University of North Carolina
Criminal/Justice: The Death Penalty Examined
Carolina Performing Artsâ€™ project over the 2007/08 academic year set out to undertake a campus- and community-wide exploration of the issues of capital punishment and their impact on the citizens of North Carolina. The discussion was to be grounded in the arts, engaging with partners across the UNC-CH campus and in the community, and stimulating a balanced dialogue on the impact of capital punishment.
The initial structure of the project was planned around several major anchor projects facilitated primarily by Carolina Performing Arts. With the sudden death of poet-artist Sekou Sundiata, and several other activity changes, the structure changed and focused on other partner events. In the context of this project, CPAâ€™s role shifted from presenter to facilitator. This change multiplied the number of partnerships, and the ability to provide resources to additional projects and partners on campus.
The new focus on partnerships fostered an expanded sharing of creative and production knowledge between organizations and disciplines, inclusive planning sessions with arts and non- arts constituents, and new understandings of processes across units and academic departments, and students.