This course will be an investigation of art and artists working in communities, working collaboratively, working in partnership with local, national and international agencies, and those who address civil and human rights. This course addresses the need to better prepare art students for active and participatory roles of leadership in a multicultural society. Through discussions with visiting artists, scholars and activists, the role of artists in times of profound change will be researched and re-evaluated providing the opportunity to address local, regional, national and international political issues. Students will be encouraged to develop strategies that will allow them to contribute to the needs of various communities in their role of artists and activists. Students are expected to establish communication with an already existing agency serving a particular community in which students may feel that he/she has an ideological affinity and within which would like to develop an art project.Online course sections will be delivered with both asynchronous and synchronous components as outlined in the course syllabus. Required online synchronous meeting times are listed as the meeting pattern for this course section.