Comox Valley Community Youth Arts Council

In April of 2005, in celebration of Arts and Culture week, the Comox Valley Community Arts Council hosted a Youth Forum. Fifteen youth between the ages of 13 and 21 assembled to workshop about what is important to them about arts and culture, and to assess whether or not the Comox Valley is a good place for those things to happen. This forum was and exciting two days, and the group emerged galvanized to continue to meet, and to follow through with plans for events that result of forum brainstorming sessions.

The youth council has continued to meet once a week in the Muir Gallery since that time.  Comox Valley Community Arts Council staff and volunteers were available for facilitation and resource coordination, and there is always a rep from our 'old' board at the Youth Council weekly meetings. Their first event was held in the Muir Gallery during the month of October, 2005, a month long celebration of youth culture including dance, music, poetry and visual art.  The event was called "Alternate Endings" and was totally youth driven in content and design. 

The CVCAC Youth Council was recently recognized by the City of Courtenay and invited to consult on the development of a new youth facility. As a result, there is now ongoing representation from the CVCAC Youth Council, as well as ongoing collaboration on the development and management of that facility (still under construction at this time).

Future plans for the Youth Council include a summer music festival, and continuing collaboration with and representation on the CVCAC board of directors. They are, in effect, a shadow board, with a CVCAC board rep attending each of their meetings. Outside of their own projects, the Youth Council has made considerable contributions to other CVCAC programs over the months since their formation, and have proved themselves to be an asset to the organization.