Winston-Salem chosen for social trial

  • 2015-08-30
EmcArts has selected Winston-Salem to test a pilot program to find out if social problems can be solved by non-traditional methods.

In total, 70 cities applied to be part of the program, but only two (Winston-Salem and Providence, Rhode Island) were selected to take part.

Hosting the program will be the Winston-Salem Foundation, the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, and the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at UNC School of the Arts. EmcArts' staff will help facilitate the program, and the Kresge Foundation has provided a $200,000 grant to help fund the effort.

The pilot program is trying to find solutions to mounting societal difficulties, including the growing inequity among different social strata and the fact that viewpoints are increasingly polarizing. Traditional strategies for civic engagement appear to be failing, and traditional methods are shutting out most people from the decision-making process. The pilot program will bring together people who hold differing viewpoints so they can work together to find solutions to these difficult problems.

The idea of using arts and artists to help in this effort is due to the fact that artists tend to be seen as unthreatening, and they may already be engaged with community members in a positive way.

Program organizers could work with brochure printers to create a booklet describing the program and its aims, for use by attendees, and the general public as well.