Trillium Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ArtsCan Circle Encourages Creativity in Canadian Native Youth
Newmarket, ON – April 21, 2008 - The ArtsCan Circle has been awarded a three-year grant by the Ontario Trillium Foundation totaling $197,300 to be used for building the capacity of the organization and expanding it’s programming for Native youth. The ArtsCan Circle is a charitable organization founded in 2002 that sends teams of musical and visual artists to remote communities to work with Native youth at risk.
The grant includes funding for an executive director who will take action to improve and increase fund-raising activities and who will function as a “hub” for all activities of this six-year old charity. “The ArtsCan Circle has reached a plateau for the level of activities that it can fund and execute with the effort that volunteers can provide,” says K. B. McGregor (Magoo), current Board Chairman of the ArtsCan Circle. “We really need the more concerted effort of an executive director to increase fundraising and to improve the coordination of the activities of the group into the Northern Native communities of Ontario and Canada. The Trillium grant will make this pivotal organization change and further growth possible.” Mike Stevens, the famed harmonica player and Founder of The ArtsCan Circle adds, “The Ontario Trillium Foundation award will help us engage more Native youth at risk in remote northern communities.”
The ArtsCan Circle
artists and musicians engage Native youth in songwriting workshops,
theatrical endeavors, music lessons, and visual arts activities.
ArtsCan Circle also sets up musical instrument resource centres in
schools and community centres so the youth can access instruments on an
on-going basis. In some communities audio-visual recording studios have
been donated for the community’s use and community members trained to
operate the equipment so they can document traditional music and dance
as well as record new works. Mike Stevens said, “We work to build
relationships with each community we visit and feel it’s very important
to return at least annually to each participating community. Our aim to
help kids find their own “voices” while honoring the heritage and
traditions of each community.”
For additional information on the ArtsCan Circle visit www.artscancircle.ca or contact Carol Teal, Secretary at carol.teal@sympatico.ca