Can Art Really Make a Difference?
Well we weren't the first people to think of this.
"The organization was called in to help the community come to terms with and resolve local race and class issues."
If you’ve read our mission statement or the articles in our blog you may have some questions or some doubts over whether or not Art can really make a serious difference to communities, let alone the world. But we challenge you to reconsider that point of view, the world is full of groups of like minded artists and activists teaming up to change peoples' views on the small scale, and organize real political change on the large scale as well. In our Arts in Action series we’ll show you artists both new and old, local and international who through the practice of their craft are making real differences, and improving the world bit by bit.
For many who are already in the theatre-activism scene Sojourn Theatre is a well known name. This company, famed for their production of How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes, has been an actively involved in issues across the country, perhaps most dominantly in Lima Ohio. In Lima Sojourn Theatre is practically a household name. The organization was called in to help the community come to terms with and resolve local race and class issues. In fact, they were so accomplished at the task they were brought in again years later as “first responders” to the community's crisis following a police shooting.
"they were so accomplished at the task they were brought in again years later as 'first responders' to the community's crisis following a police shooting."
Sojourn is just one example of theatre in action, reaching out to change both small communities and the national narrative. By working with individuals, organizations, and ingratiating themselves into politics they are able to help change the lives of countless people. To learn more about Sojourn and it’s community engagement you can visit their website at http://www.sojourntheatre.org/engagement.
To learn more about Sojourn and it’s community engagement you can visit their website at http://www.sojourntheatre.org/engagement.
It’s companies like this that we look to as forerunners on the path we walk, with your help one day ThreePenny Theatre Company can help communities like Lima and be another inspiring story to drive the next generation of artists to make a difference.
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Cody O'Hare is one of the Co-Board Members and the Development Director of ThreePenny Theatre Company. He's written multiple short plays, other works of fiction, and designs training courses for digital marketing, and dreams of creating and introducing exciting new theatre, that can help inspire social change.