KAWARTHA LAKES-Local groups are working together to increase awareness of homelessness in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.
A Place Called Home and the Kawartha Art Gallery, with financial support from the United Way CKL women’s group, United Women Helping Others (UWHO) announced their new Mural Art Project on Friday.
Grade 11 and Grade 12 Art TLDSB residing in the City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton are invited to submit a piece of artwork representing their artistic vision of homelessness and how it impacts them and their community. The Call for Submissions closes on April 30th and the selected winner will be notified on May 15, 2023. The Mural Art will be completed inside A Place Called Home’s shelter where all clients will be able to enjoy!
To get an accurate snapshot of homelessness in our community, the City of Kawartha Lakes in partnership with other community agencies that support the homeless completed a combined Point in Time and Registry Week count during the week of Sept 13- 17, 2021. 184 households were found to be homeless. Youth make up 16% of the overall population of people experiencing homelessness.
Jen Lopinski, Fund Development Coordinator at A Place Called Home says, “Increasing homeless awareness in our youth, in our communities, is key in overcoming stigma and finding real solutions for those who are unsheltered. There is too much stigma surrounding homelessness and our goal is to improve those perceptions through the meaningful expression of art”.
“The arts are recognized as an important factor in wellness and make valuable contributions to the quality of life in our communities.
The group says the social benefits of the arts widen individual perspectives, give voice to points of view and aspirations, stimulate curiosity, and bind people together in shared experiences.
Kawartha Art Gallery says it is proud to have this opportunity to partner with A Place Called Home in creating this opportunity for the youth of our community to share their perspectives on homelessness through their creativity.”, Susan Taylor, Executive Director Kawartha Art Gallery
“The members of United Women Helping Others are pleased to support this initiative. Art is a powerful tool for storytelling and promoting awareness. We look forward to seeing the end result”, says Shantal Ingram, Co-Executive Director of United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes.
For those interested in learning more about the Mural Art Project, please visit the Kawartha Art Gallery’s website at https://www.kawarthagallery.com/ or call Jen Lopinski, Fund Development Coordinator at (705) 878-6817.
