It’s National Youth Week and, this weekend, local theatre collective Art for Awareness is presenting the first annual Peterborough Youth Arts Festival (PYAF).
A newly launched initiative, PYAF is a chance for young local artists from all over the city and area to network with one another and exhibit their talents in a multidisciplinary showcase.
Having been under development for close to a year, the festival is the brainchild of 15-year-old Kenner student Lydia Etherington.
For most of her life, Lydia has been involved within the arts community. Starting at the age of four, Lydia has appeared in more than 20 stage productions through different theatre companies, and has even written, directed, and produced her own shows.
However, despite being known primarily as an actor, Lydia has also engaged in music, dance, and art, and admits her main interest these days is songwriting.
Over a year ago, she contacted Art for Awareness with the idea of putting together the festival as a way for young artists to network with one another and to create new inroads into the arts community that they might otherwise not have.
“It’s been in my mind for a very long time,” says Lydia. “I was fortunate to have my dad [Tim Etherington] who has connections with the theatre community so I could start when I was four — but not everybody has that. There aren’t that many opportunities for young people to do their own thing in the arts. They can join a show, but that’s going to be regulated by adults.
“So I wanted a way for young people to be able to show their talents and network without that adult help. I just wanted to create a chance for them to come together and just celebrate the arts.”
With events aimed at young artists over two days, the crux of the festival takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th at PACE at PCVS (201 McDonnel St, Peterborough). The original home of the integrated arts program, PCVS is a fitting place to hold the first festival as it helped inspire a generation of artists and performers before the school shut down in 2012.
But, as Lydia explains, students should not limit their exploration of the arts to what’s provided in their school art programs.
“I think that it’s important that students, no matter what high school they go to, should have the arts available,” Lydia says. “But I think that it’s more important that young people need to participate in arts outside of their schools.”
With more than 20 young artists and performers participating in the event, the festival will have art and writing on display starting at 1 p.m., with music, dance, and spoken word performances starting at 2 p.m.
Artists and performers participating in the Saturday event include Kaia Martin, Greta Sina, Anika Rosen, Gabriel Botting, Aimee Gordon, Dante Pio, Emma Poley, Maya Raval, Paige West, among others.
“This is just the first year … it’s kind of our beta run, but we are hoping to expand on it,” Lydia points out. “We want to see how it’ll go and get ourselves off the ground. In future years, we hope to have more artists and to do more workshops.”
On Sunday, May 6th at 3 p.m., the first PYAF workshop will take place starting at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park in downtown Peterborough with local photographer Wayne Eardley.
“It’s going to be a walk-around where people can use their mobile phones or their cameras if they’ve got them,” Lydia says.
“They can take pictures and Wayne will show participants angles and lighting and different techniques that people can add to their photography work kit, that will make their photos just a little bit better. It’s also a way to explore Peterborough and take some really nice pictures.”
PYAF is also being supported by the City of Peterborough National Youth Week Committee. National Youth Week starts today (May 1) and continues until Monday, May 7th. (See a list of events at www.ptboyouth.com.)
“Everyone we’ve talked to love this idea and they’ve been very supportive,” says Lydia. “It’s something you see in Peterborough all the time. It’s the willingness to contribute to local initiatives and the passion that everyone has for their ideas.
“It’s incredible to see that an idea that some kid has can happen because so many people are helping.”
Peterborough is renowned for its artistic community, and it’s the youth of today who will make up our arts scene of tomorrow.
The PYAF is a positive way to allow these young artists to get a head start on tomorrow, by allowing them to connect with one another and strengthen their own individual place within the existing culture.
As Lydia herself notes, she has already created new professional relationships with local artists in the process of creating the PYAF.
“I already knew a lot of the people involved, but have met so many new people through other artists,” she says. “Once you get into it, there is such a big network of young artists who are waiting to put themselves out there, whether it is in a little coffeehouse or a play. There is so much talent in this town.”
The Peterborough Youth Arts Festival takes place on Saturday, May 5th at PACE at PCVS (201 McDonnel St, Peterborough). Doors and exhibits open at 1 p.m. with live performances beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 or pay what you can.
Wayne Eardley’s photography workshop will be held on Sunday, May 6th at 3 p.m. beginning at the Silver Bean Cafe in Millennium Park (130 King St., Peterborough). This workshop is free for participants under 18 years of age.
