Inquiry Project and Data Collection Methods

Main Question: Is there a relationship between the community, art, and the public schools? We will look into the arts surrounding Newark Arts High School and see in which ways they reflect the community, and how students can relate to the arts in order to become engaged in creating art of their own.
Sub-Questions:
-Do the arts play an important role in education in Newark?
-Is art integrated into classroom curriculum? How?
-How are the arts related to the community?
-What are the forms of Pop Art (popular art, art for the people) in the community?
Data Collection:
-Walking map of city
-Walk around the ten block radius in Newark taking field notes and pictures.
10 blocks, 10 sites
www.googlemaps.com Arts High School, Newark Public School, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Rutgers State University Art and Design Program, North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Newark Museum, Seed Gallery, Central Business District, Passaic River.
-Are youths involved in these sites?
-What kind of art do these sites support?
-Look for art on the street (i.e. graffiti, music, formal sculptures)
-Look for youth participating in art activity on the street
-Interviews with community members

Geographical information: http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/new-jersey/newark
Includes the history of Newark, the culture of Newark, and demographics
New Jersey Performing Arts Center-downtown Newark
What is the art about?
Collect flyers about local artists and the shows
Arts High School, located on 550 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Website: http://www.nps.k12.nj.us/arts/default.htm
Includes school history and profile (About Us)
Walking tour of the school

Teacher interviews
What art are students making?
What involves classroom curriculum?
What do the arts bring to student learning and development?
What kind of special projects/topics are used to engage students in art?
Does the school make visits to the museums and venues in the area? If so, how often?

Faculty interviews
What are the requirements to be accepted to the arts high school?

Student interviews
If you could change anything about the curriculum, what would it be?
Do you feel that the art being taught to you relates to your everyday life?
Local News in Newark involving the arts and the 10 block radius of the school