BARBARA LATKOWSKI
Caledonia Courier
All the world’s a stage and this is
certainly true in Fort St. James as the
Collective Creations Theatre Project
continues to engage, inspire and educate
students about theatre.
The new project will run through
September until June, 2016. There are
currently twelve students from Fort St.
James Secondary School, from grades
10 – 12 enrolled.
It was through a youth engagement
grant, that the project came to be and
community arts council member, Monica
Grill sees this as an excellent opportunity
to bring theatre into the lives of
students and into the community.
“We wanted this for a long time,”
Grill said. “The arts council has always
tried to incorporate and enhance school
programs through various programs,
performances and workshops but it’s
been diffi cult due to cutbacks especially
in fi ne arts programs.”
“But this opportunity came up,”
Grill said. “And it’s been very exciting.”
According to Grill, who is also administrative
assistant at Fort St. James
Alternate Secondary School, the project
could not have happened without
certain partnerships and the collaborative
efforts of people in the community
including the SONAR group at the high
school. This group is specifi cally involved
in wellness projects through art,
expression and performances at school
and within the community.
“SONAR was the voice. They were
the vessel in getting the word out about
this,” Grill said. “The Nak’azdli Youth
Council, Music Makers, FSJ District,
Theatre Northwest and the Community
Arts Council were also instrumental according
to Grill.
The Collective Creations Project,
its name for the time being, is a way
for youth in Fort St. James to connect
with professionally and internationally
renowned artists who will teach
all aspects of theatre production including:
writing, directing, and performing.
The resulting artistic endeavor will
be a theatre production that will be created,
produced, directed and performed
by the students. Students also receive
credit towards their studies when enrolled
in this program.
“We are so lucky to have Theatre
Northwest on board,” Grill said. The
students meet with the facilitator, Lauren
Brotman and her husband, theatre
coordinator, Jack Grinhaus twice a
week and video conferences are held
monthly.
“We’ve received excellent feedback
so far,” Grill says. “This is an excellent
way to show our community that kids
are interested in the arts and that they
need these opportunities.”