Vanguard Youth Arts Collective

MISSION: The Vanguard Youth Arts Collective is a group of creatively driven youth who serve as a voice for an emerging generation of artists in the Windsor-Essex region. We nurture creative development by fostering meaningful connections within the community.

VISION: To enrich the artistic culture in our community through youth engagement.

GOALS:
1. Act as a vital resource for young artists.
2. Raise awareness for the importance of artistic endeavours.
3. Promote collaboration between all disciplines of artistic practice.
4. Generate opportunities for young creatives in Windsor Essex.

History:
The Vanguard Youth Arts Collective was initiated by the Arts Council Windsor & Region in 2015. For more information about past projects and donors, please use the drop down menus below.

Vanguard Arts & Wellness Program 2025

The Arts Council Windsor & Region is proud to announce the return of the “Vanguard Arts & Wellness Workshops Program” for its second year!

Vanguard Arts & Wellness 2025 will be led by Program Facilitator Sarah Shehadeh, who is a Windsor, Ontario–based artist originally from Amman, Jordan, where she received formal training in Art Therapy  from the University of Jordan, 2023. 

The workshops are co-facilitated with the Vanguard Youth Arts Collective, a member will assist Sarah at each of the workshops. The purpose of the workshops are to create a welcoming environment for youth (ages 16 -29) to explore topics of mental wellness awareness through creative activities that offer an outlet for emotions, and a opportunity to reflect on experiences. 

Each workshop will focus on a new artistic practice/medium. The participation in is completely free of charge and will run from July to February. Resulting in a final Exhibition were participants are invited to submit work from the workshops. 

The program is funded by the Solcz Family Foundation Grant.

• Vanguard Arts & Wellness Program (2024)

  Vanguard Arts & Wellness Program (2024)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Weekends in the Studio @ AWE (2023)

   

  (2023)  Vanguard Youth Arts Collective hosted a new workshop every Saturday and Sunday for the month of June at Art-Windsor Essex. Each member who hosted a workshop brought their own creative practice to the community in a unique way. 

  This program was supported by funding through Art-Windsor Essex

• Breaking Waves Workshop & Exhibition (2021)

   

  (2021) In collaboration with local high school students, interdisciplinary artists from the region and ACWR’s Vanguard Youth Arts Collective we were able to host ‘Breaking Waves’. The project consisted of a free full day workshop at Gertrude’s Writing Room, with features by Teajai Travis, Vanessa Shields and Alexei Ungurenasu. Students were let through different activities with each artist that challenged their understanding of storytelling and visual arts. This workshop was followed by an exhibition of the students works at Artspeak Gallery.

  This program was supported by funding through Arts Culture & Heritage Fund

• WEST END ART PROJECT (2021)

   

  (2020) In collaboration with the Gordie Howe Bridge Community Foundation and Life After Fifty, artists from ACWR’s Vanguard Youth Arts Collective were able to bring two public art projects to life at Queen’s Dock in the heart of Sandwich Towne.

  The artists created an abstract map of the West End as well as a skateboard sign post highlighting some of the major areas that make up West Windsor. In total, four public art projects were unveiled last Friday including two functional picnic table pieces created by local artist Jessica Cook, and Vanguard President Kristina Bradt.

  For more information including interviews & media coverage, visit the following sources:

  West End Art Project Facebook Page
  CBC – ‘New public artwork showcasing youth experiences arrives in Sandwich Towne’
  CTV – ‘West End Art Project unveils new public art in Sandwich Towne’
  The Windsor Local – ‘Community Benefits Plan funds West End Art Project’

   

  

  

  

• 100 JOURNALS PROJECT (2019-2020)

  (2019 – 2020) Vanguard’s 100 Journals Project brings together youth groups from across Windsor-Essex through a sketchbook share. Young artists participating in this project are encouraged to share their lived experiences through written word, imagery, photography and other forms of expression that can be communicated through the sketchbooks. Local artists are hired to deliver culturally relevant instruction.

  Over the course of the project, the 100 sketchbooks will be circulated between Windsor-Essex youth service organizations. Overtime, the sketchbooks will become full with contributions from all the youth participants. This project will culminate in an exhibition at a local art gallery that all the artists and their families are invited to attend. 

  The 100 Journals Project breaks barriers and opens communication between youth through art. We hope that 100 Journals creates safe environments for discussion about belonging, identity, and community.

  Partner Organizations:

  Art by the River

  The MultiCultural Council of Windsor Essex

  YMCA of Southwestern Ontario

  W.E. Trans Support

  Windsor Youth Centre

  Thank-you to Windsor Endowment for the Arts for supporting this project!

  

  

• SUNDAYS IN THE STUDIO (2020)

  (OCTOBER 2020) Vanguard Youth Arts Collective was chosen as the featured artists for AGW’s new online programming for Sundays in the Studio. While this initiative normally runs in the gallery every sunday from 1-4pm, during the pandemic the gallery is working with local artists and art educators to bring the program onto a safe, fun, and socially distanced online platform. Check out the following art activities created by four of our members and follow along at home! This program is Sponsored by Anne Safranyos and Family. Partnership with the Art Gallery of Windsor.

   

   

   

   

• MESS FEST (2019)

  The Mission of Vanguard Youth Arts Collective is to nurture creative development by fostering connections within the community, by acting as a voice for an emerging generation of the arts within Windsor-Essex. MESS FEST is a week of creative workshops, sharing, and fun…including:

  Sunday, October 6
  FREE Foreign Film Flick Fest / @ N9A Studio

  Monday, October 7
  Open Mic Surgery + Sewing Class / @ Phog Lounge

  Tuesday, October 8
  Windsor Sculpture Garden Sketch + Sculpt / @ Ambassador Bridge

  Wednesday, October 9
  Smartphone Fashion Photography + Editing Workshop / @ Full Circle Vintage

  AND Letterpress Poster Workshop

  Thursday, October 10
  BOB ROSS Paint Along / @ Villains Bistro

  Friday, October 11
  Vanguard Exhibit Reception + Journaling Workshop/ @ N9A Studios

  Saturday, October 12
  Category Is: Disco Dance & Drag / @ Villains Bistro

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Meet the Vanguard Youth Arts Collective:

Dunia Roba

Member

Howl Fyodor

Member

Jasmin Gault

Member

Liv Patricia

Member

Lou Cox

President

Sydney Cremasco

Member

Contact the Vanguard Youth Arts Collective

To contact Vanguard email [email protected] or call the ACWR office at 519-252-2787

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED