A Youth Perspective
I’ll never forget my first performance at a Blooming Art fundraising event. It was raining outside, the ground was slippery, and I was cold. I walked into Swanee Hunt’s home, which to me looked more like a museum than a residence. As my fellow choir members and I walked into our warm-up space, I remember looking around at all the figurines that were in the room. I was confused. Where was I and what was this event?!
Finally, it was our time to grace the stage. We stood in our red chorus jackets and began to sing the lyrics to a tune we knew all too well, but I could tell something was different about this event. The audience seemed engaged—captivated even! It was a moment that I will never forget—the moment I realized that Blooming Art was something very special. The audience was so supportive, so attentive, so interested in us, and so appreciative of our music. I could see other young artists listening, too; I decided I liked this event.
After we sang, I remember audience members coming up to us and asking our names, our year in school, what our favorite kind of music was. Wow. They genuinely cared about who we were as young artists. It was not until I was older that I fully understood that Blooming Art was a fundraiser, not just another performance.
Some of the best parts of the event for me were meeting all the other young artists and seeing their work. They were all able to be who they are and display their art in its raw, natural form without fear of being judged because of formalities. It was an event celebrating youth artists! The space was truly blooming with art. I will always remember it.
Lessons Learned
- [FUN]draisers should be just that: FUN!
- Make sure that when you prepare students for an event, they are given enough freedom to be their authentic selves.
- Create space in the event where young artists can meet each other and participate in, and appreciate, each other’s work.
