Pulse Arts Youth Leadership Initiative

Pulse Arts is creating a curricular framework for Bay Area arts organizations and secondary arts educators to serve as a guidebook for intergenerational and multicultural student leadership through the development and realization of public visual and performing arts projects within their communities.  This will influence the future faces and leadership styles of the arts by helping build a workforce that understands the value of social conscience, cultural influence, and creative impact. 

The curriculum will focus on leadership, social justice and activism through the arts.  Students will develop projects around significant issues in their communities and organize public events showcasing their efforts through an exhibition or performance.  Through the organization of these events, students will be mentored by industry professionals and taught about careers and leadership in the following 4 focus areas:
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Art Making
Students learn about professional art making through collaborating, creating and showing original works in a public setting. Mentors are professional creatives including artists, directors, choreographers, musicians, designers, painters, dancers, etc.  
Arts Entrepreneurship
Students learn about management and marketing through publicizing and coordinating a public exhibition and/or performance.  Mentors are professional creatives, business owners, staff, officers and board members of arts organizations, etc. 
Arts Education 
Students learn about planning, teaching, and mentoring through working with younger youth and engaging them in the process of collaborative creation.  Mentors are teachers, teaching artists, coaches, etc. 
Arts Production and Installation
Students learn about technical and/or managerial operations involved when producing and managing live events. Mentors are electricians, set builders, lighting designers, sound engineers, professional promoters, curators, etc.

Arts organizations can use the curriculum to build and/or enhance educational programs which include after school programs, school artist-in residence programs, mentorship/internship programs, and workshops.  
Visual and Performing Arts teachers, and Career Technical Education teachers in the Arts Media and Entertainment industry sector can use the curriculum to enhance and build programs around viable careers in the arts.  The guide will also support work around student leadership in arts fields, which is one of the 11 elements of a high quality career technical education program. 

Proposed Curricular Components:
Organization and design 
Planning and Evaluation   
Community Service 
Finance and Fundraising  
Leadership structure and project management
Public Relations and Advocacy 
Marketing and Publicity
Employability and Career Skills
City government and permits
Mentorships and Internships 

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