COMPAS

COMPAS is an arts education and engagement organization. Our mission is to deliver creative experiences that unleash the potential within all of us. We do this by working with a wide range of organizations – schools, out-of-school programs, social service agencies, youth programs, libraries, programs for older adults, jails and other justice-involved programs, pediatric hospitals, shelters, and more – to bring creative programs TO their sites. We work with sites to co-create culturally responsive and highly impactful, creative programs that engage their participants and are integrated into their existing programming. The 100+ artists and ensembles on our roster of teaching artists are core to our success. They lead programs in many literary, visual, musical, and performing art genres. Our Teaching Artists are practitioners of their art form with extensive knowledge of its cultural and historical context, experience making the art form, and expertise in teaching it to others. Over 50% of our teaching artists identify as BIPOC (representing over 40 racial and ethnic groups), LGBTQIA+, an immigrant, living with a disability, or a combination of these identities. COMPAS artists teach from their experience, which heavily intersects with their cultural identities. Many call themselves culture bearers as they feel like sharing their culture is inherent in sharing their art. We see the impact of artists sharing their stories and how their willingness to do so allows others to share their own story. Presenting participants with people who have strong connections to their cultures and their cultural identities gives them good models for valuing, learning more about, sharing, and building pride around their cultural identity.