Social Entrepreneurship in the Arts

Social entrepreneurship is a hot topic in education right now. The idea that students can identify and solve social problems isn't new. But as more teachers look for ways to combine in-class learning with real-world impact, student projects that extend the learning beyond the classroom walls are gaining momentum. And with the explosion of technology in our homes and classrooms, kids have more knowledge of global issues than ever before. Through innovative student projects, kids are raising awareness for communities across the globe by partnering with local, national, and global nonprofits. In addition, they're working to identify problems in their own communities and finding innovative solutions.

I asked more 6,000 art teachers (I belong to a Facebook group of art teachers) from across the country and around the world how their students are becoming social entrepreneurs. If you're looking to introduce student art projects that have meaningful, real-world impact, here are a few ideas to consider.

The Empty Bowls Project is one of the most well-known projects that helps people in your local community. Anyone can organize an "empty bowls" event, which involves creating ceramic bowls and selling them with a bowl of soup to raise money for a local food bank. I heard about students as young as kindergarten all the way up through high school organizing and participating in these fundraisers. Connie R. Berger, art teacher at Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, says, "It is so apparent that students are energized by creating art that can help others. When students are authentically invested in their work, it really shows." At Millis High School in Millis, Massachusetts, art teacher Carol Haggerty said they “switched it up” last year and did ice cream instead of soup to raise money for the Millis Food Bank.