Fort Macleod Allied Arts Council on Wednesday accepted a plaque and a cheque for $4,732.87 from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.
“The grant from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta was awarded to upgrade our office equipment and more importantly to allow us to create a new media community resource for all artists in any stage of their art career,” Allied Arts programming director Loralee Edwards said in a news release.
Allied Arts offers opportunities for learning and participation of arts to people of all ages, and is supportive of emerging and established artists working in a range of disciplines and encourage the enjoyment and appreciation of all arts and cultural activities.
Allied Arts makes events and programming inclusive and accessible to all members of the community.
Media art works are creative expressions and can include film, audio, video, virtual reality, computer and electronic art.
“Resources for access to new media is especially relevant because as technology evolves it provides artists with new tools to express themselves,” Allied Arts president Gordon Perret said.
“We want to provide a variety of tools and a space for the community to create media art.”
Media technology is particularly important to teens and young adults; however, it should also be noted that aging populations are becoming more interested in new media art as well.
Although the high school in Fort Macleod does have some computer/media resources, not all schools in Allied Arts’ serving area do, and there is a high population of home-schooled students in the area.
Research has shown that students engaged in media art are also engaging subjects such as writing, science and mathematics.
“This is the second grant we have received from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta,” Perret said. “A few years ago they also awarded us funds to purchase a kiln and we have a robust pottery group here in Fort Macleod.”
