A Youth Engagement Pilot Project will bring a vibrant new mural to a pedestrian underpass near Heritage Heights and Willow Park with the City of Lethbridge’s Public Art Program. The installation of the mural is set for June.
Edmonton-based artists Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann have been selected to lead this initiative, working with students from Father Leonard Van Tighem School to co-create a design that reflects what they love about their community.
Through hands-on workshops and direct participation in the mural’s installation, students will gain valuable experience in large-scale public art, while leaving their creative mark on the city.
All students will have the opportunity to contribute imagery and ideas for the design, while senior students will take on a more active role in the painting process, working alongside the artists in a mentorship experience. This approach fosters deeper engagement and provides students with unique insight into the professional world of mural creation.
Artists Jane and Folkmann bring a wealth of experience in public art and urban beautification to this project. They’ve worked extensively with the public, including youth, to create murals that enrich communities. Some of their recent work can be seen at the public swimming pool in Fort Macleod.
“We’re excited for this incredible opportunity in Lethbridge to contribute to the growing cultural landscape of Alberta and share the creative knowledge we have gained over the last 15 years with the next generation of artists in our home province,” notes Jane and Folkmann.
Katie Bruce is the project manager and an instructor at the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Fine Arts.
“A couple of years ago we were presenting at Council and there was a discussion about a youth engagement project. We were lucky we found great partners at the school and they’re excited to be engaged across the school body. We’ll start with the kiddos down in elementary and we’ll end up working with some of the older students during the installation of the mural,” Bruce explains.
“We had a great turnout when it came to applications. We had project proposals coming from as far away as Mexico, throughout the U.S. and across Canada. A really strong body of applications to pull from. The committee selected Lacey and Layla,” adds Bruce.
The hope is to meet with the school in March, as the artists will visit with their engagement specialist and they’ll work with the students to figure out what the mural imagery will end up being, says Bruce.
“They’ve got a number of different workshops and activities planned for the students that includes some indoor and some outdoor time. From there, Lacey and Layla will take the drawings and conversations and spend about a month coming up with the actual mural design. Following the acceptance of the mural design, we’ll move into installation,” says Bruce.
