Discover the Artists of Tomorrow at the Smart Start Student Art Show at Sherway Gardens April 8, 2011

Arts Etobicoke is presenting the 15th anniversary celebration of the Smart Start Student Art Show, sponsored by Sherway Gardens (Hwy 427 & the QEW) and featuring works of art from students from various high schools across Metro Toronto, running from Saturday, April 9 through Saturday, April 16 in Sherway Square. For more information, call 416-621-1070 or visit www.sherwaygardens.ca or www.artsetobicoke.com.

Over 100 high school students from schools across the Greater Toronto Area participate in the annual Smart Start Student Art Show which showcases their drawings, mixed media, paintings, printmaking, sculpture and photography. Arts Etobicoke organizes the show with the support of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The annual show is open to students from across Metro Toronto, giving students from grades 9 to 12 the opportunity to participate in a non-juried public exhibition.

The Smart Start Student Art Show is particularly important to aspiring young artists because it gives them a unique opportunity to present their artwork in a public forum, particularly in a high traffic venue such as Sherway Gardens.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services has joined as a new partner for the 15th anniversary celebration of the Student Art Show, providing support for the enhancements to the show as well as the support of the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services volunteer team.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Smart Start Student Art Show, Arts Etobicoke has increased the education and outreach aspects with a number of NEW elements in this year’s show including:
• Smart Start Learning Centre: Observe and engage with art in new and different ways while learning about the creative process through interactive activities. Open to students, teachers and the public.
• Smart Start Symposium: On Wednesday, April 13 at 6:00pm, participating students and teachers will attend a mini conference with critiques/workshops led by professional artists and discussion groups led by teen and professional artists. Following the conference, attendees and their parents are invited to a reception hosted by Arts Etobicoke.
• Smart Start Scholarships: All participating schools will receive a scholarship to enrich arts education departments and programs. Supported by the Kiwanis Club of Kingsway Humber.

The 2011 Smart Start Student Art Show is part of the Celebrate 27 Arts Fest (C27), a series of events across Toronto from April 1 to April 27, 2011. C27 communicates and celebrates Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits." An initiative of the Culture Division of the City of Toronto, C27 promotes Toronto's vibrant cultural and community arts landscape in neighbourhoods across the city and raises awareness of the diverse programs and services offered by local artists, local arts organizations and the City.

Each participant will receive a package including a complimentary Arts Etobicoke membership, an exhibition catalogue and a gift from Woolfitt's Arts Enterprises.

About Arts Etobicoke:
Established in 1973, Arts Etobicoke is a not-for-profit membership-based organization with a mission to engage the people of West Toronto with the arts and artists in their own community. Arts Etobicoke’s Storefront Gallery location resides within historic Islington Village, located on Dundas Street West between Islington and Kipling Avenues. It is an arts service organization that serves a membership of 59 community-based arts organizations from all arts disciplines & 200 individual members; 16 youth Scholarship recipients, dozens of community volunteers & more than 60 artists and clients in the Art Rental service; thousands of students in its Arts Education programs and numerous community partner organizations including the Toronto District School Board, University of Toronto Centre for Community Partnerships, Milkweed Collective and more.

Through its unique position in West Toronto, Arts Etobicoke serves the community through involvement in local artistic activities that are affordable, accessible, inclusive, multicultural and multigenerational: urbanNOISE, an urban arts training program & Festival for at-risk youth in Rexdale, co-presented with Expect Theatre; From 3 to 3, a literacy program based in North Etobicoke for children ages 3-8; Art on the Move, a unique mobile arts project, co-presented with Lakeshore Arts; This is My Neighbourhood and Exploring Creativity in Depth for elementary school children; Presidents’ Legacy Scholarship Fund for secondary and post-secondary students; Art Rental and Sales service benefiting local artists and clients; a Storefront Gallery with a year-round exhibition schedule; The Art Alley Mural Project, with Amnesty International and City of Toronto Poet Laureate Dionne Brand; free Saturday Storefront Art Classes for all ages & a new After-School Art Drop-In for children & youth.

Official Website: http://www.sherwaygardens.ca