First, the student is “exposed” to new material in classes and workshops featuring artistic explorations of varied artistic and scientific disciplines including art making, digital technology, creative writing and cultural and career exploration.

Second, the student “experiences” these materials hands on at the site and/or virtually through the Animodule Curriculum designed to align with STEAM discipline standards.

Third, each student creates their own individual “expression” of the new material, by articulating the learning in their own voice, sharing their story, and using the arts to strengthen academic and emotional growth.

The Barat Foundation has created a Newark original art-form called the Animodule™ — a combination of the words “animate” and “modular”; sculptures created by joining two flat planes together to create a 3 dimensional sculpture. The Animodule™ curriculum is an inter-disciplinary arts program including research, visual arts, language arts, and mathematics as students work together to create something larger than themselves, building an enduring art piece that represents their community, and becomes part of an even greater whole when it joins its fellow Animodules® in the annual Creation Nation Art and Peace Parade.

This program employs numerous artists who can to share their vision, passion and expertise with Newark’s youth, while producing an impressive body of work. The Animodule® Curriculum is in relation to and in support of age and grade appropriate NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards for the Arts. To date over 60 Animodules have been created in Newark schools and community organizations.