Youth Art Mentorship Program

We’re excited to announce the launch of our inaugural Youth Art Mentorship Program. This program offers youth entering the final years of high school a unique chance to gain hands-on experience and insights into career opportunities in the arts, and will culminate in an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Peterborough.

To participate in this program, applicants must be:

• a grade 11 or 12 student enrolled in high school or an alternative education setting
• a resident of the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County
• between the ages of 16 and 20

Please note:
The AGP strives to reflect the whole of our community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to building an inclusive and barrier-free environment for staff, volunteers, artists, visitors, and patrons. We actively work to reflect the diversity of our community. As such, applicants will not be discriminated against for any reason, including but not limited to issues of race, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, class.

Youth Art Mentorship Program – Call for Submissions are CLOSED

Exhibition Opening and Artist Talk dates to be announced.

Please stay tuned for updates, including insights and content from this year’s youth artists.

About the Artist Mentor:

Spencer J. Harrison in his studio

Spencer J. Harrison is an Artist, Activist, and Educator. Spencer has been painting and creating installation-based art for forty years, and his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

As an activist, his focus is on human rights for all who are marginalized, with his greatest focus on youth. For instance, he is the founder of Camp fYrefly, Ontario (a camp for LGBTQ2S&A youth) and has been an Artist-in-Residence with the Toronto District School Board for fifteen years. In this role, Spencer operates an open door, public studio where he has produced many works, including the first painted PhD dissertation in Canada.

Additionally, Spencer has been teaching in the Drawing and Painting department of OCAD University for more than ten years, where he has assessed more than 50,000 portfolios for the admissions to the University.

In conclusion, Spencer believes in the power of art and youth to change the world and is thrilled to be working in this program at the Art Gallery of Peterborough.

This year’s jury included:

Fynn Leitch has been the Curator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough since 2014. She has an MA in Visual culture and a BAH in Art History from Queen’s University and she is the former Director of Artspace (2011-2014). She has participated extensively in committee work, juries, and conferences regionally and nationally; including, the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO), ARCA National Conference, the Arts Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee for the City of Peterborough and the Electric City Culture Council.

Lucas Cabral is a curator and arts administrator with a background in communications and community engagement. He completed his BFA at Western University and has since held positions at McIntosh Gallery, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and Artcite Inc. Lucas is currently Artistic Director/Curator at Artspace Peterborough.

For more information about the program, or to inquire about how you can support youth artists, please contact:

Andrew Ihamaki
Education Programming Coordinator

705-743-9173 ext. 2025
aihamaki@peterborough.ca

Thank you to our Community Supporters: