From Bus Shelves to Community Pride: Aldine ISD and Houston METRO Collaborate on Art that Moves People Initiative

The Art That Moves People initiative, a collaboration between Aldine ISD and Houston METRO, is a program that engages students in designing bus shelter artworks that represent their school pride and encourage future artistic pursuits. This contest challenges students to consider how their artwork can impact their community, creating a public display that connects their work to their school campus. Winning designs are displayed in local METRO bus shelters, becoming a permanent fixture in the community and instilling pride in the school while inspiring future artists and exciting the community.

The competition is judged based on a rubric that aims to showcase the school’s culture, values, and strengths to the community. This initiative is a collaboration between METRO and AISD to bring public art to the community, highlighting the rich diversity of the Aldine community and encouraging students to create art that reflects their cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, fostering unity and a sense of belonging.

Kaileigh Newman, the Director of Visual Arts at Aldine ISD, emphasizes the importance of this contest in validating students’ artistic abilities, building an arts community, and providing a platform for students to express their cultural identity. She believes that promoting inclusivity and diversity through this program allows students to contribute to their community and share their unique stories through art installations. To read more about this initiative by Newman and Bradley S. Kaplan or view examples of student designs visit Texas School Business (Pages 24-24).