Collaborate for the Future with New Allies Video Activities Discussion Guide:
ART HYPERBOLIC CORAL REEF Engaging new publics through art and the environment
GREENBELT CULTURAL CENTER Celebrating cultural diversity in a natural setting
LILL STREET ART CENTER Reconnecting people to food through art Watch these video segments about three events that combine art and the environment to find out how Chicago-area organizations are creating a more sustainable region that values its natural heritage and prioritizes a better quality of life for all. Then, use the discussion questions to compare the examples you’ve seen, and learn more about five common concerns that link social and environmental issues in these organizations’ work: climate change, youth development, arts/creative practices, health and food, and economic development. Discover how these innovative approaches to sustainability can inspire your own work, organizational partnerships, and visions for the future!
Discussion Questions 1. Arts and creative practices are a common concern for the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit project, the Fiestas Patrias festival at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, and the Corn Celebration at Lill Street Art Center. Describe how each event relates this common concern to the broader concept of sustainability. Which particular social and environmental issues are linked through this common concern? 2. Compare the solutions that each group created to address the challenges identified in the video segments. How do they overcome the hurdles to achieving the results they’re looking for? What are some of the differences and similarities in how these three groups addresses their challenges? 3. Brainstorm some ways in which the arts are critical to creating sustainable communities. What role do they play in educating and connecting individuals and communities? 4. A sustainable region is one where both people and nature thrive. How has your understanding of sustainability changed after watching these videos? Brainstorm three ways to implement what you’ve learned about sustainability to your own work, school, or community.