Thursday, December 17, 2015

Guest Artist: Ontario Culture Talks for Ministry of Arts and Culture




http://www.thewalleye.ca/lets-talk-culture-designing-ontarios-culture-strategy/

Lora Northway shared her thoughts on the role the arts plays in the lives of youth, as well as successes and challenges as an artist on Ontario. “There’s something surreal about defending arts and culture, but we need to. Culture is life-enhancing, defines our personal and national identities, and is important to all of us.” Northway’s personal experience as an artist helped her to “find out who I was, and learn to love myself.” Die Active Art Collective, which mentors and supports emerging young artists with over 540 members ranging in age from 14 to 30, is important, explains Northway, “because it lets youth see ourselves in the city we live in… This structure of creating together, learning from each other, sharing it and watching it change us is powerful. Other generations can understand us, hear our voice, and better appreciate us.”
Northway emphasized that youth should be given more opportunities to receive funding and resources. They need to be empowered and given the chance to access the tools necessary for success as artists. “Arts organizations need guaranteed core funding. Without a platform like DefSup, youth culture would be non-existent in this community”, as the artist-run gallery is the portal through which the youth programs are run. “Culture is shaped by its participants… We need to fund existing structures that work, and open new funding opportunities for youth-led initiatives. Structures around art and culture can sometimes be exclusionary and intimidating; we have to drop expectations and stereotypes, and respect youth by giving them authentic support, getting them involved in all parts of the process.”

Thursday, December 3, 2015

New Wall!




Die Active Wins Community Award

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PROJECT AWARD
Six individuals and groups were recognized during the 2015 Annual Mayor’s Community Safety Awards ceremony for their work to make Thunder Bay a safer community. Die Active strengthens community safety by empowering youth to contribute to and reshape the cultural landscape of Thunder Bay. Large scale murals contribute to community safety by fostering community pride & beautifying the downtown core. The content of the murals celebrates diversity, understanding and community. VIDEO

Canadian Art Magazine


http://canadianart.ca/news/news-in-brief-roms-new-head-artist-run-awards-the-queens-demotion/
Artist-Run Centres and Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO) have awarded their Emerging Cultural Leader Awards to arts administrator and musician Holly Cunningham, artist and arts administrator Jenna Faye Powell and artist Lora Northway. ARCCO also announced that artist and educator Clive Robertson was awarded the Achievement Award, which is given in recognition of “his longstanding contribution to artist-run culture and cultural production.”

Emerging Cultural Leader Award (ARCCO)

An artist and youth outreach worker in Thunder Bay, Ont. has won an award from a provincial arts organization. Lora Northway has been named one of this year's Emerging Cultural Leaders by the Artist-Run Centres & Collectives of Ontario (ARCCO). The first-time award celebrates people who are "exceptional, emerging, creative champions." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/lora-northway-thunder-bay-artist-named-2015-emerging-cultural-leader-1.3314610

Cover of Grain Magazine


Feature Artist: Grain Magazine

Grain, the journal of eclectic writing, is a literary quarterly that publishes engaging, diverse, and challenging writing and art by some of the best Canadian and international writers and artists. Also featuring an Interior spread on my work.