Aug 27, 2024

The next generation of leaders in the arts

Charlotte Big Canoe, AGO Program Curator, Family and Studio Learning, Indigenous Projects, shares insights about the AGO initiative developing skills for young leaders ages 14 and 15.

Photo AGO

Every year, the AGO welcomes artistically inclined kids for a fun-filled week of summer camp activities at the Weston Family Learning Centre. From colour mixing with 5-year-olds in the Curious Creators program to poster and tote bag making with 10-year-olds in AGO POP, the range of camps offers something stimulating for all future artists ages 5 to13. Young people who are 14 and 15 can seize a unique opportunity that is less about honing their artistic sensibilities and more about fostering important life and leadership skills.

The Leaders-In-Training program (LIT) invites young teenagers to develop a broad spectrum of leadership skills in a gallery environment, surrounded by engaging art and arts educators. After a week of skill development, the young leaders put their training into action when assigned a support placement in an AGO summer camp.

Foyer spoke to the head of the LIT program, Charlotte Big Canoe, AGO Program Curator, Family and Studio Learning, Indigenous Projects, about the roots of the program, highlights from this summer, and hopes for future LIT iterations.

Foyer: Can you share the inception story of the LIT program? How and why did it start, and what is its mandate?

Big Canoe: The Leaders-In-Training program is a revitalization of a program that we haven't run in over ten years. Our camp programming is typically for campers ages 5 to13. We also engage over 200 volunteers each summer ages 15+ and hire camp staff ages 17+. We noticed a gap for 14 and15 year-olds looking to make art and build their leadership skills.  We also heard some great stories from staff in the gallery about how they had attended the Leaders-In-Training program when they were a young person, and it was part of what got them into working in a gallery space.  

The Leaders-in-Training program is a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills within a camp environment—all while surrounded by the incredible art and resources the AGO offers. Participants spend the first week with me, working on their leaderships skills and participating in similar trainings that we provide for our camp counselors and volunteers. They work on how to support campers with inclusive programming, running games and play for younger campers, while also getting some time to see the behind-the-scenes workings of the AGO. In the second week they do a placement in one of our camps, helping art instructors and learning from the counsellors, as well as leading games during rec time, and supporting the campers throughout their day. 

Photo AGO

Foyer: Can you share one or two anecdotes or fond memories from this season of AGO summer camps?

Big Canoe: The LIT program gives youth an opportunity to try on leadership roles and explore what you may be interested in later in life. We had one camper who spent their placement with our 5-year-olds and came out of that knowing that they wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. It is always so exciting when you get to be a part of someone discovering a new passion in their life. 

 We were deeply lucky to get to take one of the Leaders-In-Training groups into the vaults, and that was magic. A few participants had interest in being curators, or conservators and being able to connect them with people who work in that field and allow them to see firsthand what that profession looks like is such a special opportunity to provide.

Foyer: What are some of your hopes for the future of the program? How would you like to see it expand or evolve?

Big Canoe: This year, we ran two sessions for the Leaders-in-Training program, and I would love to have enough interest to run it all summer long. The LIT program really gives youth ages 14 and 15 their unique experience, recognizing where they are in their own growth. I would also love to get the LITs more involved in the gallery, exploring what career opportunities are available to them within a gallery space. 

My main goal with the Leaders-in-Training program is to encourage youth to make new friendships, help them learn new skills, and to connect them to the gallery and all the opportunities it can provide as a space that is welcoming to them and their communities.

The AGO’s LIT program will be back next summer. Visit ago.ca to sign up for updates from the camp office and get more information about AGO camps, the Leaders-in-Training program and all other arts education offered at the AGO.