RuckusRoots’ programs fall into three categories: In-School, Apprenticeship and Public, all working to achieve the following goals:

1. Co-create arts programming in communities where it is needed and wanted.
2. Offer programming that inspires a shift in knowledge, values and/or behavior with regards to environmental challenges like climate change, utilizing the arts as a tool for engagement.
3. Amplify the artistic voices of marginalized groups.
4. Share resources with local artists and activists from the communities where we work.
5. Utilize found, recycled or natural materials in artworks whenever possible

Main programs:

-In-School: Wild Art, TRASHformation and A.L.I.V.E.: Art Living in Vibrant Environments are offered as enrichment or expanded learning opportunities to elementary and middle school-students. Our multi-week programs last 1-6 months, with students aged 5-13 led by professional local artists. Programs aim to build age-appropriate visual arts skills in the areas of painting, drawing, sculpture, design and/or creative reuse, and social-emotional skills of collaboration, creative confidence and change-making. Each program results in a collaboratively-built, large-scale final artwork, ie: a mural, creative-reuse collage, or sculpture, and culminates with a public showcase i.e.: open house, community event or art walk.

Teen / Young Adult: For high-school and transition-aged youth, these programs (The Rebel Garden Project and Public ARTivism Apprenticeship) offer smaller groups of students (10-40) deeper learning and mentoring experiences with practicing artists. Themes of art as activism and as a profession are explored; students gain experience creating artworks as well as in professional development and entrepreneurship (artist statements, documentation, branding, design and project management).

Public Workshops: We offer free, youth or multigenerational, multi-series or one-time workshops (Garden Magic, From Earth to Art) in which the public is invited to learn techniques and sustainability-uses of specific mediums (fabric, ceramics, non-toxic paint, biodegradable and natural materials) from local artists and experts.