Art Lesson for May Day: Art, Labour, and Collaboration 

Created by Joshua Y'Barbo on 4 June 2024 via https://5minutelessonplan.co.uk/

As an artist for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation, I look for ways to share my research on the intersection of the creative and communication industries and significant global, sustainable concerns. Last month, I explored the connections between art and May Day. While working on an article highlighting art and Participatory Art and Labor: Exploring Collaboration and Creativity, I created a lesson plan for those interested in teaching how art can be participatory and collaborative and address critical social issues, like labour advocacy for marginalised groups. 

May Day Procession in Moscow (1956) by Diego Rivera. Oil on canvas. Available at: Mexican Mural School. 

The poster reads, “The CTM (the Confederation of Mexican Workers) united with all Mexicans for the greatness of the Nation, 1947." It is sourced from critical-theory.com. 

Big Picture

This lesson will explore how participatory art can amplify the voices of marginalised communities and advocate for social justice through creative expression.

Objectives

• Understand the concept of participatory art and its role in advocating for social justice.
• Explore how participatory art can empower diverse communities and amplify voices through creativity.
• Create a collaborative art piece that reflects workers' rights and social justice themes.

Stickability

• Importance of participatory art in social justice advocacy.
• Empowerment of marginalised voices through creative expression.

Adaptability

• SEN: Provide visual aids and step-by-step instructions. 
• Fast progressors: Encourage them to take on leadership roles in group projects.
• Support needed: Pair with peer buddies for assistance. 
• EAL learners: Use simplified language and provide translation tools.

Assessment for Learning

• Group discussion on the impact of participatory art in advocating social justice.
• Peer evaluation of collaborative art pieces based on how effectively they communicate social justice themes.

Keywords

Participatory art, Social justice, Marginalised communities, Workers' rights, Creative expression, Advocacy

Literacy / Numeracy

Students will critically analyse social justice themes in art, enhancing their literacy skills. They will also incorporate numeracy by comparing statistics on social impact (if appropriate). 

Resources 

Art supplies (paper, paint, brushes), Projector for visual examples, Printed images of participatory art projects, Peer evaluation sheets

Learning Episodes

Introduction (10 mins)

Introduce participatory art and its significance in advocating for social justice (10 minutes).

Group Activity 1 (15 mins)

Brainstorming ideas for a collaborative art piece reflecting social justice themes. 

Group Activity 2 (20 mins)

Creation of the collaborative art piece by students in groups, emphasizing cooperation and creativity, followed by peer assessment.

Additional Resources

arte útil (no date) About. Available at: https://www.arte-util.org/about/colophon/ (Accessed: 04 June 2024). 

Tate (no date). Happenings. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/h/happening#:~:text=Happenings%20were%20the%20forerunners%20of,the%20Reuben%20Gallery%2C%20New%20York. (Accessed: 04 June 2024). 

Tate (no date). New Genre Public Art. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/n/new-genre-public-art (Accessed 04 June 2024). 

Tate (no date). Participatory Art. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/participatory-art (Accessed: 04 June 2024).

Tate (no date). Socially engaged practice. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/socially-engaged-practice#:~:text=Socially%20engaged%20practice%20describes%20art,or%20material%20of%20the%20work (Accessed: 04 June 2024). 

The Showroom (no date). Justice for Domestic Workers. Available at: https://theshowroom.org/about/relationships/justice-for-domestic-workers#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20local%20organisation,domestic%20work%20visible%20in%20society. (Accessed: 04 June 2024). 

Woulters, E. (2014). 10 AWESOME MAY DAY POSTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND HISTORY. critical-theory.com. Available at: https://www.critical-theory.com/10-awesome-may-day-posters-from-around-the-world-and-history/ (Accessed: 4 June 2024).