As a way to channel creative expression during the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 youth leaders from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) used the power of photography to explore the experiences of youth with disabilities. The project, titled Still Lives, launches today, July 6, and was made possible through a virtual collaborative project with the Koffler Centre of the Arts.
“Over the course of six weeks, participants engaged in a series of virtual photography workshops to create a collection of visual diaries that gave insight into what life can look like for individuals living with disabilities. This project reflects upon the diverse experiences of everyday life, particularly for people who live on the margins in times of crisis, uncertainty, and social isolation.” - Mary Anderson, Manager, Literary & Public Programs
For one youth leader, the collaboration provided an opportunity to move past feelings of isolation and develop new skills.
“Adjusting to the new reality brought on by COVID-19 has been challenging for me. When quarantine first began I felt anxious and isolated. However, participating in the Koffler photography project has helped to bring some normality back to my life and allowed me to connect with my fellow youth leaders in a new way. I was eager to join the project because it centered around sharing the stories of young people living with disabilities during COVID-19, which is a narrative often left out of traditional spaces. Working with both my peers and our wonderful facilitator (Mary Anderson) I was able to discover a new passion for photography. Each week during the project I was able to learn new photography skills and receive feedback from my peers on my work. Overall, I’m happy to have participated in this project as it has helped to not only grow my overall confidence but also has improved my photography skills. I’m extremely proud of the project created by the Holland Bloorview youth leaders.” -Nikky, Holland Bloorview Youth Leader
This is the third collaboration between Holland Bloorview youth leaders and the Koffler Centre of the Arts, and has been made possible by generous funding from Barbara Underhill and the Stephanie Gaetz Foundation. The initiative is facilitated through Holland Bloorview’s Transition Strategy, a four-year initiative targeted at improving youth preparedness and planning, reducing barriers, changing attitudes and closing gaps, so that youth with disabilities can access more opportunities with greater confidence as they reach adulthood. Holland Bloorview’s Transition Strategy has been generously funded by a $4.5 million donation from the Coriat Family.
Still Lives is exhibiting on the Koffler Centre of the Arts web page, and promoted through their Instagram account.
About Koffler Centre of the Arts
The Koffler Centre of the Arts is a multi-disciplinary arts and cultural platform that engages artists and audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds in a vibrant dialogue exploring critical ideas, equity and social justice.
The Koffler’s ongoing partnership with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, provides the organization with the opportunity to collaborate with selected members of Holland Bloorview’s Youth Advisory Council, to create community-engaged multidisciplinary arts projects that explore issues of identity, resilience and diversity of voice, as they begin their young adult lives and, in particular, navigate what it means to live with disabilities.
In the past, youth leaders have worked closely with professional artist-facilitators to express their personal narratives through a collaborative creation process, using a variety of artistic techniques and media, including photography, creative writing, audio storytelling, sound and painting.
