Arts for YoungSTARS

Creating Positive Change

We are a youth organization founded in 2013 at the University of Alberta that uses art to empower youth to take on issues and causes in their local and global communities. All youngsters have the potential to create positive change as “youngstars”. Too often art and youth are deemed to be powerless in creating practical impact in our communities so we challenge ourselves to prove otherwise.

Our mission is to inspire, empower, and create a young generation of leaders committed to tackling real-world issues in their local and global communities with art. Our vision is that youth everywhere will be able to access and use art as a powerful agent in solving issues in the world around them. Our five pillars, which define the “STARS” in their name, include:

Supporting health – help create and support efforts to improve physical and mental health of children, youth, and our communities

Triggering creativity – inspire youth to develop real-world solutions to social issues in their communities with the fusion of Arts + STEM (STEAM)

Augmenting partnerships – connect youth to their local and global communities to foster cooperation as positive change makers

Raising awareness – promote social causes and encourage youth to take action to better our local and global communities

Sharing opportunities – empower youth to be actively engaged global citizens and well-rounded leaders in our communities.