The Prince Edward County Arts Council (County Arts) and Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC) were delighted to welcome a dozen members of the community to the unveiling of a new mural series designed and created by local youth. 

Over the past few months, a team of youth artists from the ROC and artists facilitators from County Arts have been working together in the creation of a series of murals along the theme of belonging. 

County Arts applied for the application to create a project like this in the middle of the pandemic. This project was funded by the Government of Canada through its Healthy Communities Initiative

Abagail Wilkinson. (Anna Miller for the Gazette)

“There was definitely a need for hopeful opportunities for local youth,” said County Arts’ Special Initiative Manager Andrea Dawes. “Our community was also feeling disconnected, so we were looking for opportunities to give voice to youth for their perspectives and having something positive for our community to bring us together.”

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative supports projects nationwide that build more inclusive communities and ensure a higher quality of life for Canadians. Through this Initiative, communities continue to find innovative ways to socialize and access services while staying safe. 

“This was a wonderful way to explore the potential of community-engaged art projects and explore what it means to have art in public spaces and all the benefits it can bring. Like helping us explore all of the challenges we may be facing. Through art, we can explore difficult themes and challenges and allow us to listen to the youth and what they are going through,” explained Dawes.

The County Arts had four artist facilitators who decided it should be a youth-led project with eight youth members working on it. 

“Our group went over for nine weeks, and we were planning this project on where you belong here and what we want to see in the county through murals,” said Abagail Wilkinson. “I feel the project brings a lot of creativity, more art, and colour to the county. It makes people think about the county and how they might belong here.” 

“I feel like it is a way to show people that there are different perspectives here and that maybe the youth have an experience that we are unaware of,” added County Arts Program Manager Stacey Sproule. “Something powerful about art is that you can communicate other people’s experiences to us, and I think it also gives us a chance to see that people care about this community.”

Wilkinson and her friend Abby believe that there is an issue of racism and homophobia within the county. Due to this, they decided that a painting of same-sex marriage was the best way to demonstrate acceptance and inclusivity. 

“I was hoping my piece would bring more greenery and more colour. My friend Abby and I collaborated with the one on the top. The girl with the red hair is supposed to be my girl at the bottom, and it’s supposed to resemble acceptance,” explained Wilkinson. “We were trying to make more acceptance and make people more aware of things going on.”

The murals panels will be affixed to the tennis court fence in Picton’s Benson Park from June to August 2023 for the summer-long enjoyment of the entire community.