Donations At Work: City Youth Academy
The City Youth Academy builds on a long tradition of mentorship and youth engagement at Soulpepper. The City Youth Academy offers six weeks of intensive performance training with Soulpepper Artists to a group of young people (ages 16-19) from across Toronto. As integrated members of the company, each City Youth Academy Artist is paired with an Artist Mentor from the Soulpepper artistic ensemble. The participants are offered high-level, rigorous performance skills training and artistic development.
The City Youth Academy breaks ground by giving these young artists payment equivalent to a summer job over the six week period, ensuring that any young person has the opportunity to participate regardless of their financial circumstance.
“I wish I knew about Soulpepper programs sooner. Young humans need to know that the arts are just as important as the academics. Soulpepper has been in my life for a long time. I am very thankful.” – An anonymous 2017 City Youth Academy Participant
This program is designed to inspire personal creativity, artistic discipline, and support young artists in the development of their own artistic practice.
City Youth Academy artists participate in various forms of performance training including theatre creation, music, stage combat, dance, scene study, writing, and design. Together they developed a final presentation to share with family and friends.
By offering this program, Soulpepper gives youth the opportunity to explore their creativity and build confidence. After they complete the program, they carry these unique learnings and experiences forward, sharing them with their family, friends, and neighbours.
“Not only was it a great experience, but for me, was life-changing. As someone who had very limited resources and connections to programs like this, the City Youth Academy served as an unbelievable opportunity to do and learn more about what I love (theatre).” – Yujin, age 19, a 2017 City Youth Academy Participant
The City Youth Academy is generously supported by Scotiabank and the R. Howard Webster Foundation. For more information about the year-round, free, youth programming offered at Soulpepper, please visit soulpepper.ca/youth.