ArtsSmarts 21st Century Youth Creativity Challenge (21YCC)

ArtsSmarts' National Youth Advisory Committee (NYAC) is delighted to announce that it has awarded over $55,000 to 14 schools across Canada for their successful 21st Century Youth Creativity Challenge Projects (21YCC).

From now until the end of the year, over 1,520 students will work with 16 professional artists and numerous teachers to engage in ArtsSmarts projects that explore the themes of Canadian identity, social inclusion and community belonging.

28 project proposals arrived from across the country in response to the inaugural 21YCC call for proposals - from Kennebecasis Valley, New Brunswick to Edmonton, Alberta. The range of inventive ideas found in each was staggering, which speaks to the inspiring capacity of Canada's youth to generate highly interesting, relevant, inspiring and practical ArtsSmarts project concepts.

"We congratulate all the wonderful projects that were selected in our first round of the 21YCC," said National Youth Advisory Committee spokesperson Charles MacDougall. "All of the applications were very inspiring and unique. The projects selected were the ones that best matched our criteria and overall stood out. It is exciting to know that all these fantastic ideas and plans will be able to become a reality!"

The NYAC thoroughly reviewed each proposal, grading them on 12 criteria ranging from the fit with the 21YCC project themes, the strength of the project's Big Question and its relevance to students' lives, to the level of each project's interdisciplinary approach to the curriculum and the depth of student leadership in project planning and implementation. The Committee looked even deeper into each project's feasibility and impact, reviewing the nature of local community partnerships and scrutinizing project budgets. Throughout their evaluation, the NYAC was highly professional and remarkably consistent. In the end, 10 of the 28 proposals received an average score of over 80%, eight received between 70% and 80% and the balance received between 50% and 67%. Those with the highest scores made this year's 21YCC project roster -- congratulations!!

School: Chambly Academy (St. Lambert, Québec)

Grades: 10 and 11

Number of Students: 217

Big Question: Qui suis-je: Who Am I in the School, the Community and the World?

Project Outline: "The Big Bang Question: Who Am I" will see students explore their bilingual identity in relation to the larger Canadian mosaic. The students will work with artist Sandra King-Allikas to create three large paintings on canvas that represent identity, social inclusion, and community involvement, reflecting their research into the history and language of Québec and the phenomenon of Refus Globale. Film-maker Mike Sciortino will create a documentary film capturing the students' creative inquiry process.

School: École Evangeline (Abram-Village, Prince Edward Island)

Grade: 8

Number of Students: 15

Big Question: Identité culturelle?

Project Outline: In "Identité Culturelle" the students will work with local historian George Arsenault and theatre artist Nick Arsenault to develop a play that touches on the themes present in the story of deportation of the Arcadian people from PEI in 1758, including their survival away from home, their eventual return, and how this has impacted the students' culture.

School: Elmwood High School (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Grades: 7 and 8

Number of Students: 42

Big Question: How has my knowledge and experience shaped my view of myself, my community, and my place in it?

Project Outline: "Life, Identity, Social Responsibility, and Barriers - A Personal Documentary Project" will have students work with video artist Allison Moore to produce a still photo and video-based personal documentary project. They'll discover how their knowledge and experience has shaped their view of themselves, their community and their place within it.

School: Fundy High School (St. George, New Brunswick)

Grades: 7 and 8

Number of Students: 150

Big Question: What do we consider to be an important feature of Charlotte County that represents who we are and what is important to us?

Project Outline: "Charlotte County Is Our County" engages students in an exploration of the area in which they live. Using clay and working with potter Helen Stanley, the students will consider the many attributes of their community and gain awareness of themselves and their role in the 21st Century.

Schools: J. Percy Page High School, Florence Hallock Junior High School, Ellerslie Junior High School and Queen Elizabeth High School

(Edmonton, Alberta)

Grades: 7 to 12

Number of Students: 140

Big Question: How can we leverage the visual arts to build community between individual students and schools?

Project Outline: "pARTners" will see the students explore welcoming school communities, with Metis artist Heather Shillinglaw. Using visual art as a vehicle for dialogue, the four schools will trade student sketchbooks on a regular basis. This sketchbook trade between the schools will become the medium for sharing technique and formal visual learning. The final project will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of Alberta's Singhmar Centre for Art Education in the winter of 2013.

School: Kennebecasis Valley School (Rothesay, New Brunswick)

Grades: 11 and 12

Number of Students: 60

Big Question: How does social media affect academic performance and social inclusion in our school community, and how does this extend out into the community at large?

Project Outline: "Social eMe - On Call 24/7" engages students in an exploration of the impact that social media has on their lives and its potential use in the traditional educational setting. Students will work with artist Carol Taylor to create a documentary and a bas-relief clay mural based on interviews with members of their community about their social media experiences. Working with musician Scott Medford, students will also create a soundtrack to accompany the documentary. The finished works will be celebrated during an open house at the school, which will include a screening of the documentary, a live performance of the soundtrack music and the unveiling of the mural to be installed in a prominent area of the school.

School: Lord Elgin Public School (Ajax, Ontario)

Grade: 8

Number of Students: 25

Big Question: What does it mean to live in poverty in Canada and around the world?

