Creative Arts Living Learning Program returning students gain event planning experience while giving back to the local community.
Throughout this semester, students enrolled in FA 399, the Creative Arts Living Learning Program returner course, have planned and executed a variety of events for their fellow LLP members and Holmes Hall residents as volunteer experience projects. From making blankets for animals at the Humane Society to creating cards to be sent to hospitalized children, FA 399 students have developed creative ways to use the arts for the benefit of others. While these events have been developed as service projects, the students who plan and execute the events also gain valuable skills and experience to prepare them for their future careers. Producing these projects has given students the opportunity to practice project management strategies, logistics planning, communication, collaboration, outreach and promotion, creative problem solving, and post-program evaluation.
Nyah Marasigan and Mallarie Chavez organized an opportunity for students to showcase and sell their artwork, the Holmes Hall Vendor Market, but met some unexpected obstacles along the way. Initially planned to be outdoors, the Vendor Market had to be relocated due to rainy weather, and they also faced challenges in receiving enough sign-ups. Although Marasigan and Chavez had to improvise from their original plans, their need for problem-solving skills proved to adjust their event for the better. By partnering with the Creative Arts LLP and Holmes Hall Student Success Fest, their vendor market was able to reach a larger audience while enjoying the atmosphere of live music and refreshments provided by the Success Fest.
“At first, it was scary deviating from the original plan, but collaborating with others naturally gave us a larger consumer base and enriched the experience more than we ever could have imagined,” recounts Marasigan. “One of my biggest takeaways from this experience is that it's okay to adjust plans if new opportunities arise because it can work out for the better.”
Crystal Queers (@uky_crystalqueers on Instagram), created by Zeke Ball and Jazmin Rose, aims to ”make LGBTQ+ history and knowledge crystal clear.” Crystal Queers provides both a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as education for better allyship and information for those wanting to explore their identities. At the close of the semester, Ball and Rose evaluated their attendance rates and marketing strategies to determine what types of meetings were most appealing for attendees. Their next goal is increasing the reach of Crystal Queers beyond the LLP and Holmes Hall and across UK’s campus. While discussing his experience with this project, Ball reflected, “People want to learn; they just need the ability and motivation to do so and that’s what my next step is focused on.”
