In celebration of National Arts in Education Week, New Victory is highlighting the power of “GIVE” and the transformative power of promoting inclusive education practices. GIVE (Growing Inclusivity for Vibrant Engagement) is a free guide that supports Teaching Artists in the creation of liberated learning environments and vibrant arts experiences within inclusion settings.

No group of students or educators is a monolithic group. With that in mind, GIVE provides information, tips, and strategies as a starting point for iterating practice. Teaching Artists are encouraged to be responsive to who they are teaching and acknowledge and reflect on responses to techniques they try. GIVE includes a visual vocabulary, activity bank, and inclusive language guide among other resources and activities designed to support Teaching Artist educators in their career journey.

The GIVE guide was launched in the fall of 2021 after three years of planning that included feedback from a consortium of contributors and experts in the field. The New Victory Education Department, along with GIVE partners ArtsConnection and Community-Word Project, aims to build inclusive practices for disabled students within the arts across all sectors serving young people.

Read a Q&A with New Victory Teaching Artist Sofiya Cheyenne and her reflections on the importance of the GIVE guide and equity in the classroom.