By By Ben Rayner • 11/30/2021 02:14 p.m. EST
The Madison Arts Barn (MAB) has been a vital part of the town’s youth outreach since 2000, promoting and developing the artistic skills of shoreline youth, and has recently renewed its relevance by including these teens as part of its advisory board. Program Director Amy Johnson said the recently initiated Youth Advisory Board is a critical link for the organization in ensuring that the patrons they serve have an actual voice in the process.
The pandemic had a huge negative impact on organizations like MAB, but it also provided the time to address and develop more diverse and unique programming.
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) works in tandem with the Board of Directors to empower young people to pursue their interests and passions. The YAB are students in grades 4 through 12 from across the Connecticut shoreline who want to have a say in what programs are offered by MAB, said Johnson.
“During COVID, we were looking at different programs we might initiate to continue to keep kids involved and we actually read an article in The Source about teens looking for voices on boards, and we said, ‘Absolutely—we want to do that,’” said Johnson. “It has been working out great with a wonderful group of kids. They meet every month and are developing new programs.”
They have also brought some older programs back.
“The scavenger hunt we did last spring was all developed by them. They did all of the work themselves and it was a huge success,” Johnson said. “They also brought back our Haunted House event, which had been retired after a number of years. Certain programs ebb and flow as far as interest, and the kids said they wanted it back, so we brought it back. It was a great success because it was their project, it was something they felt near and dear to because it was their voice.”
Johnson said the board develops just the kind of skills that today’s youth will need in business, school, and in life.
“It is a wonderful way for them to be heard. It is great for their empowerment. It is great for their organizational skills,” Johnson said. “It preps them for college, and preps them for the world. Many of our kids have a hard time finding a place they feel comfortable in, and when they’re here they find people just like them and it is an inclusive environment they can all enjoy. That’s a pretty special thing.”
Another newly developed program is the MADBarn Creators. According to Johnson, just prior to the pandemic, MAB was approached by a local business that provided the organization with an idea. The business inquired about the possibility of finding a group of students with a passion in filmmaking to work with it to create a commercial.
This conversation inspired the concept for a program through which talented students could be paired with local businesses in order to benefit all, inspiring the formation of MADBarn Creators, said Johnson. Johnson said that many area businesses have advertising needs, but don’t necessarily have the budget to use a large advertising agency. This new program will, in cooperation with the Madison Chamber of Commerce, reach out to chamber members and connect interested parties with MAB.
“COVID has had an impact on everything, especially businesses and their budgets. Many businesses need to advertise, but just may not have the funds. So we had to get creative and came up with this program that will help businesses and the kids at the same time,” said Johnson.
“We’re starting small and locally and started reaching out to find out what their needs are,” said Johnson. “We have a number of students whose passion is filmmaking, art and creativity, digital art, graphic design, social media, drawing, and photography. And the kids came together and now the program is connecting the perfect kid for the needs of the specific business. Many businesses just don’t have the time or the budget for marketing, even though they know they should do it, so this is going to be a very unique program for everyone. By pairing them both together, one can help the other”
According to Johnson, once the needs of the client are established, the program’s coordinator will reach out to the MadBarn Creators and match interested talented students with the project. Johnson said access to a mentor will also be provided when needed, but students will be responsible for doing the majority of the work for their assignments independently.
Johnson said once the assignment is complete and the business is given the final product, the students will have built their portfolio or resume, gained experience, and also received a stipend.
For more information about programming at MAB and to fill out an application for membership to the YAB, visit www.madisonartsbarn.org. There are specific links for the Creators program and the Advisory Board.
Businesses wanting to find out more about the details of the MADBarn Creators offerings can also visit the site for complete information. MAB can also be reached at 203-245-2689 or via email at madisonartsbarn@gmail.com.
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