Arts and Culture Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Project #15455

St. Vincent Teaching Art to Children

by Youlou Arts Foundation Inc.

Project Report | Mar 10, 2015
Youlou Arts Foundation Manifesto

By Camille Musser | Founder of Youlou Arts Foundation

The bitter, biting cold, and snowy winter days have indeed made a profound impact on our spirits.
It has caused us to think deep and hard about what our organization is really trying to do and why. This state of affairs has caused us to create and publish our manifesto, to keep us relevant, vibrant and on target.

Youlou Arts Foundation declares the following:

Art is vital.

We need art in our daily life. It is the driving force which keeps us all sane and human.

To quote Picasso "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"

Art is powerful

It has the capacity to bring about action and awareness.

Art has the ability to bring people to together.

It encourages curiosity, willingness and responsibility.

Art is inclusive

It is for everyone.

Art can drive economic gain

Arts and cultural activities can draw crowds from within the community and around the world.

Increasing the number of visitors as well as enhancing resident participation helps build economic and social good.

We need to recognize and market the arts and cultural assets of our community. Creatively acknowledging and marketing community assets can attract a strong and skilled workforce as well as help sustain a positive quality of life.

It is for these reasons Youlou Arts Foundation has a vested interest in organizing art programs for children. We know by getting the youth involved in art making we are making an investment in the future of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Youlou Arts Foundation has spent the past 15 years ensuring the continuation of the children's art program because we operate under the notion that "every child is an artist". By dedicating time and energy to providing art activities to children, we are promoting a culture where children will be inspired, motivated and become model citizens.

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Dec 11, 2014
Reflecting on 2014

By Camille Musser | Founder of Youlou Arts Foundation

Sep 15, 2014
Germinating Ideas Through Creativity

By Camille Musser | Founder of Youlou Arts Foundation

visit to Montreal Gardens

The 2014 art program was a success. All the months of planning and fund raising paid off in a big way.

On July 14, 20 excited teaches from around the island participated in the 1 week annual Teachers Workshop which was facilitated by the "visiting artist", Sherika Sayers. She instructed the teachers in basic sculpting techniques using air dried clay and paper clay. For many teachers this was valuable information. It was the first time they were receiving instructions in how to go about teaching children to sculpt. Paper mache techniques were taught, along with several sewing stitches. Time was dedicated for discussions about how to go about teaching to the children. Then all too soon it was time for the teachers to work with the children in their location.

From July 21 to August 8th all 4 locations were busy with excited, happy children.137 children participated in the 3 week program. They came from Kingstown, Barrouallie, Georgetown, and Spring Village.

A field trip to the Montreal Gardens was organized during the first week. The field trip was a huge "hit".

Many children and teachers had not visited the garden.There was excitement, laughter and sheer glee about visiting this beautiful garden on the side of a hill in the middle of the island. 4 Buses had to be rented for this trip. Visiting the Montreal Gardens was an important step in getting the children prepared for the program. It offered the them a chance to get inspired and gather ideas for future art projects and poetry writing. At the beginning of the trip they were instructed to take note of the various shapes, and colours.

During the following weeks the children had the opportunity to create sculptures using air dried clay and paper clay. They created objects which took the form of mini gardening containers, animals, insects, leaves of various shapes and sizes. Each location created a large fantasy, garden creatures using paper mache techniques. They also made handmade paper from recycled paper, did some poetry writing, made "happy" flags incorporating some embroidery and learnt the Bob Marley song "Lively Up Yourself"

The program ended with a public display of the children's work and a recitation of the poems they had written, at the Botanical Gardens in front of the curator's house.

Many parents attended the showcase to listen to their children's poems. A visiting family whose son participated in the program, lamented the fact there was not a children's art program on the island where they lived.

I am proud and happy the 2014 art program was a success.

Donors, thank you once again for supporting our program! With your continued support we will continue our commitment to providing an art education to primary school children in St. Vincent.

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