The arts leave a lasting imprint on our community. That is why we engage young people in the public art process.
DATMA brings Designers, Artists, and Technologists into local schools and the community to educate and mentor youth in Southcoast Massachusetts and produce “programming without walls.”
DATMA’s education programs have directly reached 3,300+ SouthCoast MA learners since 2019!
2800+ Participants in all-ages public programming events
350+ Participants in Community Lecture Series
200+ Participants in our Design In the Classroom workshops
“Collaboration with DATMA’s hands-on programs builds the capacity for our students to actively and authentically engage in their community.”
-Tobey Eugenio, Creativity Director, Our Sisters’ School (2022)
Our learning experiences center on:
In-depth exploration & hands-on creating where community members of all ages and backgrounds practice as artists and designers;
Providing impactful opportunities to connect, respond, create, and share;
Building 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking;
Collaborating with educational institutions and aligned cultural organizations that will connect DATMA’s mission to diverse communities.
To allow DATMA education initiatives to remain 100% free to participants, our education programs are generously supported by the Hope Foundation, New Bedford Education Foundation, Mass Cultural Council- New Bedford LCC, Bristol County Savings Bank, Servedwell Hospitality, David & Hobby Jeffrey, the Mandle Family, and through the many individuals who have donated to the Roger Mandle Legacy Campaign. To be a part of our project success, consider becoming a supporter today.
What does DATMA’s education look like?
DATMA Design Days
Aligning with the City of New Bedford’s monthly AHA! nights and through coordination with several local partners, this annual, themed series provides free workshops across the City that engage participants of all ages in the creative process through “design and engineering challenges.”
Read through a sampling of our pop-up events taking place in Downtown NB from May – September every second Thursday during AHA! Night. Check the event page to see the next scheduled event.
DATMA In the Classroom
Art and design mentors create and lead hands-on learning workshops with local students and share examples of their day-in-the-life work stories. Areas of design, art (theory, history, etc.) and technology are explored, covering topics ranging from 3D- printing to textile design, structural installations, and the overall process of determining design concepts and mediums. In the Classroom programs serve youth, along with regional educators through our special “Teachers Teaching Teachers” series.
We organize two to three “In the Classroom” programs per year. These programs are each unique, take thoughtful planning, and have memorable & positive outcomes for participants.
Read through a selection of completed workshops at local schools.
Public Art with Youth
DATMA pairs student groups with contemporary artists to co-create and learn the process of making public art. In 2023, Dominican artist, Silvia Lopez Chavez, mentored 30 New Bedford High School students, Grade 9-11. Together, this group explored STEAM technology & design innovation, bringing the first piece of contemporary art to Fish Island, New Bedford, and brightening a highly-visible building wall adjacent to the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge.
Read about completed projects we’ve completed with local schools.
General Public Programs
From engaging artist lectures and Directors tours to wonderful partner events such as unique performances staged at our public art projects with New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, we offer all-ages events that are always family-friendly. Our events offer an opportunity for deeper engagement with contemporary art, while participating in the SouthCoast’s arts and culture community.
We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations by breaking down the financial barriers to cultural programming.
Per DATMA’s mission, all activities are free and designed for all-ages. See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.
Interested in partnering with DATMA on in-the-classroom or public programming?
Contact DATMA’s Programs Manager, Amanda Hawkins, at [email protected] for more information.
Our Education Partners Include:
3rd EyE Youth Empowerment, PACE Youth Build, New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, New Bedford YMCA, Our Sisters’ School (grades 5-8), New Bedford High School, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, and UMass Dartmouth College for Visual & Performing Arts.
CLICK HERE to share your comments and ideas with DATMA’s Program Committee. Your feedback will help shape our upcoming educational programs and youth-centered events.
