Arts program helps youth build confidence and connect with mentors

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

For more than a decade, Ottawa Innercity Ministries (OIM) has been supplying at-risk and street-engaged youth artists with a safe place to express themselves. They call it the Innercity Arts Program. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening, marginalized young adults with a creative passion come to OIM’s office for a night of skill building, warm food, and socializing.

“Our main goal with the arts program is to provide a creative space and safe environment for the street youth to not only have access to art supplies, but to receive mentorship and to become part of a community,” says Danyca MacDonald, OIM’s youth program coordinator.

The program splits the young people into two groups based on age. “Emerging Artists” hosts youth from 16 to 24, on Thursday nights, while “Developing Artists” welcomes people between 23 and 32, on Wednesday nights. Each three-hour session begins with an hour of working on art projects, playing instruments, or building skills in other areas. The remaining time is dedicated to sharing a hearty meal and enjoying each other’s company.

“As bad as the streets can be, home was worse for some of these kids.” Photo by Elizabeth Mabie.

“We have a little bit of everything for everyone,” shares MacDonald. “Knitting, sewing, and cooking; it doesn’t just have to be sketching, painting, or making music.”

The program originally began in 2006, but with a different objective. Ken MacLaren, executive director of OIM, received $10,000 from the Community Foundation of Ottawa to create a program called pARTners. It aimed to provide in-need artists with venues and marketing opportunities to sell their work. The program did well, selling $14,400 worth of artwork that helped the creators pay their rent and find housing.

The following year, MacLaren received another $10,000. OIM decided to gear that funding toward younger artists.

“I wanted to work with the intangibles of building self-esteem and self-worth in kids who were primarily fleeing home because of domestic violence,” MacLaren explains. “As bad as the streets can be, home was worse for some of these kids.”

In 2008, with a complete rebranding, OIM launched “Passion 4 Youth”. They later changed to the present name as participants kept referring to it as the Innercity Arts Program.

Twice a year the program holds an auction to help raise money for art supplies. A portion of funds also go to the artists, to support their needs. Most importantly, the auctions help youth showcase their abilities and give them the chance build confidence and speak to potential buyers about the inspiration behind their work.

“I wanted to work with the intangibles of building self-esteem and self-worth.”

“We engage in conversation and mentorship. A lot of these youth don’t come from positive environments or relationships, so this is another spot where we really want to encourage them,” says MacDonald. “Whatever they want to do in life, they can achieve that and we’ll help them get there.”

Every session, OIM staff and volunteers are present to be able to interact personally and build healthy relationships with the youth. They act as mentors and friends whom the youth can confide in, which sometimes leads to deeper conversations down the road.

“Everyone has a story. The strength of OIM is that we take the time to listen to that story, become their friends, and build on that relationship,” says MacLaren. “We believe that through relationship we earn the right to speak out in someone’s life and we respect that. Through this part we’re able to share the glorious message of the news of Jesus.”