eyeGO Seeks Local Arts Youth Council

From Arts in Guelph - November/December, 2005

by Anna Contini

The eyeGO program began five years ago to encourage high school students to experience the arts at a price they could afford. For a mere $5, secondary school students can attend a wide variety of live performances. One of the ongoing challenges, however, has been to convince youth to take advantage of this innovative program.

Now a new Arts Youth Council for Wellington County is being formed to spread the word about eyeGO and the local performing arts scene. "The success of the eyeGO program is directly tied to the success of the Youth Council," says Outreach Co-ordinator Gabrielle Clermont. "The idea is to have students act as ambassadors for eyeGO and convince their peers of the merit of attending live performances," she explains.

The Youth Council will also be responsible for planning and executing their own special projects. A Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Council has been in existence since 2001, and each year they have mounted a live performance including a Variety Show, Battle of the Bands and an Improvisation Night. Originally, Guelph youth were part of the K-W group but the time has come for a local chapter to be formed, says Clermont, acknowledging the thriving arts scene here in this community.

The local Youth Council will meet once per month in the evening at the River Run Centre for about two hours. Time spent working with the council can count towards volunteer hours. Enthusiastic high school students who are interested in joining the new Youth Council can contact Gabrielle Clermont at 827-1074 or gabrielle@eyego.org. For more information about eyeGO to the Arts, please visit www.eyego.org.