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 Click Here to Apply To OUTWords 2011!!!!

 Submission deadline is June 17th for our July-December program!

OUTWords

OUTwords is an intensive arts and leadership program for diverse spectrum youth ready to take their healing, activism, artistic expression and community engagement to the next level. This is a free program that explores LGBT history and arts, deconstructs the roots of gender and sexuality based discrimination and considers how to build grassroots community based movements. Participants also develop skills in creative writing, performance, photography and video while learning from a variety established queer and trans artists. Participants are given several opportunities to create and exhibit their work, and to design and facilitate community engagement projects, while sharing their voice and perspectives in meaningful ways. Sessions are once a week for 4 hours and free food and tokens are provided.


OUTwords 2010 in review:


OUTwords 2010 in review:

-       We had 12 diverse LGBT youth participants from across the GTA and new comers from around the globe.

-       Guest artists & facilitators: D’bi Young, Ryan G.Hinds, Elle Alconcel, Mark Delacruz, Gigi Basanta, Jessica Bleuer, Kate Fraser, Alexis Mitchel, Leonardo Zuniga, Natalia Petite

-       Participants produced creative writing, performance pieces, a series of photographic works and video projects exploring intersections of identity, LGBT history and culture, politics of decolonization and love among other things.

-       We went on field trips to Sketch youth arts center, Contact International Photographic Exhibition, A Space Gallery, Gallery 44 and Buddies in Bad Times theatre.

-       We had organic and wholesome meals crafted for us every week by Erika Pulfer from Seed 2 Table

-       Participants went on a 3 day retreat in Montreal city and did workshops in theater at Concordia University, Screen printing at the Saint Emilie Skill Share and attended events at Diversite Montreal Pride.

-       OUTwords youth participated in several public exhibits to show case the work being made in the program including: Buddies in Bad Times Pride Cab, Artreach youth arts showcase at the Art Gallery of Ontario, City on The Move in the King subway station and the graduating exhibit at The Gladstone Hotel. We are currently preparing for an exhibition of queer and trans youth arts for the Mayworks festival of working peoples and at Brock University in St Catherines.




 
The images in this gallery are the product of the OUTwords 2010 photography component of the program. Participants learned technical and conceptual skills using SLR cameras and then developed concepts for a professional photo shoot with photographers Elle Alconcel and Mark Delacruz that explored how they see themselves and want to be seen in the world. These are the self-portraits that emerged from this project.




We are always excited about new venues to publicly exhibit this photo series. Please contact us if you would like to organize an exhibition in your space or community, or if you are interested in purchasing photographs from the artists.