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What is this project about?
Our program will design and launch a pilot that will evaluate whether integrating Creative Arts is a viable method to strengthen the social, emotional and leadership development of 40 rural youth facing multiple barriers.The Creative Youth Pilot is a 35-week program, requested by local youth who expressed an interest in the Creative Arts. The pilot will be facilitated through a combination of structured workshops with professional artists, musicians, chefs and photographers, as well as during regular drop-in times for individual and group projects.
Program Components:
1.Visual Arts: Techniques such as painting, drawing and clay creation with instruction from local artists
2. Music: Music theory, musical instruments, song writing, performing
3. Culinary Artistry: artistic food plating and food photography alongside guest chefs and local photographers.
These areas of our creative program will give youth an outlet to express themselves through various forms of art. These activities will also help them develop essential life skills, such as listening, following direction, communication and emotional regulation. Through various assessment tools we will evaluate the growth of the participants and the efficacy of the pilot.
We will determine:
1. How to best integrate creative arts to strengthen emotional/social growth and community resiliency.
2. How to best excite, promote and engage youth in creative arts.
3. How Creative Arts can be used to develop leadership skills and community.
4. Which community partners/musicians/artists/chefs/photographers will spark interest and increase program and community capacity.
5. Which components of the program have the greatest community impact.
6. What are best practices for program evaluation.
Why is this project important to the community?
Youth in rural communities do not have access to the same opportunities as urban youth. As such, they are more apt to participate in risky behaviours and do not engage in community. The
primary beneficiaries of this program are rural youth from low income families, facing multiple barriers including mental health issues and addictions.
•Approximately 20% of youth 25 and under experience mental illness. Vulnerable youth are disproportionately affected.
(Canadian Mental Health Association-2024)
• Research has shown that creative arts is successful to help at-risk youth to learn to effectively communicate, have improved concentration, improved behaviors and develop closer relationships. It has shown to improve moods, promote relaxation, and decrease disruptive behaviors and attitudes.
(Penny Brohn Cancer Care,2011, Online)
• Creative arts are associated with positive social and emotional behaviours, including empathy, sharing, and mood control, and with improved attention regulation.
(Menzer, 2015; Williams et al., 2015)
• Creating art can strengthen youth’s problem-solving skills, autonomy, self-esteem, engagement, mood, and social competence.
(Wolf and Holochwost,2016)
For At-Risk youth, the arts can provide an outlet for addressing emotional and/or problem behaviours through opportunities to learn new skills, develop new talents, and express thoughts and ideas in creative and therapeutic ways. (Miner–Romanoff,
2016).
Target Completion Date
December 31, 2026
Location
13 Spring Street
Flesherton
N0C 1E0