Arts-based Community Work

This thesis concerns arts-based community work in the United States that endeavors to support or change the political and social environment in marginalized communities. It discusses both how the different generations of artists/arts administrators in the 20th century have endeavored to practice this kind of work and some themes and questions that have arisen from their efforts. A discussion of portions of the field's history addresses influences and identifies questions that affect its character related to past practices and interviews with contemporary community arts activists.