COMMUNITY COLLABORATION INITIATIVE
A project
WHAT WAS THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION INITIATIVE?
The Community Collaboration Initiative was a 2016 pilot project aiming to demonstrate how engagement with local arts organizations and professional artists can enhance students' exploration of the creative process.
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Over five weeks, London’s most promising high school arts students spent one afternoon a week with one of four local arts organizations—all housed in heritage buildings. They received backstage tours and learned about community arts through presentations from organization directors. For many students, this was their first contact with a community arts organization.
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Students also explored the creative process with LAIR artists, some of London’s most creative professionals. They had multiple opportunities to try new things, pursuing their own ideas as well as collaborating with their peers to make art from the ground up. It was inspiring to watch the students’ creativity, risk-taking, and confidence grow from week to week.
WHO TOOK PART IN THE PROJECT?
The Community Collaboration Initiative was a joint project between the London Arts Council, the Thames Valley District School Board, and the London District Catholic School Board and was generously funded by the Ontario Arts Council as part of their Artists In Residence (Education) program.
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Participating students were nominated by high school arts teachers at Oakridge, Lucas, South, Westminster, Central, Saunders, St. Andre Bresette, and Regina Mundi schools.
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Participating community arts organizations were Museum London, The Muze, The Palace Theatre, and TAP Centre for Creativity (then The ARTS Project).
For more information about related projects,
explore our London Artist in Residence roster.