Art Engagement Project
Changing The Narrative Through The Arts
The Art Engagement Project embarked on its creative flow for school aged children in Simcoe County, through artistic expression, teaching students how to become allies in their schools to combat anti-Black racism and discrimination. We created the highly successful Art Engagement Project afterward being the 2021 recipients of the TD Bank of Canada- Ready Commitment program. We are happy to also announce that funding has been renewed for the 2022-23 school year.
Our Making Change presenters and artists worked with a total of 10 classes from Simcoe County District School Board and another 18 classes from Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Youth from grades K through 12 all received an opportunity to express their feelings about diversity & inclusion through forms of art, such as visual, dramatic, music and dance.
Changing the narrative through the arts by engaging Black artist mentors, sparking conversations and discussions, students will:
Explore the impact that anti-Black racism has on the world around us;
Reflect on how we can overcome racism and discrimination by making change;
Create their expressions of making positive change through art, dance, music, theatre; and,
Share their creations in the community as opportunities are available (social media, displays etc.)
At Making Change, we couldn’t be more proud of the work we have accomplished since we have launched our programs in 2020 and look forward to continuing our work not only within Simcoe County, but throughout each region in Ontario.
The Art Engagement Project 2023
Art Engagement Project:
Changing the narrative through the arts by engaging Black artist mentors, sparking conversations and discussions, students will:
Explore the impact that anti-Black racism has on the world around us;
Reflect on how we can overcome racism and discrimination by making change;
Create their expressions of making positive change through art, dance, music, theatre; and,
Share their creations in the community as opportunities are available (social media, displays etc.)
These creations will engage your students in critical thinking about diversity, inclusion with an emphasis on Black people, Black cultures and issues around anti-Black racism. Their reflections will generate creative expressions in various forms visual, dance, music, theatre as part of the movement to drive positive change and inclusion in our community.
Implementation Overview:
- Advance planning with educator for the class and any other school stakeholders (1 hour attended by Making Change presenter and artist)
- Educators lead pre-reading and instruction in advance(on inclusion, belonging, diversity and equity with a focus on anti-Black racism)
- Students engage in the MacLaren Art Centre virtual tour
- Making Change Educational Intro to Anti-Black Racism (1 hour, age appropriate)
- Class mentorship with the professional artist mentor from the Black community (1 hour x 3 weeks for Drama, Music,, Photography, or Dance classes; 1.5 hours x 3 weeks for Visual Arts classes.
Sharing the project to expanding the reach and impact, we encourage classes to share their project widely with students, the Board, the Community
MacLaren Art Centre Partnership: They are partners with our project and have included a virtual tour of Farihah Aliyah’s photography exhibit which was on during the summer at the centre. This tour includes an interview with Farihah herself and how her exhibit showcases the discrimination seen throughout the history of photography. Through her work students are shown how racial bias has shaped colour photography.
Available art streams to choose from:
Visual Arts – Students work with raw materials on individual projects that can be joined for a 1 unified piece or stay as individual expressions of art that stand on their own. These creations will reflect the message that has been learned over the past 4 weeks. The items needed for the project may include supplies such as paint brushes, paints, medium materials. Some examples of projects to be worked on are puzzle pieces to create an artistic mosaic, ink plot transformations and concepts around Afrofuturism.
Music – Students work with their mentor on creating either an original song or learning an existing song that shares the message of inclusion and diversity. This may include the use of instruments students have access to, body movement and their voice; as well wooden sticks to practice will be provided. The project may end with a ready to perform vocal production or something that could be filmed and shared on social media. Original songs will include an element of writing lyrics and creating beats and music editing.
Drama – Students will receive dramatic training to perform original skits they will write that helps to share the message from the art engagement project. This could be one large scene or a montage of short skits, stories, poetry, spoken word and monologues. Students will understand how to use emotion, their voice throughout scenarios that encourage allyship and empathy. Their end created production could be performed live to the other classes, the community at large or filmed and
Photography – Using photography as an artistic medium to showcase an appreciation of the beauty around us. They will work with the theme of how different things can be posed together harmoniously in a visual artistic piece to be photographic. Students will work individually or in small groups to create what their visual product will look like; it may be people, animals or objects as chosen focuses.
Dance – Students will work with a choreographer on dance styles that express emotion, learn how to showcase different dance styles and their significance. They will understand not only the history of dance in the Black culture but also how important dance has been in the history of oppression and expression. Their final dance piece will reflect the message of hope and can be performed to other classes, the community at large or filmed and shared on social media.
Meet Our Artist Mentors:
Mariah Awaiye – Mariah began her dance career at the age of four and then began competing in both Canada and the United States. She is a recent graduate of York University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program specializing in Dance. Mariah has danced for the Toronto Marlies Dance Crew and the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak. Mariah is working towards her jazz and tap exams to become an associate member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA).
Ashante Blackwood – Ashante specializes in portraits and concept art. Her work captures the beauty and struggles of her culture and her developmental insecurity about her identity as a black woman. Ashante is a very versatile artist, who not only works on canvas, but also works on clothing, shoes, murals, wood, and various other materials.
Jason George – Jason is a wildlife photographer, presenter and writer who explores ways to share his love and passion of nature with others. Jason’s goal for this project is to open up minds and help people see things in a new way by sharing some beautiful wildlife pictures while showing how black and white is beautiful in nature, together. His hope is that students will see how this can be a way of seeing our own lives when it comes to diversity & inclusion.
Rhiannon Hoover – Rhiannon is a multidisciplinary artist who’s background includes musical theatre, dance, writing and creative direction amongst others. All of their work as an artist, activist and educator has been centred around anti-racism and anti-oppression. They will be sharing their artistic approach in hopes of having a positive impact on our community by inspiring others to be their authentic self. UP FOR FINAL DECISION
Sean George – Sean is an artist, art educator, and cultural worker, he is interested in the intersection between community, art, identity, and transformation. Sean utilizes photography, writing, installation, drawing, and performance then uses the media that speak to the overall theme of his artwork.
Glenn Marais – Glenn is a Juno nominated songwriter and has his own band with a delta blues style of music. He has a small production studio where he is focused on his singing, writing & poetry. Glenn enjoys using his musical creativity to educate and inspire others.
Laura LaChapelle – Laura is a 35 year community theatre veteran and has worked in all facets of stage both on and behind the scenes. She began her career as a youth actor and so her heart is drawn to guiding other youth who are finding their light to shine on stage. Laura uses drama and creative writing tools to help others find their voice in sharing their message and truths to others.