Guelph, ON – October 23, 2023
Guelph Arts Council is pleased to announce the deadline for the Youth Opportunities Award, which is made possible through the GAC Youth Opportunities Fund at The Guelph Community Foundation. The 2023 application deadline is Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 5:00 pm (paper application) or 11:59 pm (online application). For the award’s terms of reference and application instructions follow the link here.
Local artists, not-for-profit groups, and youth are eligible to apply for programs that initiate, enhance or expand opportunities for children and youth under age 25 to experience or become engaged in the arts in Guelph or Wellington County. Local youth are particularly encouraged to apply.
Guelph Arts Council’s Youth Fund was established through the financial success of Youth in Performance presentations that GAC sponsored between 1980 and 1990. Additions to the fund were made over the years, and in 2005 Guelph Arts Council turned over the capital of the fund to The Guelph Community Foundation to create the GAC Youth Opportunities Fund. Since 2009, with revenue generated by the fund, GAC has supported arts opportunities for youth.
The amount of the award(s) varies annually. For 2023, up to $500 may be available for awarding to one or more applicants. To review the applications and select the award recipient(s) each year, Guelph Arts Council appoints a volunteer award jury composed of community representatives, including arts professionals and youth. The awards are announced by the end of the year. Apply online here.
The last Youth Opportunities Award was awarded in 2021 and was shared by three applicants, Alexa Collette, Jessica Wilson and Maeve Hind, who engaged other students in a call for submissions for two 6’x8’ murals to be painted within the halls of the Maplewoods Centre for Family Therapy and Child Psychology. The murals explored ‘healing, wellness, and resilience’ as main subjects and provided small honorariums to those who participated. The finished project resulted in 4 murals total with 12 participants. The goal of the project was to be a safe and accessible space for all, prioritizing spaces for individuals who self-identify as: Indigenous, Black, POC, LGBTQ2I+, individuals with mental health conditions, including addictions, and people with visible and/or invisible disabilities. To read more about this project please follow the link here.
To learn about previous award winners for this project follow the links. 2018, 2017
For more information about the Youth Opportunities Award and Guelph Arts Council, please visit guelpharts.ca, phone 519-836-3280, email [email protected], or drop by the artBar at 37 Quebec St. Upper Level Guelph, ON N1H 2T1.
