ART OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Arts-Based Service-Learning The Art of Community Service is a unique art-based residency program that pairs American high school students with their foreign counterparts as they develop and execute a community art project like a large scale mural or sculpture garden. Facilitated by a professional artist, the art project serves as the common link between both groups of students and forms the basis for dialogue, insight into respective cultures and ultimately new friendships. Strengthening the Global Community through Art The ACS program is focused on self-expression and cross-cultural interaction - not individual artist skill - and its goal is to demonstrate the powerful effect that collaboration has in sowing the seeds of social and economic progress. ACS for All Using the universal language of the arts, the ACS program benefits both students and local communities in need by: Putting students in direct contact with other cultures so that they may gain first-hand knowledge of cultural differences - but more importantly cultural similarities. Helping students overcome the fear of self-expression. Teaching students to problem solve in a real life setting. Raising community esteem through aesthetic improvement. Providing solutions to problems identified by the local community. Featured in Build Magazine Check out this article published in Build Magazine, written by 2006 alum Emily R. Wilhite, describing her experience on the Chira, Costa Rica trip last summer. Click here. JOIN MYX IN 2008 Navajo Nation, Arizona Ambatillo, Ecuador See Previous ACS Programs Ecuador Costa Rica Iceland © 2002 - 2008 Multicultural Youth eXchange.