Professional artists’ festival inspires youth in craft, faith
TORONTO, ON—Over two dozen professional actors, musicians, singers and dancers came together this spring to inspire Christian youth to devote their lives to the arts and their faith.
The first annual Youth Arts Faith Festival (YAFF) was held at the Walmer Road Centre March 31. The event included workshops, mentoring opportunities and a gala performance. Tickets sold out in advance.
"I wanted the event to be a place where youth could be inspired by watching professional artists doing their thing," says artistic director Dennis Hassel, "and also be in a teaching situation where they could grow and learn their faith."
Artists included Artists in Motion (AIM), winners of Muchmusic's New.Music.Live Best Dance Crew (sic), along with two of the Toronto Star's "Twelve people to Watch in 2012"—singer/songwriter Jaclyn Kenyon and award winning playwright and actor Ins Choi.
"You can't talk about art without talking about excellence any more than you can have a food bank which serves moldy bread," Hassel says.
"I have found in the professional Christian arts community, there is a generosity and passion to serve and engage youth … and I have seen lives changed through young artists interacting with people who were further down the road in their craft and their faith."
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