Community Collaborations Give Young Artists a Voice
December 21, 2009
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta teaches education of the arts and cultural enrichment through its 26 Clubs. Through a variety of programs and the Youth Art Connection (YAC), Club members are given the opportunity to display their knowledge and creative talents. Below highlights a few recent community collaborations where BGCMA kids combine creativity, spirit, education and inspiration to show their artistic talents.
Boys & Girls Clubs Give Voice to Georgia Children Advocates
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta kids teamed up Voices for Georgia’s Children, a non-profit focused on providing for children and advocating on their behalf. Teen members of THE STUDIO program created special megaphones that Voices for Georgia’s Children could present to its Big Voice honorees of 2009. The honorees are recognized each year for Georgians who have elevated the importance of policy and advocacy in improving the conditions of children in the state. Teen member participants who created the designs for the megaphones included Jazzmine of the Lawrenceville Club, Qaadiyra of Youth Art Connection, Akure of YAC and Rashad of the Brookhaven Club. The collaboration was a great opportunity for the kids of BGCMA to thank those leaders who do so much for them in the community.
Children Foresee Atlanta’s Future – Atlanta Regional Commission’s Fifty Forward Project
Have you ever imagined Atlanta fifty years from now? The Atlanta Regional Commission and its special project, Fifty Forward has partnered with Douglas County, Samuel L. Jones, Lawrenceville, A.W. “Tony” Matthews and Malon D. Mimms Clubs to image Atlanta in 2060. The ARC is presenting a workshop in each of these Clubs to discuss the critical issues that will shape metro Atlanta in 50 years. Club members will get the opportunity to create works that illustrate what they think will shape Atlanta in 50 years. The project will end in a culminating exhibit. The creative projects that will be designed to look into the future will be a part of a special exhibit at BGCMA’s Youth Art Connection Art Gallery in March 2010. This project combines education, artistic creativity, social issues and community collaboration and inspires our young people to be aware of social, environmental and economical changes of our city.
Club Kids Get Curious for The Atlanta Children’s Museum
The A.W. “Tony” Matthews Club created artwork for The Atlanta Children’s Museum’s Curious George: Let’s Get Curious exhibit! BGCMA’s Youth Art Connection has maintained a working relationship with The Museum and Imagine It! for years, with Club kids’ works being showcased regularly throughout the year. The exhibit displayed artworks were inspired by the famous cartoon Curious George. Youth were asked to think about reoccurring shapes, colors and themes in the book as inspiration for their work. Check it out today at The Atlanta Children’s Museum!
