The City of Oshawa began collaborating with Durham College’s Community Collaborations Course in 2015. Over the past four years, student's work has been showcased in three murals located at Civic Square (located on Centre Street at City Hall), vinyl images affixed to the windows of the Arts Resource Centre, and in Alexandra Park adjacent to Lakeridge Health Oshawa as well as inside the hospital. For the 2019/2020 project, we will be choosing locations in our Community Centres and Oshawa Seniors Community Centres.
Introduction
Community Collaborative Service Learning is a 2 part course offered during the 3rd year of the Durham College Fine Art Program. Community Collaborative Service Learning Outreach is part of the planning process for creating community connections for student artists as part of the Community Collaborations Service Learning 1 and 2 courses. Every year I spend time networking locally with community groups, charities, NFPs, private property owners, and municipalities. With the goal of relationship building with new community partners interested in investing in public artwork created by student artists. The process for the creation of these public art installations involves the limited reproduction and installation of student artwork. This way, students have the freedom to work in their preferred mediums and retain the original artwork. For the past 5 years I have taught this course and managed multiple public art projects in collaboration with various groups, TeachingCity and the City of Oshawa. If you would be interested in proposing a public art project involving student artwork please get in touch.
"Community Collaborative Service Learning 1 prepares students as problem-solvers able to address the complex challenges of the 21st century; promotes citizenship by educating students not only for careers and jobs but also for their roles as active and engaged community members; and creates opportunities for students to practice the rewarding work of citizenship. Students will collaborate in small teams with not-for-profit organizations, public schools, or small businesses. Course projects will help community groups achieve their goals and help students understand how classroom learning can be applied in real-life contexts and assist in the development of the economy and culture of this region. This course will challenge students to explore critical social and community issues such as sustainability, marginalization, poverty, and gender politics. Community Collaborations will add value to our community, prepare youth leaders, promote social and environmental justice, and connect students to the natural and social systems that sustain us all."
"Community Collaborative Service Learning 2 is a course within the Fine Art Program of Durham College. This course helps community groups achieve their goals and helps students understand how classroom learning can be applied in the real world. This course challenges students to explore critical social and community issues such as sustainability, marginalization, poverty, and community care. It provides students with role models and strengthens the economy and culture of our community. This course concludes with a reflection on what has been accomplished and what needs to be done to sustain the community benefits and personal growth initiated during this academic year. As the projects are completed, students and community partners will discuss what they think and how they feel about the experience, and how to best channel this new understanding into continuing action."