ArtLab 2005: The Beginning

ArtLab was formed as a new program for high school youth in a collaboration between Arts Street and PlatteForum. The program was funded in large part through a Colorado Council on the Arts YouthReach grant. In this unique program, youth ages 15-18 applied to be a part of ArtLab held at PlatteForum. After an in-depth training period as interns in the Spring Program 2005, the youth had hands-on art experiences with PlatteForum Creative Residents, helped organize the Arts Street “Art Mile” project, and hosted three public openings at PlatteForum. The students received a stipend for their efforts and competed for a paid apprenticeship for the Summer Program 2005. During this time, ArtLab youth became Artist mentors for 300 younger kids in  Art Explosions and River Art Adventures workshops at PlatteForum. They also worked with filmmaker Scott Slack to create digital films. ArtLab interns had a unique chance to learn the planning, design, documentation, creation and presentation of art through this program. The work created by ArtLab students was presented in a 3 events in July 2005. ArtLab will re-launch for it’s second year in March 2006. Spring Program 2005Artists: Emily vonSwearingen, PlatteForum; Jessica Rubble, Arts Street; Jake York, Daniel Weinshenker, Hugh Graham, Tim Roessler and Vincent Comparetto, Creative Residents at PlatteForum.Youth: Marcos Alvarado, Beckon DiGaetano, Champagne Edwards, Neela Haverstick, Raechel Kimsey, Paula Lee, Josh Monreal, Maya Schugurt, Matthew Struck, Ian Williams.Summer Program 2005Artists: Emily vonSwearingen and Scott Slack.Youth: Marcos Alvarado, Beckon DiGaetano, Champagne Edwards, Neela Haverstick, Raechel Kimsey, Paula Lee, Josh Monreal, Ian Williams.Arts Street and PlatteForum have taken the concepts of arts, arts education, and workable skills to new dimensions by creating an atmosphere that fosters creativity, competence, asset development, mentoring, trust, and teamwork. Together, these two organizations form a unique continuum that allows us to reach youth of all ages to gain job skills and have hands-on experiences in the arts.ArtLab was sponsored in part byColorado Council on the Arts, YouthReach Grant; Anschutz Family Foundation; St. Mary Land & Exploration; with special thanks to Clark Strickland and UCD for the loan of computers.