7th Generation Image Makers is a community arts program under the auspices of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. The program was founded in 1995 by local Anishnawbek artist Maria Hupfield through the NCFST youth department. The program’s mandate is to provide arts exposure and constructive creative expression for at-risk aboriginal youth ages 14-29 in the community. The program provides art workshops run by professional artists that include summer video projects and mural making which promote aboriginal visual presence around the city. The general model combines extensive arts programming within a drop-in studio environment, with additional outreach workshops in different venues.

7Th Generation Image Makers started off as a mural company and expanded to include a range of media arts, visual and traditional arts. The program focuses on the cultural and artistic identity of the youth participants. They regularly offer digital media lab access for youth to experiment with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, film, Final Cut Express and photography. Traditional arts offered include beading, moccasin making, quill work, soapstone carving, drum making, and has included regalia making on a project-basis, some of which is integrated with contemporary media. The program also provides a lot of painting and drawing resources/workshops and assists youth with portfolio development.

7th Generation Image Makers is really good at integrating a cultural world view with contemporary arts practice. Its goals this year are to expand their new media resources and workshops because of demand from program participants. They would like more youth involvement in the planning of programming and have more involvement by the 7th Gen youth advisory board to help address this. Its challenges this year are funding and adjusting to staff changes in recent years.

7th Generation Image Makers is interested in increasing their networking with other community arts projects/programs/organizations/resources. It can offer other community arts entities a chance to collaborate in making murals (they have facilitated the making of murals in other centers, festivals and outdoor venues). They have an inclusive worldview in their visual conception and planning of the murals, in terms of cultural content and contemporary media, though they always strive to promote pride in previously marginalized Aboriginal culture.

The catchment area for 7th Generation Image Makers is the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). The language of service is English. There are also language resources for people to learn Anishnawbemowin. The average number of participants is 8-10 per workshop; and 60-80 annually. The hours of operation vary from Monday to Friday. The staff includes 1 full-time program coordinator, 1 part time media coordinator, and 4 part-time time staff who are youth mentors from the community. They have 4 regular volunteers/year and one student placement. The program also provides honoraria for 15 visiting artists a year.

The program has a permanent office space within the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto; it also operates out of studios in other venues. Although it is primarily a drop in, it accepts participants who are referred from the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. It is free. It has events and art shows (most recently at Hart House). It has an operating budget of about $100,000 year and has a small budget for professional development, training and conferences.

ArtBridges interview with Liz George, Coordinator, on February 8th,2010.

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