Teens share through SURGE

 

Jean Pitman, our Youth and Community Programs Manager, collaborated with colleagues across Columbus cultural institutions to plan SURGE Tells, an event last month showcasing teens throughout the SURGE network. Partners in the collaborative to create after-school learning opportunities include the Wexner Center, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Metropolitan Library, COSI, WOSU, and TRANSIT ARTS. Here’s Jean’s recap of the day.

Last summer SURGE Columbus supported a large, collaborative network-wide event called SURGE LISTENS that featured youth poetry, sound, beats, and music composition, culminating in the production of a CD and a listening party at the Columbus Museum of Art. It was a huge success and brought youth together from all over the city to meet, share skills, and learn about new opportunities. This summer, there was great music and dancing, a great new space, and great energy all around for SURGE Tells on August 12, which featured youth stories and storytelling from so many perspectives!

Transit Arts hosted the event in their carriage house, a beautiful and amazing studio space for youth on Bryden Road that’s due to open for dance classes and open mics soon. We watched youth videos, watched youth perform and took in youth artwork from all over Columbus. It was hot, but the rain felt good when it came through and we finished up with pizza and prizes. Ariel Watkins won the Audience Choice Award for her brilliant t-shirt design!

Coming together for a shared event like this is important and fun. Keep your eyes peeled for next year’s summer youth gathering at one of the SURGE sites!

Photos: Kimberly Cole