Living Lotus Projectemploys the power of imaginative learning to help end violence against girls and women. Central to the process of imaginative learning is the experience of the play PHOENIX RISING – a learning resource.  Living Lotus Projectoffers audience members an opportunity to participate in an in-depth exploration of PHOENIX RISING and to create original artwork to challenge preconceived ideas and spark problem solving.

Co-leaders guide workshop participants through a process of creative exploration of the artistic choices that went into creating PHOENIX RISING.

Theater-based Arts Extension Workshops explore the complexities of the play, PHOENIX RISING, through an open, yet focused, line of inquiry that incorporates elements and concepts from the play relevant to the interests of workshop participants. A central objective of each workshop is to facilitate each participant’s own creative potential.  Theater-based Arts Extension Workshops are co-led by a professional educator and an artist who collaboratively guide participatory activities, beginning with the creative exploration of the play, PHOENIX RISING, in the group setting.  Each workshop provides a safe space within which to explore feelings, thoughts, and experiences through the use of drama activities, poetry, sculpture, painting, and drawing. Workshop co-leaders guide exploration, invite more questioning, and provide a framework for constructing a new creative experience. Some components of this process include noticing deeply, using the senses and emotions, making connections, engaging empathic insight, and trying out new ideas.

As workshop participants engage the imaginative learning process, connections are made and new doors are opened. Workshop participants are led through collaborative experiences that spark curiosity and further questioning, leading to insight about the creative process, the work of art under investigation and its context, as well as the creative capacities inherent in each group member, culminating in an art-making group activity.

Living Lotus Project will provide a minimum of a day-long workshops for 12-20 individuals at a partner site, who have seen the play, PHOENIX RISING. Each workshop is a custom designed collaboration of team leaders comprised of educators and artists.