'Mindfulness in May' is back for a third year of showcasing youth creativity in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.
The youth art exhibition theme's this year is "Have Your Say", according to Diane Moran, founder and organizer.
“I think it’s important that the youth in the community have a platform, a very safe one too,” Moran said. “It’s important that they have a say.”
Students in District 69, including home learners, from Grade 5 to Grade 12 can submit in three categories: photography (digital or film), literary (short story, poetry) and visual (painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, sculpture, fabric arts and more).
The deadline to submit is April 4. The early submission deadline is March 21 and early entries will be eligible for special prizes and to be featured on the event's posters.
Submissions can be made online at mindfulmay.artistquarter.com/submissions/index.
There will be $150 top prizes for both the junior (Grade 5 to Grade 8) and senior (Grade 9 to Grade 12) categories in the visual arts category. Prizes are also up for grabs for photography, literary art and People’s Choice Award. All exhibitors will receive Certificates of Participation.
The formal exhibition will be hosted from May 1 to May 11 at the Qualicum Beach branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, but Moran said it will be viewable starting April 30.
This will be the second year the art exhibition has been hosted at the library.
“They’ve been very supportive of having arts within the library,” Moran added.
Students are encouraged to explore what “Have Your Say” means to them in their own lives, and in their own words.
Potential interpretations of the theme include:
- Who benefits from having a say about something?
- Where can we talk about things? Film, books, banners, TV, commercials, social media, posters, Parliament.
- What do you want to say and how will you share that? Visual Arts, photography, poetry, fabric art, sculpture?
- What can you say that will be of help to others?
- What would you like to say about yourself, your community, or the world around you?
Previous themes have included "Forest, Sea and Self" in 2024 and "the Art of Nurturing Nature" in 2023.
“Using a theme allows for something to focus on, something to be mindful of,” Moran said.
The themes are meant to be general and open to interpretation — each person will bring their own take to Mindfulness in May.
Moran came up with the concept 10 years ago, with her first youth arts exhibition called "The Silence of Stigma" when she lived in Port Coquitlam.
After moving to the Island she became the South Island Culture Days Ambassador while she and her husband lived in the Port Renfrew area. They relocated to Qualicum Beach in 2021 and in 2023 hosted the town's first Mindfulness in May event.
The event will coincide with BC Youth Week in the first week of May and National Mental Health Week (May 5 to May 11).
There will be an official opening event at the library (660 Primrose St.) on May 1 at 6 p.m.
Sponsors this year include Rotary Qualicum Beach, Village Eatery and Pizza House, VIRL and MLA Stephanie Higginson.
For questions or more information, visit mindfulmay.artistquarter.com/ or contact Moran at moraninthemoon@gmail.com.
