Arts Inspire Action Exhibit by Burlington Youths Focusing on Inspiring Environmental Action on Display at City Hall
Please see below a media release from the City of Burlington.Burlington, Ont. — Sept. 20, 2019 — Fifteen youths from the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) worked with ArtHouse and Halton Environmental Network to create an art exhibit made entirely out of the garbage they collected from the banks of Sheldon Creek in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
An official unveiling of the art exhibit will take place on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m., at Burlington City Hall with Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Paul Sharman and the ROCK youth who collected garbage and created the art. The public is welcome to attend. Speeches will begin at 5:45 p.m.The art exhibit will be on display at City Hall, on the second floor from Sept. 23 until Nov. 1 and will be a feature of Waste Reduction Week, which runs from Oct. 21 to 27, 2019.The goal of the project was not only to clean up Sheldon Creek, but to use art to inspire action and to allow the youth an opportunity to contribute to their community, to learn about art and to be involved in an artistic experience.
"On behalf of our partners at Halton Environmental Network, we thank the many champions at the City of Burlington who have endorsed this important Art Exhibit. Our young people are educated about the perils of climate change and are using their voices through art to express their concerns. We applaud ROCK and their youth and thank them for unleashing their creativity to make this project happen.” — Don Pangman, Founder and Executive Director of ArtHouse
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup StatisticsIn one hour of clean-up, the youth collected 114 pounds of garbage, which included:
- 1 trampoline
- 155 plastic cups
- 88 cans
- 223 food wrappers
- 141 plastic bags
- 388 plastic bottles
- 20 glass bottles
- 11 floor tiles
- 27 toys
- 19 utensils
- 9 pieces of clothing and shoes
- Much more
MY TAKE:There are so many positives that have come from this project. A community clean-up, giving back to the community, environmental improvement and inspiring action through art. These youths are leaders and action-oriented and I hope they inspire more of our residents to continue to help our environment and help reverse the negative effects of climate change to our planet.Links and Resources: