The Arts at RCOE in conjunction with the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery in Cathedral City have partnered to create their first Art Deck.

The Art Deck is an introductory activity suitable for any gathering where you are talking about, training about, or working with the arts. Its basis is the four artistic processes and all of the various reasons why the arts are so important in student education. This is a fun and interactive opening activity that takes ten minutes to complete and gets everyone warmed up and talking.

Click here to download a free copy of the Art Deck for your own use.

Here’s how you do the activity:

Step 1:

Hand out the Art Decks.

Have participants go through and look at each card, one by one.

Then, have them notice the four categories: CREATING, PRESENTING, RESPONDING and CONNECTING.

(You could give a brief overview of what these represent in the arts standards as the four artistic processes.)

Have them pick their favorite card, one that has an idea that really resonates with them.

(@ 2-3 minutes)

Step 2:

Split the group up into the four categories.

You can have color coded signs in different parts of the room, one for each category.

(ex.: red=CREATING, yellow=PRESENTING, blue=RESPONDING, purple=CONNECTING)

Find your group and discuss amongst the group why that is your favorite category.

(@ 2-3 minutes)

Step 3:

Within that group/category, have each person share out about your favorite card.

Why did you choose it?
How does it resonate with you?
What implications do you find for your work and/or your life?

(@ 2-3 minutes)

Step 4:

All groups take turns sharing out with the larger group.

(@ 2-3 minutes)

We would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Merryl Goldberg, at Cal State University, San Marcos, whose Arts=Opportunity cards were our inspiration for this project!