The Art That Moves People: Aldine ISD and Houston METRO Collaborate to Create Public Art and Foster a Community of Artists

The Art That Moves People initiative, a collaboration between Aldine ISD and Houston METRO, was highlighted in the May/June 2024 edition of Texas School Business. This project engages students in creating bus shelter artworks that showcase their school pride and encourage future artistic endeavors. By prompting students to consider how their artwork can impact their community, the contest creates a public product that connects their work to the campus.

Kaileigh Newman, Aldine ISD director of visual arts, emphasized how the contest validates students’ artistic abilities, builds an arts community, and provides a platform for students to express their cultural identities. By empowering students and fostering inclusivity and diversity, the contest allows students to contribute to the community’s mosaic of stories.

Students participating in the contest design bus shelter artwork that will be installed on their local METRO bus shelter with a focus on engaging a diverse audience. The competition is judged based on a rubric that aims to portray the school culture, highlighting core values and strengths to the community. The initiative is a joint effort by METRO and AISD to bring public art to stakeholders and celebrate the rich diversity of the Aldine community. By encouraging students to create art that reflects their cultural backgrounds and personal experiences, the initiative promotes a sense of belonging and unity.

The winning designs from The Art That Moves People Art Design Contest are displayed in local METRO bus shelters as permanent fixtures that foster pride and support young artistic talents while inspiring and exciting the community. To learn more about this unique project or view examples of student designs, please click HERE for Kaileigh Newman’s full article in Texas School Business.