MASC's Spring 18 Newsletter Spring 2018 Newsletter

SprIng 2018
International
Spotlight
Award
NTER
2017 I
N AT I O
NAL
www . mASconlIne . cA
Four representatives of MASC Awesome Arts
traveled together to Washington D.C. to receive
an International Spotlight Award from the
American National Arts and Humanities
Youth Program (NAHYP). MASC Executive
Director, Audrey Churgin, Community
Engagement Program Director, Micheline
Shoebridge, Artist, Jamaal Jackson-Rogers
and youth participant, Akuol Luala
were there to enjoy the three-day
celebration featuring a presentation
of the MASC Awesome Arts model at
a cultural exchange retreat and a
formal ceremony. We were very
pleased to be joined by Minister
Katherine Baird from the
Canadian Embassy in Washington,
who conveyed congratulations
for this award and helped us
OR
N
O
H
celebrate our experience at the
IGHT
SP OTL
ceremony.
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Awesom hools and Communities
r Sc
ral Arts fo
ulti-Cultu
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MASC (M
ario, Can
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The NAHYP Award was the United States'
highest honour for after-school arts and
humanities programs that reach
underserved youth.
“In its final and nineteenth year, this
recognition program highlights and supported
12 exceptional organizations across the
country. Additionally, one outstanding
organization was selected from another
country for the International Spotlight honor
to underscore the universal benefits of arts
and humanities education and encourage
cross-cultural awareness.” *
This year, Canada was selected as the spotlight
country in recognition of its 150th celebrations
and MASC’s Awesome Arts Program was
chosen as its Canadian honoree.
Awesome Arts is one of MASC’s most
successful programs. Residents of all ages,
from 5 to 95, work alongside professional
artists in bilingual and multidisciplinary arts
programs to explore personal and community
issues. In generating creative responses
through a variety of art forms - visual and
literary arts, music, film, and video projects,
they raise awareness of local issues, foster
thought-provoking conversations and insights
and help to create positive change in their
community. In addition to creative experiences
in the performing and visual arts, Awesome
Arts also mentors youth interns on how to
facilitate workshops and provide information
about the diverse field of cultural programming
in Ottawa. .....continued overleaf
L to R: Jamaal Jackson Rogers, Akuol Luala,
Katherine Baird, Audrey Churgin and
Micheline Shoebridge