FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arts for Children and Youth Unveiled multi-part project in Warden Woods Community

TORONTO- Nov. 15, 2010-Arts for Children and Youth, a charitable organization based in Toronto, celebrated the unveiling of an eco-art community project that integrates youth-based art-making, gardening, environmental practices and community engagement.

What’s so special about this project is that it has built new, constructive dialogues and relationships between the generations living within this community, through art. This project has also brought a new energy to the space.

“There are so many layers to the work we do. In this particular project, the youth planted a large perennial garden to “green” the space. They created a mosaic bench and large scale murals that will be unveiled at the ceremony. A retaining wall and a functional rain-barrel were also decorated,” said Julie Frost, AFCY’s executive and artistic director.

Celebrations took place on Nov. 10, at the Warden Woods/Cataraqui community in Toronto. The event kicked-off at about 5 p.m., and everybody was welcome to join the party.

“All this teamwork brings together the different generations who live in this community. Through participation, residents and youth communicate. They get to know each other, which is something that has rarely happened here,” said Frost.

The purpose of this project embodies AFCY’s mandate, which is to empower Toronto’s marginalized youth to reach their full potential through high quality arts education programs. Such activities provide youth with opportunities to re-discover their community, particularly in Toronto’s under-serviced neighbourhoods.

AFCY’s professional artist, Andrea Piller, facilitated brainstorming sessions with the community members who were participating in this project. Together, they came up with the concepts and vision for this space.  Members of this community executed artwork for this space under Piller’s guidance.

This project was made possible by the full commitment and cooperation of our valued partnership with Toronto Community Housing and AFCY.

This project was generously funded by the RBC Foundation, whose support is appreciated by AFCY and all the youth involved.

About AFCY:

AFCY is a charitable organization. We ally with high priority communities and empower marginalized children and youth by engaging them in hands-on, community and school-based arts education programs that respect existing cultural and community activity, resulting in participatory action and social awareness. To learn more about us, please visit www.afcy.ca. You can email us at info@afcy.ca or call us at 416-929-9314.

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**MEDIA NOTE: High-resolution images available on request**

Shehreen Ladha
Marketing and PR Coordinator
401 Richmond St. West, Suite 230
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
416 929 9314 x 114
shehreen@afcy.ca