Partners
BuildaBridge International
BuildaBridge International (BI) is a non-profit arts education organization dedicated to bringing hope and healing to vulnerable children, families, and communities in the tough places of the world through direct arts-integrated intervention (social, spiritual, educational, and therapeutic) and cross-cultural service. BI motivates, enlists, trains and connects those who have the desire to serve others through their artistic gifts with those in greatest need.
The arts are an effective means to improve academic learning, build culture, develop community, and enhance personal growth and maturity. Underutilized by many churches, schools and community organizations, BI provides ideas, expertise, practical knowledge and service.
BuildaBridge Video
Focus
BI's primary focus is work with at-risk children and youth and those who serve them--artists; church, youth and community workers; and educators. Their programs are open to all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or ability. Since 2000, BI has worked with over 300 children and youth, primarily in the Philadelphia area.
Staff and Funding
BI is a primarily a volunteer organization with a growing professional staff. Primary funding comes from program income (40%), donations (20%), grants (20%), and consulting services (20%). It enlists and maintains the help of over 50 professional artists, arts educators and community arts practitioners from Philadelphia and around the US. In addition, university interns from the University of the Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Yale University, St. Josephs University, Eastern University, and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary have assisted with planning and program operations since 2002.
Programs
Community Arts Program
A direct service arts program providing arts-integrated experiences in transitional homes, after-school and Saturday arts programs. Arts Discovery is the activity name for our work in transitional homes. The Sabbath Arts School is the name for our specific work with faith-based organizations.
Institute for the Church and Community Arts
A training, education and research institute providing learning opportunities to community, education, youth, church leaders and artists who want to integrate the arts in their community service and ministry.
Educational Safaris
An overseas arts education and service program. Artists have worked with at-risk children in Rwanda, Brazil and Costa Rica. Performing arts groups have traveled and performed in Egypt, Republic of Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa and Kenya. Students have studied community arts, economic development, faith and art in Egypt and Kenya.
Consulting
Professional consulting for cross-cultural service, organizational development, community arts, curriculum writing and development, and learning assessment and evaluation. BI Consulting also assists with arts management for conferences and overseas travel.
Taking it to the Streets
The Taking it to the Streets project marked the beginning of a formal field of study called Arts-based Community Mission based on research of 61 Christian artists in sixteen US cities published in Taking the Gospel to the Streets: How the Arts Are Transforming Communities (Baker Books, August 2003) by Drs. Corbitt and Nix-Early.
In cooperation with the Institute for the Church and Community Arts of BuildaBridge International with funding from the Louisville Institute, Taking It to the Streets has located and documented faith-based urban arts programs and personalities outside the traditional church who are involved in arts for social justice and transformation.
Arts-based Community Mission is related to Arts-based Community Development and involves the holistic integration of faith in personal and community transformation. Current research can be found at www.urbanprophets.org.
Contact Us
Urban Studies Department
Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Eastern University | Philadelphia
3300 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129
P: 215-769-3121
F: 215-848-2651
E: urbanstudies@eastern.edu
