Students Create Art Show to Promote Awareness of Consent

Students at Alberni District Secondary School are set to host an art show focused on the theme of consent, aiming to foster community awareness and empowerment. The event will take place on January 29, 2024, from 18:00 to 20:00 at the Alberni Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Service Society (ADAPS). This initiative stems from a class project designed not only to showcase art but also to provide a platform for voices that may feel unheard.

Summer Emerick, a student involved in organizing the show, emphasized the significance of using art as a form of expression. She stated, “Sometimes if you don’t have a voice to speak or you’re too scared, art can really bring that out and kind of speak for them.” Emerick is collaborating with fellow students Minx Nicholas, Alex Allen, and Abbey Greenberg to bring this project to fruition.

The art show promises to create a safe environment for attendees, particularly those who may have experienced trauma related to consent. “We’re focusing on the empowerment of it and really trying to make sure if someone comes in and they were a victim of something, they’re not brought down by that,” Greenberg noted. “They can feel like they’re in a safe space.”

The students plan to highlight various aspects of consent through artistic mediums. Nicholas explained their approach, saying, “We’re trying to put it towards more of the less hard things to hear, we’re trying to put more on the consent and uplifting stuff.” This perspective aims to make discussions surrounding consent more approachable and supportive.

Artworks for the show will be submitted by local youth and community members, with ADAPS contributing gift cards as incentives for submissions. “There’s no limit to what art we want. Poems, paintings, 3D, really anything that someone made,” Nicholas added. Her connection to ADAPS played a crucial role in hosting the event at their venue, given its reputation as a primary resource for youth mental health support in the area.

The event will feature a variety of artistic displays, poetry readings, and a discussion circle to facilitate conversations on consent. Additionally, ADAPS will provide resources for youth seeking support, reinforcing the event’s focus on community welfare. A people’s choice award will also be presented for the top piece at the show.

The initiative has garnered support from Anne Ostwald, the teacher who assigned the project. She stressed the importance of empowering students to make a difference in their community. “You can give the kids the skills, consultation skills, the empowerment to make a difference in their world right now and know that they can do it,” Ostwald remarked. She believes that connecting classroom learning to real-world applications is essential for student engagement.

The art show will take place at ADAPS’s office, located at 4258 10th Avenue, on January 29 from 18:00 to 20:00. This event not only aims to celebrate artistic expression but also to enhance awareness about the critical topic of consent within the community.