaneously provide on-the-ground training to our emerging artists while supporting the lead teachers. SFYT Program Manager, Dyana Díaz will support the emerging artists and oversee the program.
We’re already having so much fun teaching in over 25 classes a week. SFYT is thrilled to be developing a new generation of teaching artists that will benefit our entire community. Thank you to SFAC for this incredible opportunity!
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