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\u201cDon’t ever call yourself an expert\u2014the minute you do, you’re done. You’ve always got to be learning, growing and be open to new knowledge in the field.\u201d \u00a0My friend, Shawn, said this to me a year ago about my work with ArtBridges\/ToileDesArts.<\/p>\n
It really sank in\u2014and he’s right. At ArtBridges, we are constantly learning about what’s going on across Canada\u2014new ideas, challenges, needs in community arts and arts for social change. We’re also constantly learning about how we can develop our project into a better one\u2014and one that’s sustainable. These are huge learning curves.<\/p>\n
So, the picture above is of a few of us from ArtBridges back in the classroom at George Brown College, listening to presentations by 3rd\u00a0year marketing students who used ArtBridges as a case study last term.\u00a0 The picture below is of a few of the students who presented their ideas to us.<\/p>\n
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At ArtBridges, we have hired several students in university or art college over the last few years. What I love about working with students is that they are used to saying what they think; used to being critiqued, edited and marked; used to churning work out under pressure. They have big ideas and are open to trying new things.\u00a0 They bring all of this into the ArtBridges office. And so, I\u2019ve adjusted to our work being radically edited, critiqued and challenged\u2014I think ArtBridges is better off because of this.<\/p>\n
This winter, ArtBridges was selected to be a case study for The Strategic Foresight and Innovation Masters Programme at Ontario College of Art and Design University. With these grad students, we\u2019re re-examining our organizational model and working on a strategic plan. So we\u2019re back into the classroom again!<\/p>\n
On a charitable community arts centre board I\u2019m active on, a fellow director opposed a recent opportunity to bring on summer interns from a fundraising college-level program.\u00a0 As she said, it would take too long to train them and too much time to supervise them. This is another perspective, and I guess it depends on your organization\u2019s resources and capacity.<\/p>\n
How do you find students?<\/strong> For high school-level: call guidance teachers and art teachers. For private schools: call staff in charge of community outreach activities. For arts colleges and universities: \u00a0post on online job\/volunteer boards and hang flyers in cafeterias or student bulletin boards. Think of any connections you may have in education. But, hey, I’m no expert.<\/strong><\/i> Do you have any suggestions? And students: reach out\u2014we could learn from you!<\/strong>: info[at]artbridges.ca\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0-Seanna Connell, ArtBridges\/ToileDesArts Project Director<\/em><\/p>\n