Artists for Conservation has been developing and delivering youth programming in association with its annual festival since 2011. Until 2016, this has involved field trips and on-site workshops. In 2017, AFC launched a new model that is free to participate and widely accessible for participation directly in classrooms outside the immediate area of the festival, and across B.C, Canada,
Silent Skies Youth Mural
Due to COVID-19, the Youth Program was temporarily on hold. We are aiming to relaunch the program in 2023.
The Silent Skies Student Mural Project is a youth program focused on conservation and the study of endangered species through research, art and community engagement. It specifically targets youth from ages 8-13. Participation is open to all young artists in the BC's Lower Mainland.
A full curriculum-based program is also available for students (grade 3-7) a unique opportunity for direct involvement in a major international event and to have their artwork exhibited among many of the world’s leading wildlife and nature artists. Educators register and download grade-specific teacher resource kits, free of charge. Each student selects an endangered bird species for study and to depict it in art. Educators select and submit scans of the student artwork for inclusion in a youth virtual mural on the AFC website.
Research
A class or individual student will choose a species of their choice from the IUCN Red List to research and determine the multifaceted threats facing this species. Using this foundation of knowledge students will hypothesize a solution to help build the species population through one or multiple aspects of their plight.
Art
Using their hypothesis as a basis for their artists statement the students will create a pictorial composition through a medium of their choice (paint, sculpture, collage). Teachers will select the top works of art to be uploaded into a virtual mural hosted on the Artists for Conservation Festival Website.
Community Engagement
Through a juried process, selected artworks will be used to create a mosaic panel mural displayed at the annual AFC Festival in Vancouver.
For any other inquiries, please email education@artistsforconservation.org.