What is BELONG?
Belong provides free, quality arts programming experiences for children and youth across London through collaboration with seven community resource centres, and the London Public Library:
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Northwest London Resource Centre
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South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
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Neighbourhood Resource Association of Westminster Park
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Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre
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Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre
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LUSO Community Services
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Boys and Girls Club London
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London Public Library
The Program will encourage peer to peer creative social interactions, young adult with adult role model opportunities, and artist educator mentor to mentee relationships. The arts experiences will encompass culturally diverse art practices, forms, and themes including social justice, environment and sustainability, social inclusion, exploration, experimentation, and self-reflection. Participants will explore a variety of artistic techniques and processes.
Weekly art activities will take place at each of the neighbourhood resource centers and a professional youth worker will be on site to provide additional support.
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The Goal of BELONG is to:
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Provide high-quality and inclusive arts education experiences for children and youth that promote creativity, self-expression, and sense of belonging
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Support Neighbourhood Resource Centres that serve newcomer and low-income populations with professional artistic programming
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Provide apprenticeship opportunities for aspiring/emerging artists through hands-on and interactive arts education development and delivery experiences
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Provide mentorship opportunities for artists/creators through holistic and life-encompassing coaching
Artwork by past Belong participants
How Can You Participate?
Belong provides inclusive arts experiences for children and youth. Exposure to art at a young age is crucial as it is a necessary mechanism for self-expression and reflection. Research suggests that exposure to art at a young age has long-term effects on a person's mental health and motivation for higher education and career achievement.
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If you're interested in your child or youth taking part in Belong, please contact the participating neighbourhood resource centres.
Schedule
*click on each centre's logo to be directed to the corresponding contact page*
Mondays
(Jan 8 - Mar 18, 2024)
4:30 - 6:00pm
525 Hamilton Rd.
Tuesdays
(Jan 9 - Mar 26, 2024)
6:30 - 8:30pm
Stoney Creek Library
920 Sunningdale Rd E.
Saturdays
(Jan 13 - Mar 16, 2024)
2:00 - 4:00pm
1225 Wonderland Rd. N.
Unit 27 A
TBD
1119 Jalna Blvd.
Thursdays
(Jan 11 - Mar 14, 2024)
3:30 - 5:30pm
650 Osgood Dr.
184 Horton St. E.
TBD
Thursdays
(Jan 18 - Mar 21, 2024)
4:00 - 5:30pm
244 Adelaide St. S.
What is BELONG's Impact?
*projected impact for 2023*
The Belong program is made possible through the generous contribution of the City of London's London Community Recovery Network (LCRN) funds.
The Belong program is delivered through invaluable partnerships with the following organizations:
For more information about Belong,
please contact info@londonarts.ca