Arts East profiled Terri Whetstone, Executive Director of the 4Cs Foundation in the Fall Edition of Arts East. To read the rest of the article (on page 13), please click here. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

« CB: What was the inspiration for the foundation?

TW: Opportunities for young people to get to know others in their

communities and neighbourhoods were disappearing as small schools were being closed and more children were being bused

outside their communities, and as contemporary life became more complicated for families. The founders wanted to create opportunities for children/youth to connect with other people in a creative way where relationships might flourish, understanding would befostered and a sense of being connected to one another would develop. The idea of focusing on the creative arts as the vehicle for these goals came from their passion for the arts and their own experiences at their children’s school.

CB: What do 4Cs funded projects offer students/youth that they might not find in regular curriculum or other sources?

TW: 4Cs projects bring students together with other members of

their community to work side-by-side in a collaborative group led by a professional artist to create artworks. It is unusual for schools to create opportunities for community members – neighbours, caregivers, parents, the person who owns the corner store, students from another school, seniors – to come into the classroom. An exciting recent example was Music 4 Life. It brought together the Sackville High School Band and Sackville Community Band to learn and play music together. Sackville High School Music teacher Lara MacKenzie was the visionary and leader. Many of the students had been unaware – until this project – of the Sackville Community Band or opportunities for mentorship/friendship/ encouragement from their neighbors, or of the possibility of their own future involvement in a band in their community. Students learned valued skills, made friends with older professional musicians who encouraged them and fostered aspirations that had been flagging for some of the students.

The place of the Sackville Community band became more integrated in the community, increasing its recognition but also the community’s sense of pride in its musicians.

CB: What do the adults involved get out of it?

TW: One actually gets to be involved with young people! There are enormous issues of mistrust between youth and adults and therefore a lot of misunderstandings. Being able to work side-by-side with young people through these creative activities is a safe way to spend time getting to know each other. And because these are art-based projects the adult participants are no more skilled – often less – than the youth. So they get to be learners too. This allows youth to share their knowledge and skills with adults, which is empowering. The trust that develops, the breaking down of myths and stereotypes about each other, are important things both groups get out of the projects. »

Click here for read the rest of the article.

– posted with permission from Stephen Patrick Clare, Arts East & Terri Whetstone, Executive Director of 4Cs Foundation

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