Project Outline: "Fairness - A Question of Economics" asks students to explore what it means to live in poverty in both Canada and other parts of the world. The students will work with artist Anna Kuzniak to research and then develop a series of powerful images and phrases that highlight the struggles associated with poverty, which they will screen onto T-shirts. The T-shirts will then be sold to raise funds for World Vision.

School: Maniwaki Woodland School (Maniwaki, Québec)

Grade: Secondary 3

Number of Students: 17

Big Question: How has my culture impacted the development of my region?

Project Outline: "My Community, My Culture" engages students in an exploration of how their cultures - French, First Nations and Irish - have informed the growth of their community. Students will work with Alice Beaudoin, a professional photographer from the First Nations Community of Kitigan Zibi, to develop a series of essays and photographs that will reflect the cultural and historic influences evident in their community, and thereby foster a stronger sense of community belonging.

School: Mountsfield Public School (London, Ontario)

Grade: 7 and 8

Number of Students: 110

Big Question: What is my Forest City and how am I rooted into it?

Project Outline: "Finding Myself in the Forest City - An Artistic Exploration of London, Ontario" engages students in an exploration of their natural environment of London, Ontario, which is locally referred to as the Forest City. The students will work with artist Tricia Edgar to create a tree-shaped group mosaic expressing their hopes for London. Students will then work with photographer Michaela Devine to create a tree photomontage using individual photographs they took on a walking tour of London's natural environment.

School: Nibwakawigamig-Kinistin Education Center (Tisdale, Saskatchewan)

Grades: 7 to 9

Number of Students: 30

Big Question: How do we affirm the Saulteaux identity through drum making, and how do the teachings and contributions guide our lives each day?

Project Outline: "The Making of a Drum & Hand Drum" will explore Saulteaux identity, traditions and customs. The students will learn about the significance of drum making within their culture. They'll work with community artist Trevor Cheekinew to create a drum and hand drum, from start to finish, and learn about song and the use of the drum. The project will culminate in a prayer of thanks.

School: Orchard Park School (Stoney Creek, Ontario)

Grades: 11 and 12

Number of Students: 23

Big Question: How do we capture our environment using current technologies, so that we can examine and appreciate the elements that make us Canadian?

Project Outline: "Symbiosis" engages students in a photographic exploration of their personal perspective on life in Canada. They'll work with artist Dianne Bos to create a series of collaborative banners for display in the school courtyard during the 2012 - 2013 academic year, and the students' individual photographic pieces will also be exhibited in the school's front foyer.

School: Portage Collegiate School (Portage la Prairie, Manitoba)

Grade: 10

Number of Students: 40

Big Question: Can we as students have any influence on other students in the decisions they make every day with regards to their community?

Project Outline: "Wake Me Up Inside: Bringing Social Awareness to Our Community" will ask students to explore social awareness issues and their social responsibilities. They'll work with drama artist Christopher Kitchen and write, direct and stage two theatre productions on themes relating to social awareness issues such as neighbourhood building, identity, social inclusion, social and cultural diversity, poverty reduction, capacity building and community belonging. The plays will be performed for Grades 5 through 12 students within the Portage la Prairie School Division and its surrounding communities.

School: St Mary's School (Kitchener, Ontario)

Grades: 7 to 12

Number of Students: 50

Big Question: How does being First Nation, Metis or Inuit affect who I am and who I can become?

Project Outline:

"Who I am... Not Who am I?" allows students to explore how being First Nations, Metis or Inuit, affects their perceptions of themselves. They'll work with artist Andrée Cazabon to create a video that brings to light some of the issues that First Nations and Inuit teens face in today's society, thus showing how they really would like to be perceived. As part of the project, the students will also hone their interviewing, writing, directing, drumming and dancing skills.

School: Sussex Regional High School (Sussex, New Brunswick)

Grades: 9 to 12

Number of Students: 600

Big Question: The Power of One?

Project Outline: "The Great Big Water Bottle Project" is a school-wide project that engages students in an exploration of the negative impact of plastic water bottles on the environment as well as the power of the individual to impact environmental change. Students will work with artists Andrew Griffin and Kelly Hill to create a permanent outdoor installation in the school courtyard using recycled materials.

Congratulations to this year's 21YCC winners! We look forward to following your projects as they progress. And don't forget that the NYAC will be awarding a $5,000 cash prize to the best realised inaugural 21YCC project in mid-January, 2013 - look for the announcement then!

IMPORTANT 21YCC DATES

Round One Prize for Best Realised 21YCC Project: Mid-January 2013

Round Two Project Deadline Announcement: Late September 2012

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A 21YCC NATIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER OR MENTOR?

We are looking for a few good people to join the 2012-2013 21YCC National Youth Advisory Committee. Please contact:

Karen Harkins | Community Engagement Coordinator | ArtsSmarts National Office | 416-848-1882 x 116 | kharkins [at] artssmarts.ca

ABOUT THE 21ST CENTURY YOUTH CREATIVITY CHALLENGE (21YCC)

Rooted in an environment of youth-led learning, 21YCC is designed to stimulate, support and celebrate a national series of ArtsSmarts projects that enable Grades 7 to 12 students from across Canada to become active creators of their own future - to find their passion, to experience success in learning, and to develop the skills and competencies required to excel in the 21^st Century. A particular emphasis for 21YCC proposals is placed upon collaborative projects that explore issues of identity, social inclusion and community belonging- enduring themes deeply connected to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of our nation.

21YCC is supported in part by the Youth Take Charge Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage