Artists share their skills with K-12 students through Arts Reimagined program

Forty artists visited dozens of grade schools to share their craft with students as part of a monthlong festival called Arts Reimagined hosted by Arts Commons.

Students at K-12 schools throughout Calgary took part in a variety of in-classroom workshops on Wednesday as part of the Arts Reimagined program from Arts Commons.

This year marks the third for the program, which organizers say addresses key needs in the city’s arts ecosystem.

Karen Youngberg, Arts Commons associate director of education, says participating artists determine what they’re teaching based on the age of the students.

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“The artists are super excited,” Youngberg said. “There’s a real pride right now with 40 of us going out into schools to support students, learning and to engage them in a different and new way.”

“They are doing all sorts of stuff, working with Grade 1 through Grade 12 in dance, music, neon-light work, visual arts… we’re just going through it all.

“I hope [the students] find their magic, realize that their voice can be heard through an art form, and they carry that confidence into the world with them.”

Monica Wiersma, the principal at Sir John Franklin School, says the day-long Arts Reimagined program is incredibly valuable.

“[It’s] something that a typical school can’t just afford – to bring in all of these incredible artists,” she said.

“I hope that an experience like this makes them remember their learning of what we’ve done here at school, and it’s those really positive memories and connections with teachers and artists [that may] inspire them to follow their path in this.”

Students at Sir John Franklin seemed to enjoy the experience.

“It feels really exciting knowing that people that actually experience this stuff and do this for a living actually come and teach us,” said 12-year-old Hailey Mann. “I do like the arts, especially singing and acting, because it shows one part of me that I don’t show a lot.”

“If you want to relax, you could do art,” said 13-year-old Buay Ruei. “Even if you want to write an idea or bang on a drum.”

“It makes it really fun, the learning and everything, it’s really expressive,” said 14-year-old Lindsay Walker.