Socially relevant art: A study of the field, its evolution, and two of its models, Living Stage Theatre Company and Everyday Theater, Inc

The arts have a history of social and political movements. Since the late 1960s, a new movement has developed called socially relevant art. This activist art involves members of at-risk populations or persons who are oppressed by such social problems as drugs, homelessness, crime, and AIDS. A diverse group of organizations, programs and artists, those within the field of socially relevant art seek to examine these social issues, and ultimately, effect social change. An examination of the field and two of its models, Everyday Theater, Inc. and Living Stage Theatre Company, reveals that socially relevant art is an effective tool for social change, via prevention and/or rehabilitation. Since the field is largely undeveloped and undocumented, the author concludes that further research is needed, especially in the areas of management and evaluation.