A year-long process that featured North Hastings Community Integration Association working with eight community groups on a community-engaged art project for the area.
The work that was done over the past 12 months will be presented to the community on November 14th. “There will be lots of photographs of the process,” explains Project Coordinator at NHCIA Marlena Zuber.
Along with the art piece, they have been working on a “community map.” Over the summer, they talked to the community about where they want this art piece to be when it’s done and, at the meeting later this month, they will ask attendees where they’re from.
“This is going to be permanently embedded here,” Zuber says of the art piece. She explains that the year-long process to create the work of art was rooted in arts activities, presentations and sensory walks. “Every gathering has been about co-planning and a lot of that has been process and relationship building and taking the time to do that in a thoughtful way,” Zuber explains about how the monthly meetings went.
“NHCIA is really keen on having more opportunities for inclusion,” Zuber says. “We need more of that.” She says to have a successful community-engaged art project, it has to be accessible at all stages. “And when you’re actually the art you’re not hiring some fancy artist to build a sculpture, you’re inviting people of all ages, abilities and identities to help create the piece,” she adds.
At the presentation, a grant officer from the Ontario Arts Council will share a few words on the project. “The grant is to do art space research for a community-engaged art project,” Zuber explains about why the OAC will have a rep at the presentation.
There will also be food for those that show-up. The event is from 1 to 3 PM in the Design Room at NHCIA’s HQ at 124 Hastings Street North.