Center for Urban Pedagogy

Part of a series of 7 short films produced by the Meerkat Media Collective about NYC arts organizations enriching their communities.

Made in collaboration with EmcArts and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Learn more about CUP’s innovation story: artsfwd.org/public-access-design/

About The Center for Urban Pedagogy

The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) uses art and design to increase civic engagement in New York City, particularly among historically underrepresented communities. Through interdisciplinary collaborations that bring together community organizations, advocacy groups, students, artists, designers, educators, and others, CUP seeks to improve urban life in New York City by empowering communities to advocate on their own behalf. CUP uses a variety of media approaches to create visually powerful, accessible materials that explain complex policy, infrastructure, and economic issues. CUP’s annual budget is approximately $650,000.

About the Project

Public Access Design is a rapid response design clinic that provides community social justice organizations with grass-roots organizing tools. Working with CUP staff and community advocates, Design Fellows create timely and powerful materials that help advocates explain complex issues to constituents in easily understood language. The goal of Public Access Design is to demystify complex urban issues and enable community groups to respond quickly to social justice challenges in their lives and neighborhoods.

More from this series:

Our Goods | Digital Diaspora Family Reunion |  South Bronx Culture Trail | Groundswell | Wildlife Conservation Society