It’s an art show aimed at giving young artists a platform, and they are accepting works for their first ever show called Art in the Barn.
Vanessa De Groot is a registered psychotherapist, author, artist at Kind-heARTed Studio and organizer of the event. She says the event is all about allowing young artists to share their creativity with the community.
“We wanted to provide a space for youth in Huron and Perth County to showcase their artistic skills and talents,” De Groot said. “We also want to encourage and nurture young artists by recognizing and celebrating their creative endeavours, strengthen the connection between the youth and the local arts community, and offer an opportunity for youth to gain exposure and recognition for their artwork.”
This idea started with De Groot seeing a gap in opportunities for youth to be active in the Stratford thriving art scene.
“The Mayor of Stratford (Martin Ritsma), myself, and Kind-heARTed Studio wanted to address this, we are wanting to create a platform that provides young artists an ability to exhibit their work and foster a sense of community appreciation for their creativity,” De Groot explained.
Artists can submit any type of medium, whether it's video, stop animation, painting, drawings, sculptures, jewellery, fashion and everything in between. There are no prizes, or winners but the young artists can choose to sell their work if they wish with all the proceeds going back to the artists. The Art in the Barn show is for youth in four age categories: ages six-nine; ages 10-13; ages 14-17; and, ages 18-23.
The Art in the Barn event will be held on June 7 from 1-6 p.m. at Kind-heARTed Studio located at 629 Ontario Street in Stratford. De Groot says she hopes the event inspires the next generation of artists.
“By inviting students to submit their artwork and showcasing their talents in a public exhibition, we hope to inspire and support the next generation of artists in our city,” said De Groot. “We look forward to the enthusiastic participation of students, teachers, and community members in making this event a success.”
There is no fee to participate, and the deadline to submit artwork is March 25 by noon. Submissions must be made via email. Details to include in the email include: name, age, address, title of art work, size, medium for each artwork. Please send all photos and information to [email protected]. Artists who are selected for Art in the Barn will be notified by the second week of April.