What is National Youth Arts Week?

It’s about eruptions of art and creativity from coast to coast to coast.

It’s about inspiring youth leadership through creative expression.

It’s about generating excitement around youth, art, creativity and community engagement. 

It’s about building a movement that will continue to grow once the week is over.
 

This coming May, this nation will be the stage for something huge.

Canadian communities will join together to host the largest celebration of the creative expression of children and youth this great country has ever seen. 

National Youth Arts Week will provide an opportunity for young people ages 13 to 30 to express and exchange their ideas, showcase their talents, get excited about art and creativity and celebrate their positive contributions to their communities and to Canada.

By working together and taking an active role in creating events, these young people will build a strong connection to their community and to Canada and, in doing so, they will also become part of a growing national network of youth artists and leaders.

Why is National Youth Arts Week important?

We know that the primary source of optimism and hope for our nation's future is our youth. We also know that community based creative activities represent one of the oldest and most universally appealing opportunities for youth engagement available to Canada's young people.

This is why the Arts Network for Children and Youth believes that every youth, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, geographic location or socio economic status should have equal access to creative activities, both in and outside of school.

Art, in its widest definition, encompasses a diverse spectrum of youth engagement opportunities, from carpentry to community gardening, culinary arts to theatre. By meeting youth where they are and encouraging them to focus on their strengths and capitalize on their interests and skill sets through creative pursuits, we ensure their freedom to explore pathways away from detrimental behavior and toward the development of self esteem, leadership, civic engagement and healthy life choices.

National Youth Arts Week is an opportunity for youth across the country to engage in creative expression, to feel valued, and to have their voices heard on the national stage. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the power of youth to transform their lives through art, and in turn transform our country, and indeed the world.

Download our FAQ sheet (pdf) for more information.