Skillshare is a New York-based online learning platform that dives into creative skills, offering classes on everything from illustration and design to photography and freelancing. It's all about empowering curious folks to learn through hands-on projects, connect with teachers, and build a community of creators who share their expertise. Started by a couple of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, it began with in-person workshops before going fully digital, making it easy for anyone worldwide to pick up new talents without leaving the couch. What's cool is how it turns passionate hobbyists into paid instructors, proving that teaching what you love can actually pay the bills.
Skillshare leans into the woke playbook with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, boasting about assembling a team from all sorts of backgrounds because variety is the spice of corporate life, apparently. They emphasize fair compensation and an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, including robust protections against discrimination based on things like sexual orientation, ensuring LGBTQ creators can thrive without the drama. Their community guidelines keep the hate out, and with classes on building inclusive cultures, it's like they're subtly schooling the world on social justice one video at a time.
Skillshare's artivism toolkit, as outlined in the Creativity with Purpose Toolkit: Step 1, Learn, emphasizes creative activism as a means to address social issues through art, including historical examples like James Baldwin's writings and the LGBTQ flag.
Skillshare's blog post on Juneteenth highlights the holiday's significance as the date in 1865 when emancipation news reached enslaved African Americans in Texas, emphasizing its role in the ongoing fight for racial justice amid delays in freedom and recognition. The article features interviews with three Black creatives who discuss the importance of education, allyship, and activism, while noting the holiday's inconsistent teaching and lack of federal status.
Skillshare's "Artivism: Create Inspiring Art for Change" class, taught by Nikkolas Smith, instructs students on using speed-painting techniques to produce art that addresses social injustices, such as racism and immigration issues, while emphasizing the therapeutic and protest potential of art.
Skillshare's class on inclusion and diversity about race, taught by Lanre Sulola, explores the dimensions of racial inequity - including internalized beliefs, interpersonal acts, institutional practices, and structural factors - and provides strategies for overcoming barriers to hold confident conversations aimed at fostering racial equity in organizations.
The Skillshare class instructs participants on creating Instagram illustrations to address social issues, guiding them through selecting a topic, conducting research, developing visuals, and crafting captions for impactful sharing.