A thought-provoking experience for youth sparking creative discussion and action against racism.
(Looking for ARC for Jr/Sr High? Click here)
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
2023/2024 ARC workshops are SOLD OUT!
Contact us today to secure your spot for the 2024/25 season
Created in partnership with the Centre for Race and Culture, ARC is a highly engaging anti-racism program for youth. ARC incorporates age-appropriate, specifically-commissioned short films followed by in-depth discussion and a theatrical workshop exploring the themes in the films.
This program lays the foundation for children and youth to discover their capacity for compassion and understanding. Studies have shown that promoting early cultural literacy in children has a myriad of benefits, both towards a child’s empathy and in other academic aspects.
“There’s considerable evidence that cultural socialization is linked positively with mental health and academic outcomes.”
Journal of Marriage and Family, Vol. 82, No. 1, 2020
The path towards equity is a lifelong journey. ARC: Anti-Racism and Change utilizes the performing and creative arts as an educational tool to animate discussion around anti-racism and racial equity. This gives youth a jumping-off-point to continue navigating their world in respectful, culturally-sensitive ways.
“ARC engaged the students in ways that connect to them personally (dealing with racism), but also with how they treat others – newcomers, or people with different accents. ARC has started a conversation that I hope will continue to grow – ideally into change.”
A. Christie, Princess Alexandra School, Saskatoon SK
ARC Trailer – Div. II Videos
MORE ABOUT THE DIV. II PLAYS:
ALEBRIJES by Marina Mair-Sánchez
Moving to a new country can be scary, especially when others make you feel like you have to change to fit in. Fortunately, with magic alebrijes on your side, you can show others that stereotypes are never the whole story.
CITIZEN PLUS by Christine Sokaymoh Frederick
Two tweens are talking on the phone: when the conversation goes from social studies homework to talking about Indigenous people, the two discover they have different opinions and understanding about the issues. Cheyenne plays out a scenario in her mind and imagines how it could impact their friendship.
WORD NERD by Kunji Ikeda
When one classmate is feeling scared and excluded, how can an exploration of common language have such a complex mix of problems and solutions? Join in to unwrap ideas of “respect”, “community”, and “understanding” in beautiful new ways.
Credits
Films directed by Corben Kushneryk
Workshops created by Tracy Carroll and Anti-Racism Facilitators Sahar Charradi and Leslie Obol
Div. II Plays
ALEBRIJES by Marina Mair-Sánchez
Ale– Deviani Andrea
Sam– Daniela Fernandez
CITIZEN PLUS by Christine Sokaymoh Frederick
Cheyenne– Bethany Arcand-Kootenay
Nellie– Sarah Emslie
WORD NERD by Kunji Ikeda
1– Michael Vetsch
2– Gabby Bernard
Resources
Curriculum Ties:
- Health and Life Skills:
The aim of the Health and Life Skills is to enable students to make well-informed, healthy choices and to develop behaviours that contribute to the well-being of self and others. - Fine Arts – Drama:
Goal I : To acquire knowledge of self and others through participation in and reflection on dramatic experience.
Goal II: To develop competency in communication skills through participation in and exploration of various dramatic disciplines.
Goal III: To develop an appreciation for drama and theatre as a process and art form. - English Language Arts:
Listening and Speaking: Through listening and speaking, people communicate thoughts, feelings, experiences, information and opinions, and learn to understand themselves and others. Oral language carries a community’s stories, values, beliefs and traditions.
Viewing and Representing: These skills allow students to understand the ways in which images and language may be used to convey ideas, values and beliefs.
General Outcomes: Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences, describe similarities and differences between personal experiences and the experiences of people or characters from various cultures, read, write, represent and talk to explore personal understandings of new ideas and information. - Social Studies:
Specific Outcomes:
Gr. 4- appreciate how an understanding of Alberta’s history, peoples and stories contributes to their own sense of belonging and identity.
Gr 5- appreciate the complexity of identity in the Canadian context.
Gr 6- value the role of participation by citizens in diverse democratic societies.
Interested in theatre in schools?