Durham College (DC) students from the School of Media Art & Design are drawing on the talent of the next generation with a venture that gives a voice to high school art students.

A group of 10 third-year fine arts students started the Speak Up! project as an opportunity for youth to have their art showcased at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG).

 According to Rachel Wilde, project co-ordinator and student in the Fine Arts – Advanced program at DC, the purpose of the project is not just to showcase young people’s artwork, but to make a statement.

 “As artists, it’s important to us to use art not just as a means to highlight our technical ability, but also to make people think and challenge their beliefs,” Wilde said. “As a result, we wanted to give youth in Oshawa the opportunity to provoke thought and to inspire people to see things differently. How they would do that and what they would say was completely up to them.”

 It is her hope that the RMG will continue to use this project as a means to give a voice to young people in Oshawa following her graduation from DC in June.

 “This project, for me, became so much more than just another school assignment, it’s something that I care about very much,” Wilde explained. “This is because I want youth to feel valued and to be a part of something that may help them through difficult times and give them a sense of identity.”

 Visit the RMG before April 11 to catch the Speak Up! art exhibit. A juried show is scheduled for April 10 where students will receive feedback and awards for their work.