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Carylye Elementary school\u2019s World Globe, a vision of our earth, <\/p>\n \u201cArt gives us the opportunity to be kind, respectful and collaborative, and gives kids the opportunity to shine!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n -Deirdre Potash<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The impact of COVID-19 has been significant on arts and education, as in all areas of our lives. ELAN has been working to ensure that Artists are supported and connected during these challenging times.<\/p>\n March was to be our busiest, most creative month of the school year with almost 100 schools using funding that ELAN secured for ArtistsInspire (Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage<\/a><\/strong><\/span>), the ACE Initiative (Quebec Government\u2019s Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers<\/a><\/strong><\/span>), & Youth Mental Health Promotion (Community Health & Social Services Network<\/strong><\/span>,<\/a> Health Canada).\u00a0 Artists\u2019 Fees across the projects will total approximately $250,000 from September to March this fiscal year, not including materials and travel expenses paid or funding schools accessed from other sources to combine with ours (i.e. Culture in the Schools, other Ministry of Education measures, and\/or community organizations).<\/p>\n We are grateful for our funders\u2019 support and anticipate it will allow us to keep our commitments to most of our Artists and Schools whether by re-scheduling or replacing with other learning opportunities in the months ahead.\u00a0 We spoke to a few of our artists who have been actively visiting schools to ask them about their ArtistsInspire experiences during this time.<\/p>\n Deirdre Potash<\/a><\/strong><\/span> is a teaching artist who has been at Gardenview Elementary, and was set to visit Twin Oaks and Hillcrest schools in March and April. Deirdre believes that \u201cArt gives us the opportunity to be kind, respectful and collaborative, and gives kids the opportunity to shine!\u201d<\/em>.\u00a0 She is currently in isolation in her Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie home, due to an autoimmune issue.\u00a0 She pointed out that \u201cthis is usually the busiest time of the year\u201d and now has to deal with the fact that every single class has been cancelled until further notice.\u00a0 With regard to ELAN\u2019s response to the COVID-19 situation, Deirdre said \u201cI\u2019ve never felt so considered as a teaching artist as I have at this moment\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Similar thoughts were expressed by Stefan Verna<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, a filmmaker for ArtistsInspire, and Adele Reeves<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, a visual artist who works with various mediums. Stefan led students at Honor\u00e9 Mercier Elementary School to film and create a concept video for the national CBC Music class challenge which placed 10th among over 1000 schools!\u00a0 He applauded the fact that ArtistsInspire Grants contracts would be paid and honoured despite the cancellations. \u201cTo have such a swift response was very comforting. Not every organization I work for reacted in that way\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n Adele Reeves led ArtistsInspire experiences at three schools this year, (Mansonville, Edgewater, and Soulanges Elementary Schools), with four more scheduled, which have at this time been waylaid.\u00a0 Adele enjoys the energy of the children and commented on how well received she is by both students and teachers. \u201cKids are so calm and relaxed when creating art\u201d<\/em>. She is also self-isolating in the Hudson area. \u201cSupport from ELAN was already in motion,\u201d she said, \u201cEven before this happened I was already being supported and making exciting connections.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/em>created with the guidance of artist Emily Read.
\nPhoto by Christina Mallozzi.<\/em><\/p>\n