By Lookout Staff

May 5, 2014 -- The role of art in civic life will be the topic of the Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute’s (PPI) 3rd Annual Spring Symposium.

Held between May 12 and 18, the symposium titled “Arts and Citizenship: Affecting Public Policy through Personal Narrative” will feature speakers, panel discussions, storytelling for audiences ranging from fifth graders to adults, dance performances and a campus art walk.

“We chose the theme of the symposium to explore how the arts help citizens develop an understanding of themselves and others, and the importance of this understanding in enhancing democracy,” said Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, PPI associate director and SMC political science professor.

All symposium events are open to the public, and most events are free, college officials said. Seating is on a first-arrival basis if reservations are not required.

The symposium kicks off Monday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. with “Story Slam,” a joint venture among SMC, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and the City of Santa Monica that draws inspiration from KCRW storytelling program The Moth.

Local fifth graders, high school students, SMC students, and community members will share their real stories in a live, Moth-like format. The free event will be held at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, 1210 Fourth Street.

On Tuesday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., SMC students, faculty, and selected local artists of all ages will conduct a Campus Art Walk. Tours will start at 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

The theme of the tour is “A Respectful and Socially Just Community” and was inspired by the symposium’s partner, the Human Relations Council and its Kids With Cameras program.

Visitors can join campus tours and explore the Theatre Arts, Dance, Art, and Music Departments, officials said. The free tour will begin at the Quad on SMC’s main campus, 1900 Pico Boulevard. (Visitor parking $10 at Lot 6, 14th Street and Pico Boulevard.)

On Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Terry Tempest Williams, a “citizen writer” will deliver the Community Keynote Address.

Williams, officials said, is “a voice for social change who speaks out on behalf of taking an ethical stance toward life, and whose personal narrative Open Space for Democracy links directly to the work of the Public Policy Institute.”

The free event will be held at Santa Monica High School’s Barnum Hall, 601 Pico Boulevard. (Parking at Civic Center, 333 Civic Center Drive.)

On Thursday, May 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. a panel titled Community Forum: Who Makes Policy in the Arts? will be led by Arts for LA Executive Director Danielle Brazell and moderated by SMC Public Policy Institute Director Sheila Kuehl.

The panel “will explore how public policy shapes public access to the arts,” officials said. The panel will be followed by audience back-and-forth. The event is free but reservations are required (email ppi.rsvp@smc.edu with number of guests attending). The event will take place at the Humanities & Social Science Lecture Hall 263 on SMC’s main campus.

On Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. SMC’s Global Motion World Dance Company and the Westside School of Ballet will perform for local fifth graders.  

Sponsored by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the City of Santa Monica, the free event will take place at The Broad Stage, SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. (Free onsite parking.)

The symposium wraps up on Sunday, May 18 with the Westside Ballet’s Spring Performance at The Broad at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Receptions will be held at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Free onsite parking.)

The program highlights works by 20th-century choreographers George Balanchine and Ben Stevenson, OBE, with excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty. 

The reception before each performance is a fundraiser to support the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation Vision for Student Success, the Westside School of Ballet, and the SMC Foundation. 

Tickets are $35 at westsideballet.tix.com. 

For further information about the symposium, go to www.smc.edu/ppi or call (310) 434-3541.