About Ignite The Americas

Recognizing and building upon the increasingly important role that arts and cultural expressions play as an engine for economic growth and positive youth engagement both in Canada and throughout the Americas, the Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), will present Ignite The Americas: Youth Arts Policy Forum, to take place in Toronto, Canada from September 15-21, 2008.

Planned and produced in full partnership with youth arts sector leaders and in collaboration with the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ignite the Americas will bring together young leaders and artists, cultural policy makers and industry leaders from across OAS Member States, and will be an important first step towards building strong partnerships and cultivating new opportunities for cultural, professional, and creative exchange between the youth arts and cultural sectors.

It is increasingly recognized that activities, programs and policies involving artistic and cultural expressions play a considerable role in mitigating inequalities and barriers – be they social, economic or political – that are key causes of marginalization and social exclusion of young people and in some cases contribute to criminality and gang violence.

Building on the belief and recognition that arts and cultural activities can and do significantly contribute to economic growth, the reduction and the prevention of violence by strengthening human potential, generating resilient community ties, augmenting self-esteem, and developing skills in young people that can allow them to secure decent jobs, Ignite the Americas aims to achieve the following tangible outcomes:

1. A toolkit of practical information aimed at educating youth on strengthening their capacity to develop successful and sustainable cultural enterprises;


2. Recommendations aimed at creating cultural policy that uses arts and cultural expressions as effective tools for promoting youth inclusions and economic growth, and;


3. A hemispheric wide network of youth arts organizations with a view to strengthen cultural cooperation and promote the ongoing exchange of best practices for cultural initiatives aimed at combating gang related violence and youth exclusion.

Ignite The Americas is seeking passionate, experienced and innovative young artists and leaders such as yourself to participate as delegates in the forum. We need the best and the brightest from across the Americas to bring their ideas, their wealth of experience, their networks, their strategies, their lessons learned – to come together to work collaboratively towards shaping the future and unlocking the potential of youth arts as a catalyst for cultural, creative and economic growth across the Americas. Two delegates, representing each of the 34 OAS Member States will be selected to participate in this event. The Canadian government will cover associated expenses for each participating delegate, including transportation, accommodations, and per diems.