Hi! My name is Crystal and I am the founder of Activate Arts. The mission of Activate Arts is to inspire arts activism in community. The model of this organization is unique in that it is using my personal experience as an arts activist to activate community art. I will invite you to join me in community activism by becoming an arts activist yourself. Activate Arts is also a nonprofit that organizes arts in community. I have worked for nonprofit organizations since the age of 17 (21 years). My range of nonprofit experience is vast, starting as a volunteer placed in parking lot duty at fundraisers to being an Executive Director. Activate Arts is an artistic risk I have been wanting to take for many years. I am creating a nonprofit model on purpose that is seeded in my personal methodology as a creative. Never before have I created a nonprofit website where I can speak to you as myself and in first person. I want to connect with you and create a relationship with you. Let's get started!
An arts activist is a person who activates arts in their community to create change.
If you can breathe you can be an arts activist.
To become and arts activist you must practice courage and claim your creativity! I am here to offer you guidance, give you ideas to reflect on, and connect you to every resource I can find about arts activism.
I am an interdisciplinary creative who graduated from Marylhurst University. My disciplines are art, music, conducting, music therapy, counseling, and education. I have had the honor of working with diverse populations across Oregon and will gradually share those stories with you through my blog. I am also a Spiritual Director and Death Doula. I have a passion for being with people and feel we guide each other to the life giving places through art. My main artistic practice is to gather people musically through community choirs and community instrumental groups. The pandemic has altered my artistic practice. This is why I come to you in this way. Virtually. Together we can explore the shifting normality of our human existence. I will offer monthly virtual arts activist challenges, invite you to participate in virtual artistic gatherings, and connect with you through blogging and podcasting. I am also down for letter writing and phone calls. What is beautiful about the creative process is that it manifest through limitations. I am grateful to have the opportunity to know each of you and activate arts during this time of isolation. My Alzheimer's Choir and I have a saying, "No matter what, we will always have love and music."
|