Press Mentions
arming high schoolers with tools to engage today’s digital world
Was wonderful to speak with Morgan Sharp from the National Observer about what we do. From collage to youth-led storytelling tours, the silly and the serious, and how it all relates to our lives on and offline.
The ability to critically engage with messages flying around the internet is a major challenge for everyone in modern society, including young people. For one student, it started with adding a fart bubble to a photograph of the prime minister.
That artwork was a recent creation from the Never Gallery Ready project, which since 2006 has encouraged Toronto area youth to use paper collage, digital art, animation and augmented reality to engage in civic discourse and challenge the world as they find it.
“The assessment panel noted Never Gallery Ready’s 15-year commitment to their work, and the importance of connecting youth to media literacy arts programs.”
“The assessment panel noted Never Gallery Ready’s 15-year commitment to their work, and the importance of connecting youth to media literacy arts programs.”
Arts for Youth Award 2022!
March 2022
Never Gallery Ready recignized by Toronto Arts Foundation as a finalist for the Arts for Youth Award.
Toronto Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the finalists of the 2022 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards. Four Awards celebrating Toronto’s exceptional artists, cultural leaders and arts organizations will be presented at the annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch on April 25, 2022; the first in-person Lunch event in two years.
ARTS FOR YOUTH AWARD: a $20,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $2,000. The award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto’s youth through the arts. The award is sponsored by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck, and Sandra and Jim Pitblado. The finalist prizes are sponsored by Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier.
Power Plant Artist in residence
September 2017
About Power Youth
"The Power Plant's Contemporary Art Gallery's Power Youth outreach program provides youth with a better understanding of contemporary art practices as well as access to cultural resources, all while giving them an opportunity to discuss the issues and topics that impact their lives.
About the Power Youth Artists-in-Residence
Power Youth's Artists-in-Residence are selected directly by youth from the program's partnering communities. Six artists were selected to interview for the two clubhouses–either Regent Park & Alexandra Park OR Weston-Mount Dennis & Lawrence Heights–and each clubhouse then voted on artists based on a number of criteria. The selection process is a unique feature of the program, aiming to highlight the importance of the youth's proactive participation and foster ownership and continued engagement in the program."
Toronto Metro
September 2016
Toronto libraries giving platform to local artists this fall
"Program from the Toronto Public Library brings artists in residence to teach the public hands-on experience creating art.
The Toronto Public Library wants you to check out some art.
From September to December, 10 local artists will spend time at 10 different library branches every week, giving hands-on workshops in different artistic disciplines – everything from music composition and digital storytelling to map-making and Korean drumming.
It’s part of a partnership with Toronto Arts Council, and an attempt to diversify programming at branches outside the downtown core, said library manager Penny Griffin."