Limelight Association of Young Artists

Limelight: Mississauga's Hottest Wave of New Artists

You've heard the buzz....it's all over the city and beyond. The hottest wave of new artists have come together to join the Limelight Association of Young Artists. Limelight is an exciting community of young artists under the umbrella of the Mississauga Arts Council. Limelight’s mission is to: connect aspiring young artists and provide them with the support, recognition and opportunities required for them to thrive. Limelight is instrumental in the production of exciting projects including MAC’s youth showcases, travelling open mics, the Mississauga Future Star Competition, the Mississauga Youth Writers Guild, workshops and more! Members include visual artists, filmmakers, dancers, singer/songwriters, writers, graphic designers and more!

Click here to watch our official video trailer.

Limelight Association of Young Artists is open to individuals under the age of 30. To join Mississauga’s exciting association of young artists, please call the Mississauga Arts Council at 905-615-4278. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @MissArtsCouncil and at @LimelightYouth.  

Looking for a Limelight Testimonial?

Click here to hear what our Limelight Committee member Singer/Songwriter Arlene Paculan has to say about Limelight!

Click here to see what Limelight Committee member Jay T has to say about Limelight.  

	The Mississauga Arts Council's Youth Programming is generously supported with funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Mississauga Arts Council graciously acknowledges Trillium's support.
	The Mississauga Arts Council's Limelight Association of Young Artists is proudly sponsored by Boston Pizza Square One. The Mississauga Arts Council graciously acknowledges Boston Pizza's support.

Click here to view MAC's Limelight Brochure  

Click here to join Limelight!

Here's what Limelight is all about!

LIMELIGHT'S MISSION IS TO: connect aspiring young artists and provide them with the support, recognition and opportunities required for them to thrive. Within the context of the Mississauga Arts Council, Limelight will fulfill its mission by:

• Providing practical support
• Informing young artists of resources and opportunities available to them
• Creating points of connection between young artists in Mississauga and throughout Canada
• Providing recognition for young artists

Vision

• Youth will be able to envision a successful career as artists or as creative professionals utilizing their skills as artists.
• Mississauga can be a community that will attract, support and value young artists.
• To create an environment within which young people can participate fully in Mississauga's and ultimately Canada's artistic community - and thus help shape that community and its activities through both programming and governance.
• Youth will be taken seriously as artists.

Objectives

1. Practical support for example:
   • By offering workshops designed to expand the knowledge and skills of young artists.
   • By providing networking opportunities.
   • By providing marketing assistance to young artists wishing to stage a show or display their work.
   • By linking young artists with job possibilities.
   • By arranging collaboration opportunities with other organizations.
   • By exploring funding opportunities for young artists and arts groups.
   • By facilitating mentorship from established artists to provide guidance and support to emerging artists and enabling them to benefit from experience.
2.  Support and encourage young artists in Mississauga by informing them of available resources – for example:
   • Through outreach and presentations to schools, other communities, summer workshops and camps.
      
   • Through attendance at youth centered festivals and events promoting the Mississauga Arts Council and/or Limelight
   • Through the design and distribution of information brochures – linking disciplines with business and life skills such as public speaking, creative thinking, marketing, etc.
3. Connect young artists (within Mississauga & from across Canada)
   
   • Through online discussion and collaboration
   • Through events and networking opportunities
   • Through publication and support of grass roots youth initiatives
4. To provide recognition for the accomplishments of young artists
   
   • Through regular media campaigns and features
      
   • Through regular highlights in Limelight’s print and online communications
   • Through awards presentations such as the Mississauga Arts Awards

