Arts Activities Support

Upstream Arts will carry out 6 interactive 12-week arts residencies for 90 adults with disabilities that will use the arts to develop work related social and communication skills, in collaboration with Midwest Special Services. Participants will have increased exposure to high quality artistic experiences in theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and poetry; access to a safe and creative venue to practice appropriate communication (body language, tone of voice, facial expressions) and rehearse workplace interactions; and develop soft skills that will increase their employability and work readiness. At least 50% of participants will experience a new art form for the first time. Between 70-90% will show improvement in work based social and communication skills.We will carry out a pre- and post-program evaluation at each program site (measuring number of participants, career goals, indications of arts exposure and arts learning, plus self-expression, conversation, and group participation skills); and Midwest Special Services staff will fill out evaluations on the program’s impact on their clients. Program reports, filled out by teaching artists after each session, will show how the arts activities worked on workplace situations; and meetings between program staff and teaching artists, and between Upstream Arts and Midwest Special Services leadership, will provide another venue for ongoing assessment.