Art That Captivates: Aldine ISD’s Creative Partnerships with Houston METRO

The story of Art That Moves People, a collaboration between Aldine ISD and Houston METRO, was featured in the May/June 2024 edition of Texas School Business. This initiative 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. Winning designs are displayed in local METRO bus shelters, becoming a permanent fixture that fosters pride and supports young artistic talents, inspiring and exciting the community.

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, The Art That Moves People Art Design Contest, 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.

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. To read the full article by Newman and Bradley S. Kaplan in Texas School Business and view examples of students’ designs, click HERE.