Limelight Programming

Initiative		Description
Art Exhibits		On a quarterly basis, the Mississauga Arts Council is proud to showcase original artworks created by a local youth artist for its Limelight Art Exhibit. Launched in early 2012, the Mississauga Arts Council is please to collaborate with the Mississauga YMCA to present its art exhibit where between 1900 and 2300 members have the opportunity to enjoy this original art on a daily basis. Bringing fine art into a non-conventional setting is the goal of this new program, exposing fresh artworks to a new and receptive audience.
Limelight Magazine		Originally created by emerging writer Natalie D’Urbano, MAC’s Limelight Magazine is the premiere showpiece for Mississauga’s community of young artists. The full colour magazine is published bi-annually and is distributed to over 8,000 arts minded individuals. MAC’s Limelight Magazine features original stories, artist profiles, poetry, graphics and photography of youth, by youth. The publication enables young artists to publish their original work, helping them to build the confidence and experience to move forward in their artistic careers and reach their goals. To read this sought after publication, please visit us online at www.mississaugaartscouncil.com.
Limelight Youth Committee		Nine of Mississauga’s leading young artists proudly sit on the Mississauga Arts Council’s Limelight Youth Committee.The youth committee meets on a monthly basis and is integral in the creation of and production of Limelight events, marketing, programming and event co-ordination. Artists on the committee come from various backgrounds including theatre, music, media arts, visual arts, poetry and literary arts. Their passionate contribution to Limelight’s programs and events is the secret to the success of the association.
Media Arts Mash-Ups		Youth and established filmmakers meet on a monthly basis to explore the challenges and opportunities involved with being a media artist at MAC’s Media Arts Mash-Ups. These events give artists an opportunity to get together every month and share their projects and discussions on topics relating to the field of film. It enables youth filmmakers to screen their works and receive constructive feedback on their creative pursuits.
Mentorship Program		This program pairs youth with mentors working in the creative and cultural industries to help build their experience and prepare them for a career in the arts/creative industries. Recently launched by the Mississauga Arts Council, youth are paired on a case by case basis with businesses, festivals, events, artists, and arts professionals. Examples of mentorships include: Pairing artists with youth studying in the same discipline; creating volunteer opportunities for youth at arts events etc.
Open Mic Nights		The Mississauga Arts Council’s monthly Open Mic Nights are an extremely successful program which provides youth with a safe and relaxed environment to build confidence performing on stage. Open Mic Nights are open to participants of all ages however at least 80% of participants are youth. Past hosts include established artists such as Mike Celia and Chris Graham. Open Mic events are held at various locations across the city including the Mississauga YMCA, JAM NOW Mississauga, the Maja Prentice Theatre, Mississauga Celebration Square and more!
Volunteer Training Program		The Mississauga Arts Council’s Volunteer Training Program provides comprehensive volunteer training to youth. Delivered by MAC’s Youth Coordinator, youth have the opportunity to graduate from the program with a certificate marking their completion of the course offered by MAC. The Mississauga Arts Council is set to launch this program in April 2012.
Youth Showcases		Youth have the opportunity to showcase their emerging talents at numerous special events and showcases organized by the Mississauga Arts Council. Whether performing, reciting poetry, showcasing their films or creating graffiti or visual art, MAC’s showcases enable youth to demonstrate their abilities. Past showcases include the Official Mississauga Talent Show, MAC’s Limelight Block Party, the Green Youth Arts Showcase, The “What I Am” Youth Arts Showcase and more!
Vocal Competitions		Bringing young artists to the forefront is the primary goal of MAC’s Limelight Association of Young Artists. To achieve this goal, MAC is proud to collaborate with fellow organizations to produce annual events such as vocal competitions. In past years, MAC partnered with the Mississauga Waterfront Festival and Metalworks Institute of Sound and Music Production to present the Mississauga Future Star Competition. In 2012, MAC is thrilled to partner with the Mississauga Rotaract Club to present Singfest, a free vocal competition open to all youth singers under the age of 24.
Workshops		MAC provides youth specific workshops that create networking opportunities as well as safe and encouraging environments for kids/youth to explore their craft/discipline. These workshops are delivered throughout the city and will focus on providing youth with the tools and skills to practice, develop and promote their craft/discipline. Workshops are delivered by practicing artists and professionals working in Mississauga. Upcoming workshop topics include “How to Write a Grant Proposal,” “Financial Management for Artists,” “the Science of Successful Freelancing,” “How to Get a Gig,” “Poetry Performance” and more!

Limelight in the Media

CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING NEWS/TV STORIES ON MAC's LIMELIGHT ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG ARTISTS

 Limelight Live in Action

 CHECK OUT THESE CLIPS BELOW OF OUR LIMELIGHT YOUNG ARTISTS LIVE IN ACTION