Shaping Community through Art: The Evolution of Social Practice at KCAI
02.21.2025
Social Practice in art has become an essential approach to fostering community engagement, social awareness, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
At the forefront of this movement is the Social Practice Program at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), a dynamic and evolving initiative that has shaped students and educators alike—preparing artists to navigate the complexities of community-oriented work.
Origins of the Social Practice Program
The program traces its roots to 2006, when it was initially established as the Community Arts and Service Learning Program. Originally structured as a certificate program, it underwent several transformations, eventually becoming a minor in 2020. The shift to a minor expanded its scholarly recognition, aligning it more closely with students’ degree paths while maintaining its emphasis on socially engaged art.
Today, the program benefits from a dedicated staff member in Rebecca Blocksome, KCAI Public Engagement and Social Practice Coordinator, who balances curricular responsibilities with public programming at the Artspace in a unique hybrid role.
A Program Rooted in Collaboration
Blocksome describes the core philosophy behind the program:
"Social practice is about using art as a way to build relationships—whether that’s within a community, between individuals, or across disciplines,” Blocksome said.
This principle has guided courses like Collaborative Art Practices, which historically focused on students developing projects with community partners. However, the curriculum is expanding to encourage experiential learning, such as community-facing internships—a move which Blocksome sees as more mutually beneficial.
"We've seen students grapple with finding an organization, developing a project, and executing it within a single semester. Meanwhile, internships provide a more structured way for them to gain real-world experience and make meaningful connections," she explained.
But Blocksome also encourages students to explore their own unique paths within social practice, fostering an environment where creativity and personal interests drive their projects. She sees her role as a mentor rather than a prescriptive instructor, guiding students to develop the skills they need to bring their ideas to life.
“The more that I can get to know what it is that they care about and what it is that they want to do, the more I am able to help them build the skills that they need to be able to do those things,” Blocksome explains.
By prioritizing individual interests and community engagement, she helps students navigate the complexities of socially engaged art, ensuring they leave the program with a deeper understanding of their own creative and social impact.
"Social practice is about using art as a way to build relationships."
Building Skills for Connection
Blocksome also highlighted how students today, particularly those who navigated high school during COVID-19, are seeking distinct opportunities for growth related to social skills.
"They sometimes feel disconnected, and they don’t want to be. But they don’t always have the confidence to reach out and build relationships. That’s where Social Practice comes in—it gives them the tools to engage with the world around them,” Blocksome said.
Faculty Dedication and Institutional Memory
The program’s longevity is due in large part to dedicated faculty members who have championed it through transitions. Casey Whittier, Jarrett Mellenbruch, Diana Heise, tyler galloway, and Julie Farstad have all played significant roles in keeping the program strong.
The program’s interdisciplinary nature is one of its defining characteristics, drawing faculty from various departments, including Ceramics, Filmmaking, Illustration, and more. For example, Héctor Casanova has contributed significantly by offering community-based projects, like murals, to showcase how social practice can come through in diverse artistic forms.
“The dedication of this core group of artist educators to the curriculum and program has truly been the driving force behind its persistence, even through times of change,” Marcus Cain, Assistant Director at the Artspace at KCAI, said.
Another key figure is Kathleen Collins, former president of KCAI, who was instrumental in securing funding for the program. An endowment in her name continues to support students pursuing social practice.
Since Fall 2023, The Social Practice Program has worked in partnership with the Artspace, teaching museum and dynamic contemporary art exhibition space that also serves as a hub for collaboration for socially engaged projects. This setting provides students with a unique environment where their work can extend beyond the classroom and into public dialogue.
The Artspace not only hosts exhibitions but also fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students to engage with visiting artists, faculty, and the broader community. The integration of the program within the Artspace reflects its emphasis on real-world application, offering students opportunities to experiment, document, and present their socially engaged work in a professional setting. This connection ensures that the Social Practice Program is deeply embedded and responsive to the institution’s broader artistic ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
Social Practice takes on unique forms depending on the artist, so an exact definition is tricky to nail down. Some artists describe it as a way of engaging audiences as participants rather than passive observers, while others see it as a method of applying creative problem-solving to community issues.
Students are also finding ways to merge social practice with other disciplines. Read more about the following project by clicking this link
One compelling example is a recent project involving a student-led knitting initiative on a public streetcar. Held over three Saturdays, this project provided an opportunity for spontaneous interactions between strangers, creating a sense of shared experience. The timing of one session—right after a major election—offered insight into how art can serve as a joyful and unifying force in times of social tension.
Students enrolled in the program develop essential skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. Many come to social practice with a desire to bridge artistic expression with tangible social impact but may initially struggle with how to engage audiences and participants effectively. The program provides a structured yet flexible environment that helps students expand their capacities.
Remarking on a long history of collaborating with socially engaged artists as part of the mission of Artspace, Director Raechell Smith said, "Artists have superpowers that they can choose to invest in so many things — making space for others, creating change, sharing ideas and skills, convening voices, imagining peace — all of these actions contribute real value to the communities where they live and work.”
“The artists who choose to work in this way, with whatever skills and disciplines they have developed, also serve the organizations and networks that support them. When artists feel empowered and believe in their power, it’s an incredible cultural force,” Smith said.