Year 1 - 2006 Year 2 - 2007 Year 3 - 2008 Year 4 - 2009 Year 5 - 2010 Year 6 - 2011 Year 7 - 2012
urbanNOISE
an annual urban arts youth training & festival program created to unite communities against violence.
A joint venture with Expect Theatre, urbanNOISE creates a platform for youth to speak out against violence in their communities. Now in its fifth year, the project includes a free Youth Training Program and Festival that promotes leadership, unity and social change in the culturally diverse communities of Rexdale/Jamestown, located in North Etobicoke.
Mayor David Miller has applauded urbanNOISE for its efforts in "changing the perception of Rexdale - as the home of the gun, gangs and drug-related crime - to a new home featuring the beauty, artistic talent and inventiveness of its youth."
urbanNOISE is funded by: Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council, City of Toronto, The Geoffrey H. Wood Foundation
The Youth Training Program
The Youth Training Program provides an opportunity to participate in intensive workshops facilitated by top industry professionals. The workshops include:
| Breakin' |
Graffiti Art |
Beatboxin' |
| Emceein' |
Deejayin' |
African/Urban Dance Fusion |
| Music & Video Production |
Spoken Word |
Singing/Songwriting |
These workshops encourage youth to identify and examine the issues that directly affect them in a supportive environment through various artistic mediums. It also solicits the attention of the general public to take notice of the neighbourhoods that are suffering from racial tension, poverty, gender inequality and lack of resources - all of which can become a potential source for violence.
The Festival
The urbanNOISE Festival is the culmination of the months invested in the workshops by the students and the resident artists. It is an opportunity for participants to showcase their work and share the stage with guest performers such as Jully Black, Drake, Jellestone, d'bi young, Michie Mee and Divine Brown.
Photographer - Robert Carter
Year 1 - 2006
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Year 2 - 2007
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Year 3 - 2008
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Year 4 - 2009
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Year 5 - 2010
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Year 6 - 2011
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Year 7 - 2012
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