Arts Council Executive Interview

Photos courtesy of Arts Council

The Ridge has a number of great examples of student leadership. You’ve probably heard of StudCo, Athletics Council, and CommCo, for example. Now, a new council is becoming established in the school- the Arts Council. Its executive members met with Ridge Report in June to present themselves to the student body. 

We started with introductions. This year’s representatives all went through a lengthy application and interview process to get their positions. The executive members of this year’s Arts Council are:

Lucy Huang- Co-President

Derrek Chow- Co-President

Melody Ekbatani- Deputy

Miruna Mureseanu- Music Rep

Sunny Gong- Secretary

Michelle Li- Communications

Bailey Lorenz- Promotions

Natania Olusanya- Promotions

Samantha Hollinrake- Music Rep

Alessia Collia- Visual Arts Rep

Alex DaCosta- Art SHSM Rep
Carla Jacobs - Deputy

We started talking about what the executive members plan to do with Arts Council in the next year. Near the end of the last school year, Arts Council was just introducing and establishing themselves. They hoped that would smooth their path this year, when they are planning to really get started with big events and activities. Their long-term goal is to promote the arts and create a fun, encouraging space for all artists within our school.

Arts Council is still in its early stages, but they hope that in time they will forge their own identity as a council and become as important to the school as the already existing student-led councils. They are trying to not only get recognition for existing arts clubs, but to foster interest in the arts as well through school-wide arts events. They oversee events and clubs for all art forms, including visual, written, and performance art.

There’s a large art community in our school, but at the moment, it’s not very coordinated. Arts Council is going to try to help smaller arts groups communicate and cooperate with each other to work together on events and projects. “If we build these connections, we can help the different arts do what they want to do in the school,” said Alessia Collia, the council’s Visual Arts representative. Last year, Arts Council was already trying to build up inter-club collaboration, by co-hosting a karaoke night with the Because I Am A Girl club. The karaoke night was a big hit, especially for an event so late in the year, and they’re considering doing a similar event this year. They also helped host last year’s grade 12 Visual Arts class’s Art Show, and they’re hoping to work with the grade 12 classes of future years to make the show a bigger event. On top of all that, they hosted a booth at the last Big Bash, selling chokers and temporary tattoos to raise recognition and funds for the council.

They’ve already started planning their first events for this year, as well. Arts Council has been approaching visual arts teachers to find students whose talent and commitment to the arts should be spotlighted. Every month, starting in October, an “Artist of the Month” will be chosen and their work will be put up in the cafeteria. On the week of November the 14th, they are hosting a series of events called “Music Madness”- a week full of daily music workshops and presentations for aspiring musicians, taking place in the theatre. Finally, at some point, they are hoping to organize a special “portfolio” showing of grade 12 artwork.

And they’re planning on doing even more throughout the year. The executive members of Arts Council have been the only ones working on new events so far, but they’re hoping to get input from artists and art lovers throughout the school on future events. Their first general council meeting will take place at lunch on Thursday, September 29th, in room 225.

The exec staff of Arts Council is very excited for the future of the group. They’ve been working hard to prepare an exciting school year for students in 2016 and 2017.“Arts Council’s goal is to promote the arts at the school through art related events and activities,” says Co-President of the council Derrek Chow. “Look for us this year!”.