Antyx Community Arts is a creatively unique organization that uses the arts as a tool to engage youth who are marginalized in their communities and mobilizes youth and community organizations in finding creative ways to address the issues that marginalize youth.

Vision: Creative, vibrant communities fostering inclusion, participation, and potential.

Mission: Community Arts: engaging, empowering, transforming.

Values: We are enthusiastically committed to: Integrity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Creativity, and Empowerment

History: Antyx was formed on January 1, 2010 when All Nations Theatre and Urban Youth Worx merged and began operating as a single community arts organization. All Nations Theatre had worked in Calgary since 1992 engaging youth in participatory theatre projects that explored issues identified by youth. Founded in 1998, Urban Youth Worx supported the development of Arts Based community development projects across Calgary.

Engagement: The creation of Antyx has sparked tremendous opportunities to engage youth and communities in using the arts to explore critical issues and make positive change. We have just begun to realize the potential that our newly formed larger organization has to increase our ability to engage individuals, communities and organizations in using the arts to make positive change in communities.

Our community arts projects and programs provide a creative empowering experience for youth participants. Our interactive arts processes focus on the exploration of youth identified community issues and have many attributes that foster positive youth development. Youth not only participate in an arts based program they have opportunities to develop leadership skills and provide a community service through the presentation of art that encourages community discussion and problem solving about youth identified issues.

In every project we aspire to engage youth as artists, activists and leaders in their communities.

Impact: Participation in Antyx community arts programs provides youth with numerous opportunities to build skills, enhance protective factors, and form community based relationships that help to reduce youth vulnerability. These programs have a tremendously positive impact, not just on the youth and their families, but also in their communities.Just like the youth we work with, each Antyx project is unique. Whether it is writing a hip hop song or shooting a video, producing a live theatre performance or painting a community mural, each Antyx project is youth-centred and addresses issues directly relating to the lives of project participants.

Projects can vary in length, intensity and number of youth involved, reflecting Antyx’ ongoing commitment to customize programs to the needs of the community, while also empowering youth to take ownership over projects and leadership skills.

We are currently focused on delivering creative programs within the communities of Greater Forest Lawn and North of McKnight. Our diverse projects are delivered in spaces in communities across Calgary that are easily accessible to youth who have few recreational opportunities.

For more information, visit our website: www.antyx.org

 Attend and Support Youth Arts Events: Come out and catch a play, watch a video screening, meet the artists at a photo exhibition or celebrate the unveiling of a new community mural or sculpture. Attending an Antyx Community Arts event is a great way to show your appreciation for the talent and creativity of young community artists and participate in creative discussions about issues important to youth. Visit our website (www.antyx.org) or follow us on Facebook or Twitter to find out about upcoming events.

Share your talent: We know the huge difference that artists can make for youth and communities when they give their time and talent. If you are an artist and would like to explore new opportunities to mentor youth and engage with the community-give us a call and we can talk about how you can support our community arts work.

Be a Community Arts Patron:  Antyx is committed to working with youth in Greater Forest Lawn and the North of McKnight communities in using the arts to make a positive difference where they live.  Contributing to a community arts project is a great way to support the youth in these communities.  Imagine if you could enable youth from Forest Lawn to create a sculpture for a new park in their community or help a group teens in North of McKnight to paint a permanent mural that reflects their connection to where they live in their own neighbourhood!

• Projects costs range from $2,000 to $20,000 and your contribution will help engage artists, buy art supplies, rent equipment, book rehearsal space, etc.

Become a Record Producer: Support our newest initiative! We need resources to support a group of 8-10 youth in building the skills they need to record a CD with an Anti-Discrimination /Anti-Violence message. The group will work with Hip Hop artists, Poets and musicians, to write their own rhymes/lyrics, create music and beats and then record an album of the songs they write. The recording project will allow the participants to build their understanding of how they can challenge discrimination and violence, develop new artistic and technical skills and create a positive message for the community.

• We need $15,000 to engage artist mentors, cover equipment and space costs and produce the album. Let us know if want to invest in developing new young artists so they can share a positive message.

Our Board Needs A Lawyer:  Antyx is currently looking for a lawyer to join our Board of Directors to help ensure accountability for all our stakeholders by supporting organizational risk management and helping to insure all organizational obligations are met.

• We are looking  for  someone who is excited about our work in the community, enjoys working as a member of a team and can commit 6-8 hours a month.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities please email: [email protected] or  call us at 403 444 0500.