To encourage and educate kids during Covid-19, dozens of artists, local personalities and skilled community members have voluntarily rushed to create or pledge content for a new video series called ‘Art of Life’.
Developed by the Foundation for Education Perth Huron, the series is made up of arts-based and life skill-themed videos with the sole purpose of encouraging and enriching kids in challenging times – like the current pandemic.
Each video is between 5 and 20 minutes long and touches on themes like drawing technique, gardening, sewing, cake decoration, music-making and mental health strategies.
“We want young people to see that we’re all in this together, to experience care and courage and creativity from our video hosts and to fill some of the holes that education systems can’t at this time”, states Foundation Executive Director Wes MacVicar regarding the purpose of the initiative.
The project is a digital embodiment of the Foundation’s new strategic values of community, creativity, collaboration and courage.
Video hosts for the Art of Life series are referred to as ‘Special Agents’. They are predominately current or one-time Perth and Huron residents and range from 11 to 64 years of age.
For many, videotaping themselves was a new and uncomfortable venture.
“Some were understandably shy to begin – it’s not easy to put yourself out there. But we’ve been impressed with all of the submissions and are happy to report that our agents are feeling a sense of community, purpose and pride through their involvement. Some of the once bashful agents are even plotting out more episodes.”
The series currently boasts 20 videos with many more episodes coming throughout the remainder of the school year.
The Art of Life series has officially launched and the Foundation is inviting educators from Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board and Avon Maitland District School Board, parents, local community and the world to introduce it to kids.
The series can be viewed and subscribed to via the Foundation’s YouTube Channel
More information can be found on our Art of Life page