legacy and conference
Legacy and Conference
Legacy Engagement Project
As the first program of its kind in Mississauga, this 10-part learning course in community-based arts encourages individual and communal inquiry into questions of identity and existence. The Legacy Engagement Project encouraged and provided opportunities for participants to learn and implement best practices in community-engaged arts.
The Legacy Engagement Project was created to engage the AGM’s partner organizations in experiencing how community-based arts can open a new sharing method in a safe space. Participants were provided with an opportunity to learn with and from a creative team of facilitators, working artists, and other delegates from across a spectrum of experience with race, arts, health, shelter, indigenous, QTBIPOC, seniors, and youth women and families. The project aimed to help participants develop skills and provide knowledge that would enable them to explore arts-based practices and examine what impact such an imaginative approach could deliver for the community and our city at large.
The course focus was on the shared question: “How can we use stories and art to convey our experiences of border crossings, both literal and metaphorical?” Building on a series of previous projects and programs over recent years (Roots and Branches; Recipe Placement Project; First, New, Next), the Art Gallery of Mississauga offered this legacy project to emerging and established leaders in the community.
23 participants from 14 diverse community groups in the Region of Peel/City of Mississauga participated in 10 sessions over five weeks from May 27 – June 27, 2021.
THEORY OF CHANGE
The Project served diverse community leaders in Mississauga while engaging and collaborating with a diverse group of artist facilitators, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who subject experts on community barriers.
THE IMPACT WE SEEK
Artist: D. Ross
Artist: B. Thomas
The Legacy Engagement Project supported the community leaders by:
- using art to engage the community and share stories using various forms of art,
- developing community relationships within and beyond this program,
- executing engaging programming events/activities within their community,
- having a broader knowledge of and skills in various art forms, and
- understanding the need for safe and supportive spaces for the community to share border crossing stories through art.
The border crossing team implemented a thorough evaluation process, and here are some of the findings.
As a result of participating in this course:
- there was a 30% INCREASE in participant confidence using art to express themselves.
- there was a 35% INCREASE in participant confidence expressing stories using various forms of art.
- there was a 40% INCREASE in participant confidence using art to engage the community.
- there was a 21% INCREASE in participant confidence to execute engaging programming, events/activities within their community.
- there was a 51% INCREASE in participants who were knowledgeable and skilled in various art forms.
- 100% of participants understand the need for safe and supportive spaces for community members to share their “border crossing” stories.
- 91% of participants developed community relationships within and beyond this program.
Artist: M. Touma
Artist: J. Lucero
Artist: M. Daniel
WHAT DID THE PARTICIPANTS THINK?
“That art transcends abilities, capabilities, and borders. There is no one form of expression.”
“To trust myself; my story while leaning on others and theirs.”
“I have learned that art can be used to make communities stronger, to raise awareness, to engage people to heal collectively, to problem-solve together.”
“…arts can be used as a community-engaged process to share stories, hold space, and express ourselves.
It’s also such a healing and therapeutic process.”
“Provided me with multiple tools on engaging the community with little resources.”
“I really feel like it has opened the doors wide to the possibilities of future community impact.”
“It has opened my eyes to go outside the perceived boundaries for collaborations. To the multitude of art forms that may bring great opportunities, empowerment and more to my community members.”
AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE LEGACY PROJECT (as stated by participants)……..
100% of participants stated they have a broader knowledge and skills about various art forms.
100% of participants understand the need for safe and supportive spaces for community members to share their “border crossing” stories.
100% of participants felt the instructor made the different course topics interesting.
100% of participants felt the course projects, assignments, tests, and exams provided them with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the course content.
100% of participants found supportive relationships and were connected to others and their community.
100% of participants had the capacity to express their own experiences through art.
100% of participants had opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge in art.
100% of participants had the opportunity to express themselves in a welcoming and inclusive space.
The border crossing team looks forward to inviting a number of the participants to present the projects they have created and implemented since participating in the course at a conference during the week of November 15, 2021. Further, the enthusiasm for the program was so great that many of the participants continue to meet on a monthly basis to share, explore and seek feedback as they begin to engage their communities through the use of the arts.
Congratulations to the 2021 cohort of participants in the
Legacy Engagement Program.
