Arts for Children Working with 12th Division

In January, Arts for Children of Toronto was approached by Barb Spyropolous of the Community Liaison Committee for the 12th Division of Toronto Police Services, to offer some arts programming in an assisted housing development in an underserved community in the Keele/Eglinton area. To date we have committed to two initiatives – the hope is that more will follow.

Every Wednesday after school, AFC has offered instruction in African drumming by musician/instructor Muhtadi, who runs a drumming festival at Queen's Park every summer, which attracts 20,000 people. Muhtadi has performed in 42 countries and is a well known personality in the world of drumming. His dream is to develop an African Drumming Orchestra with the 20 or so youth who attend the Wednesday afternoon sessions. The drummers range in age from 6 to 19 and include a representative of the police.

During the March Break, two artist/instructors with Arts for Children of Toronto and the Avenue Road Arts School, Rachel Daley and David Lapp, will be working with the children living in the housing complex to create murals. These works of art will decorate the hallways and utility room of the housing complex. Photos of this project will appear on the Arts for Children website early in April.

For photo viewing and more information on all our programs, please visit www.artsforchildren.org

What's New at AFC

Introducing the AFC Arts Adventure Camp

For many years, Arts for Children of Toronto has been providing hands-on arts experiences to children from underserved communities in and around Toronto. This summer we are taking a new initiative in launching the AFC Arts Adventure Camp.

Campers will be introduced to the magic of the arts as well as traditional camp activities, organized games, swimming and arts related field trips. With quality professional instruction in visual art, music and drama, our integrated arts programming will offer children, who would not otherwise have this opportunity, the chance to discover their creativity, develop valuable life skills and make new friends.

In this inaugural year, AFC will offer two two-week sessions with 100 campers each, held in July and August respectively. Much like our Scholarship Program, applications and referrals will be part of the process.

In order to make this dynamic summer experience accessible to families in financial need, Arts for Children of Toronto gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors for their support: GAP Canada, Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution, Crayola Canada and an Anonymous Foundation.

If you would like more information about the AFC Arts Adventure Camp, please visit the Web site, or contact our office at (416) 961-1502 ext. 302 or via email at camp@artsforchildren.org.

Outreach Program Update

The numbers are in and Arts for Children of Toronto is thrilled to announce that we will serve 30 schools and community groups this year and reach over 3500 children. Thanks for helping us!

Outreach Profile

St. Maria Goretti Catholic School

Creative thinking is good for business, and business is booming at St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Scarborough. You may not have heard of Kards R Us just yet, but the students of Jennifer Veniot's grade 3 class plan to change that soon. With the slogan: "From our hands to your heart", Kards R Us creates and sells student-designed greeting cards to help raise money for Arts for Children of Toronto. Under the guidance of their teacher, with monthly business consultations from Fiona MacCool, an independent consultant volunteering her time on this project, and a daylong design workshop from Arts for Children's own artist/instructor Linda Blix, these students have created a full-blown business in their classroom. From design and manufacturing to marketing and accounting, Kards R Us is run entirely by kids!

This amazing project is part of the Entrepreneurial Adventure Progam, a program of The Learning Partnership with support from the Bank of Montreal. "The purpose of this program is to teach children about entrepreneurship. It teaches them leadership, self-confidence, independence and good work ethics..." says Jennifer Veniot, who has worked the program into her class curriculum.

"...[It teaches] students to understand the importance of what they are learning, how knowing and counting money is necessary in everyday life, how public relations is a must in a work environment..." she continues. Grade 3 student, Charles, Director of Promotions and Communications at Kards R Us, is just one example of how successful this project has been in the classroom: "I never knew I was good at writing, but I have written all the announcements for our fundraisers, letters to the parents council and I also stood in front of the whole school and read my announcements."

On January 30, AFC artist Linda Blix worked with the class to help them refine their vision of their product. "I wanted to train their eye, not their hands..." explains Blix, who had them begin with free flowing pastel drawing on big sheets of paper. "I liked how she showed us how different lines are used to create abstract art..." said Christopher of the Financial Department. Moving from colour theory to design, she prepared students to begin work on the cards. "I never knew I was so good at drawing but all the practice and help from artists, I learned new techniques that made me a better drawer" said Audrey of the Art Department.

With $800.00 already raised to buy supplies and cover costs, the cards will be sold to peers, parents and teachers at St. Maria Goretti, and then at the Entrepreneurial Adventure Showcase at the Bank of Montreal on June 9th. If anyone needed proof that creativity is vital to enterprise, they need look no further than the Grade 3 class at St. Maria Goretti Public School. Jennifer Veniot has seen it too: "I have been amazed and surprised by the hidden talents these children have. They are still young, 8 and 9 years old, but they have so much enthusiasm and confidence in themselves and each other – they are excelling!"