A New Chapter from the Milkweed Story
Austin Clarkson
Director, The Milkweed Collective
Exploring Creativity in Depth™ was born from the desire of members of the Milkweed Collective to share with others what they discovered about the creative process and its impact on individual growth and on community. In 2002, we designed the ECiD program and, with the support of Arts Etobicoke and the Neilson Park Creative Centre, offered it to schools in under-served areas of Etobicoke. The enthusiastic response of the children, teachers and parents confirmed that there is a great need to educate the imagination as well as the reason.
By 2012, our growing staff of artist-teachers had given the ECiD to more than 6,000 first-to eighth-graders from over twenty schools in West Toronto. We also offered ECiD workshops for teachers. In 2013, several factors led to the decision to discontinue the ECiD program for the schools.
Then in 2014, Culture Toronto brought its Cultural Hotspot Project to Etobicoke. Our thoughts turned to training emerging artists to facilitate the ECiD and we proposed the Kreativ U-turn Apprenticeship Project. We were delighted to be chosen to present one of the Cultural Hotspot Signature Projects. We selected seven extremely gifted emerging artists (EAs) from among the three dozen who applied and began the training process in May. We are most grateful to Councilor Stephen Holyday for sponsoring the use of the Boardroom in the Etobicoke Civic Centre for the two weekend intensives. The insightful comments of the EAs on the training testify to the fact that they too discovered something new about the creative imagination.
We are also grateful to Mme. Darlene Allen of James Culnan Catholic School for bringing two classes of four-, five- and six-graders to the Neilson Park Creative Centre in June so that the apprentices could gain experience facilitating the ECiD.
The EAs then brought their gifts to bear on planning and directing summer arts camps for children and youth at Richview Library, Mimico Centennial Library and Arts Etobicoke. The sheer variety and exuberance of the creativity that exploded during those programs can be seen in this exhibition.
The Kreativ U-turn Project will culminate during Culture Days, when the young artists will combine their talents in a community-engaged multi-arts performance. We hope that you will come to witness and participate in the celebration.
By 2012, our growing staff of artist-teachers had given the ECiD to more than 6,000 first-to eighth-graders from over twenty schools in West Toronto. We also offered ECiD workshops for teachers. In 2013, several factors led to the decision to discontinue the ECiD program for the schools.
Then in 2014, Culture Toronto brought its Cultural Hotspot Project to Etobicoke. Our thoughts turned to training emerging artists to facilitate the ECiD and we proposed the Kreativ U-turn Apprenticeship Project. We were delighted to be chosen to present one of the Cultural Hotspot Signature Projects. We selected seven extremely gifted emerging artists (EAs) from among the three dozen who applied and began the training process in May. We are most grateful to Councilor Stephen Holyday for sponsoring the use of the Boardroom in the Etobicoke Civic Centre for the two weekend intensives. The insightful comments of the EAs on the training testify to the fact that they too discovered something new about the creative imagination.
We are also grateful to Mme. Darlene Allen of James Culnan Catholic School for bringing two classes of four-, five- and six-graders to the Neilson Park Creative Centre in June so that the apprentices could gain experience facilitating the ECiD.
The EAs then brought their gifts to bear on planning and directing summer arts camps for children and youth at Richview Library, Mimico Centennial Library and Arts Etobicoke. The sheer variety and exuberance of the creativity that exploded during those programs can be seen in this exhibition.
The Kreativ U-turn Project will culminate during Culture Days, when the young artists will combine their talents in a community-engaged multi-arts performance. We hope that you will come to witness and participate in the celebration.