Legacy Engagement Project
As the first program of its kind in Mississauga, this 10-part learning course in community-based arts encourages individual and communal inquiry into questions of identity and existence. The Legacy Engagement Project encouraged and provided opportunities for participants to learn and implement best practices in community-engaged arts.
The Legacy Engagement Project was created to engage the AGM’s partner organizations in experiencing how community-based arts can open a new sharing method in a safe space. Participants were provided with an opportunity to learn with and from a creative team of facilitators, working artists, and other delegates from across a spectrum of experience with race, arts, health, shelter, indigenous, QTBIPOC, seniors, and youth women and families. The project aimed to help participants develop skills and provide knowledge that would enable them to explore arts-based practices and examine what impact such an imaginative approach could deliver for the community and our city at large.
The course focus was on the shared question: “How can we use stories and art to convey our experiences of border crossings, both literal and metaphorical?” Building on a series of previous projects and programs over recent years (Roots and Branches; Recipe Placement Project; First, New, Next), the Art Gallery of Mississauga offered this legacy project to emerging and established leaders in the community.
23 participants from 14 diverse community groups in the Region of Peel/City of Mississauga participated in 10 sessions over five weeks from May 27 – June 27, 2021.
THEORY OF CHANGE
The Project served diverse community leaders in Mississauga while engaging and collaborating with a diverse group of artist facilitators, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who subject experts on community barriers.
THE IMPACT WE SEEK
Artist: D. Ross
Artist: B. Thomas
The Legacy Engagement Project supported the community leaders by:
- using art to engage the community and share stories using various forms of art,
- developing community relationships within and beyond this program,
- executing engaging programming events/activities within their community,
- having a broader knowledge of and skills in various art forms, and
- understanding the need for safe and supportive spaces for the community to share border crossing stories through art.
The border crossing team implemented a thorough evaluation process, and here are some of the findings.
As a result of participating in this course:
- there was a 30% INCREASE in participant confidence using art to express themselves.
- there was a 35% INCREASE in participant confidence expressing stories using various forms of art.
- there was a 40% INCREASE in participant confidence using art to engage the community.
- there was a 21% INCREASE in participant confidence to execute engaging programming, events/activities within their community.
- there was a 51% INCREASE in participants who were knowledgeable and skilled in various art forms.
- 100% of participants understand the need for safe and supportive spaces for community members to share their “border crossing” stories.
- 91% of participants developed community relationships within and beyond this program.
Artist: M. Touma
Artist: J. Lucero
Artist: M. Daniel
WHAT DID THE PARTICIPANTS THINK?
“That art transcends abilities, capabilities, and borders. There is no one form of expression.”
“To trust myself; my story while leaning on others and theirs.”
“I have learned that art can be used to make communities stronger, to raise awareness, to engage people to heal collectively, to problem-solve together.”
“…arts can be used as a community-engaged process to share stories, hold space, and express ourselves.
It’s also such a healing and therapeutic process.”
“Provided me with multiple tools on engaging the community with little resources.”
“I really feel like it has opened the doors wide to the possibilities of future community impact.”
“It has opened my eyes to go outside the perceived boundaries for collaborations. To the multitude of art forms that may bring great opportunities, empowerment and more to my community members.”
AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE LEGACY PROJECT (as stated by participants)……..
100% of participants stated they have a broader knowledge and skills about various art forms.
100% of participants understand the need for safe and supportive spaces for community members to share their “border crossing” stories.
100% of participants felt the instructor made the different course topics interesting.
100% of participants felt the course projects, assignments, tests, and exams provided them with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the course content.
100% of participants found supportive relationships and were connected to others and their community.
100% of participants had the capacity to express their own experiences through art.
100% of participants had opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge in art.
100% of participants had the opportunity to express themselves in a welcoming and inclusive space.
The border crossing team looks forward to inviting a number of the participants to present the projects they have created and implemented since participating in the course at a conference during the week of November 15, 2021. Further, the enthusiasm for the program was so great that many of the participants continue to meet on a monthly basis to share, explore and seek feedback as they begin to engage their communities through the use of the arts.
Congratulations to the 2021 cohort of participants in the
Legacy Engagement Program.
The border crossings project is generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through the Grow Grant.
and the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Mississauga’s Cultural Division