Addressing inequity and transforming schools through arts education

Turnaround Arts was in the midst of a redesign and had developed a new programmatic framework to explain its educational philosophy. The framework was overly academic and we were engaged to create an engaging, “arts-full” infographic to illustrate their vision, draw people in, and make audiences care.

Challenge

Turnaround Arts is a Kennedy Center program that transforms elementary and middle schools through the strategic use of the arts. The organization was launching a new programmatic framework to explain its philosophy to educators and the public — essentially its reason for being.. The strategy was solid, but the initial diagrammatic presentation wasn’t connecting with people. There was no story, only information. Stakeholders found it confusing, and it simply wasn’t resonating with key audiences. That’s when Turnaround Arts called on Tremendousness to “supercharge” its value proposition story.

Specifically, its overarching mission is to create a sense of  belonging for kids in underfunded schools or those who are struggling. First we needed to explain how experiencing, making, or connecting through art leads to learning and thriving. Then, to show how the arts help strengthen students’ sense of belonging by using creativity to explore their identity, mindset, and communities.

Action

We needed to make the story emotionally compelling, and more representative of the energy, creativity, and impact of the program. And not just that, Turnaround Arts needed this to be a tool to raise money and get buy-in from funders, new schools, and parents. We collaborated to design a visual story that puts viewers in the shoes of the kids experiencing the arts — whether painting, dance, photography, music, or even the culinary arts. Colors are used to represent positive impact in various ways. A key establishes meaning, and those colors flow through the visual, bringing to life the energy and impact Turnaround Arts’ programs can have on students in need. We paint a picture that shows how the arts can give youth a new sense of purpose, helping them to flourish.

Result

Turnaround Arts reports that the final visual — a 4-page brochure with a center-spread poster — is going over extremely well. Stakeholders agree that the piece showcases Turnaround Arts’ educational philosophy in a clear, engaging way, and makes the organization’s value abundantly (and artfully) clear. There is a before / after aspect to the story; it shows how to get from here to there and what that experience is like. This visual tool now helps Turnaround Arts show that through the strategic use of the arts in elementary and middle schools, its programs help fuel whole-school transformation in communities working to solve deep racial and economic inequities.