Tucson has a long history of welcoming new immigrants and finding ways to invite them into the cityscape. Together the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block and Literacy Connects’ English Language Acquisition for Adults program have been collaborating since 2017 to explore the intersections of language learning and art-making. Participants in these language + art workshops have come from a variety of countries including Brazil, China, Mexico, Morocco, Somalia, Turkey, and Ukraine. During the three-week classes at the museum, participants and their children explore the galleries, focus on themes such as identity, place, the five senses, home, and community, and create artists’ books. Book structures that have been explored over the course of this partnership include flag book, accordion fold, map fold, flower fold, and pamphlet stitch. 

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity and promote cultural understanding 

Literacy Connects connects people of all ages to a world of opportunities through literacy and creative expression. The English Language Acquisition for Adults program provides free classes for immigrants and refugees who want to speak, write and read in English in order to fully participate in, and contribute to, our community. 

“Talking about my life was helpful because it was something that was personal and you can express all of your ideas. In a formal class you have a book and not time to express. Here it was free and you could express. And I think those moments are very important and it is an opportunity to do something different than what you do every day. This gave you a chance to be there and learn and share.” 

-Participant Reflection