Place des Arts’ new Youth Arts Council will launch a first this weekend — an event designed specifically by teens, for teens.
Council president Kevin Zhang, a Grade 12 student at Heritage Woods secondary in Port Moody, said Teen Day at PdA! will provide free drop-in activities for young people aged 13 to 17.
Among the art fun happening on Sunday will be sessions on:
• mini tea-stain drawing with Positively Petite artist Jo-Ann Sheen (using shapes of tea or coffee stains on printmaking paper);
• mini pop-art drawing (with pencil crayons or markers on card stock);
• mini holiday wreath making (using natural materials);
• and lantern making, with faculty member Catherine Dumaine.
“The council is looking to engage youth in the arts and get people interested in the facility so that they are more likely to come back,” Zhang told The Tri-City News on Monday.
Teen Day at PdA! builds on the council’s programs from last year — all of which had multicultural components, he said. As well, the council plans to host a new children’s Christmas function next month and, sometime in the new year, another Art After Dark for teens.
Zhang, who is in his third year on the council and second as president, said his team is getting the word out about Teen Day at PdA! through poster drops at high schools and social media. He has also promoted the event via Tri-Cities Community TV.
Zhang is joined on council by 18 members, all of whom are earning volunteering credits at their schools in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and New Westminster. The executive is made up of Alexandru Ullmann as finance director, Catalina Ionescu as external relations director, Elaine Wang as internal relations director, Jaimie Lee as community events director and Kara Han as marketing director.
Other members include Aariyana Sayani, Alexandra Youdell, Alice Pinheiro, Amir SD (Sadeghy-Daghighy), Annette Chen, Calvin Choi, Georgia Tuhten, Janice Chan, Jessica Lee, Kelsea Vance, Sophia de Guzmanm, Sydney Lin and Wilson Jiang.
• Teen Day at PdA! is on Nov. 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). To save a spot, call 604-664-1636 or visit brownpapertickets.com.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
