Youlou Art Foundation Celebrates 25 Years of ‘Growing Young SVG Artists’

Youlou Arts Foundation is this year celebrating 25 since the start of its programme ‘Growing Young SVG Artists’ to children across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Launched in 2001, the Foundation said this was the first initiative it offered for children between 5 to 12 years of age. The programme has been held in Kingstown, Barrouallie, Georgetown, Spring Village, Tourama and Buccament Bay.

‘Growing Young SVG Artists’ offers children the opportunity to experience a visual arts education in the form of a art day camp during the months of July and August. Youlou Arts explained that the programme focuses on educating children about traditional SVG art and culture, also providing a broader exposure to art in general, including different media and techniques. This is achieved by collaborating with local artists, and artisans and art foundations from different parts of the world. The organization also noted its frontal work teaching art to children as it believes art education is a fun and practical way to educate them. “It teaches self-discipline, social skills, independent thinking, self expression, tolerance, openness, and to be observant.”

The Foundation promises that during the coming months Youlou Arts will provide more information about plans for celebrating its 25th anniversary, and it aims to reach out to alums of the ‘Growing Young SVG Artists’ as well as instructors to hear what impact the programme has had on them. The ‘Growing Young SVG Artists’ is one of several initiatives offered by the Youlou Art Foundation which was launched in August,2000. It is headed by Camille Saunders-Musser.