Program Vision

Our vision is to build a connected, thriving and resilient community where all youth are free of socio-economic barriers and have the capacity to evolve into strong, positive and socially responsible individuals and entrepreneurs who share in the development of ongoing opportunities for future leaders.

Philosophy and Values

We believe that by supporting a culture of positive self-esteem and collaboration among young people we can build and enhance community through the fine arts.

We recognize the potential of every young person to be a strong, talented and creative individual and we value the importance of self-directed learning and creative exploration. We also recognize that the unique voices and creativity of youth is what shapes our world today and will steward it for the future.

We value collaboration over competition and seek to give youth the tools they need to create the world that they want to live in.

We believe that youth empowerment thrives in positive developmental settings that promote competence and confidence. Our instructors aim to provide supportive relationships with our students that build efficacy and mattering. We believe that by fostering trust and respect we can encourage youth to be active, instrumental agents of change in their community and that collective decision-making adults will listen to and respect their voices.

Mission

Our mission is to empower youth from kindergarten through high school to become creative, productive and confident members of our community through artistic education, collaboration and expression, and to find their own voice and their own talent without creative boundaries or inhibitions.

We will engage youth in enhancing and shaping their own community by actively working with other local organisations in a volunteer capacity. We will also provide a fun and safe learning environment where all young people – regardless of race, class, gender identity, or faith – are welcome to practice the freedom of expression and exploration through the fine arts.

As part of our mandate, we will develop programs and interventions to define positive outcomes of healthy youth and form a culturally responsive, community-based practice that authentically engages youth and resilience in the community.

Our goal is not only to empower youth in the arts but also in life skills, volunteerism, and community service. By helping youth build skills that enable them to overcome economic and social barriers while recognizing the importance of self-directed learning we can build effective leaders of tomorrow. Teaching young people today to think critically and be successful speakers and communicators will help them to develop valuable life and technical skills and empower them to bring the community together and create future opportunities for youth to become effective leaders.