Guelph Arts Council names Youth Opportunities Award winner

GUELPH – Deanna Kruger of Guelph is the recipient of the Guelph Arts Council’s 2020 Youth Opportunities Award.

An award-winning professional playwright, Kruger has worked as a facilitator and playwright mentor, and has served as a playwright-in-residence supported by both Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.

Kruger  submitted her application for support in offering an innovative online play writing workshop free of charge to youth ages 14 to 17 in Guelph and Wellington County.

The workshop will be in three parts, each session exploring a different aspect of play writing and theatre.

Youth will be “inspired and empowered to discover their inner playwright, gaining the fundamental tools needed to begin crafting short plays and scenes.”

They will also be able to share their writing with the group as well as receive individual feedback from Kruger.

The award jury commended Kruger  for an excellent, well-thought-out proposal.

They applauded the accessibility of a free, online workshop, especially in these pandemic times when “teenagers are experiencing unprecedented isolation.”

The jury also appreciated her optimistic outlook, especially her hope that the “play writing tools that youth learn during the workshop will feed their creativity long after the world opens up again.”

For more information about the Youth Opportunities Award program and Guelph Arts Council visit guelpharts.ca, phone 519-836-3280 or email administration@guelpharts.ca.