SAXTONS RIVER, Vt. – Outburst Arts, a free, monthly teen arts night at Main Street Arts (MSA), is held on the first Friday of the month, from 7-9 p.m., and began on Oct. 6. Teens from the greater Rockingham area are invited to make art, do crafts, listen to music, eat snacks, and spend time with new and old friends.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Main Street Arts on this project,” said Sam Howard. “As the youth services librarian at the Rockingham Free Public Library, one of my goals is to create welcoming spaces where youth can express themselves and make connections. Main Street Arts and I worked together to start the program [last year]. Outburst Arts is designed to be a youth-led place where teens can make art, launch creative projects, or just hang out.”
This will be the second year the program is offered at MSA, with a few changes. Outburst Arts will now take place on the first Friday of the month through the end of the school year, and all the art created can be submitted to an end of year exhibit, which will be open to the public at MSA, and will include vocal, written, and art pieces.
“I’m really excited to see Outburst Arts return,” said Neil Allen, director of Greater Falls Connections in Bellows Falls, and the adult lead for the program. “This is a good opportunity for the teens to meet other teens who are interested in the arts, create positive life experiences, and, hopefully, find trusted adults they can connect with outside of the usual places like school, sports, or church. These are all important aspects of substance use prevention, and part of why I wanted to be part of this program.
“The program is youth-led, adult-supported. This means the adults are there to make sure the program runs, and the teens are the ones directing things,” Allen continued. “There is the saying from the disabled community, ‘nothing for us without us,’ and those of us in prevention believe this as well. This is the best way to allow the teens to be seen and heard. I’m excited to see what the teens want to do, and work with the youth leadership group to make this a creative, fun program for them.”
MSA is located at 35 Main Street in Saxtons River. The site has a ramp, elevator, and accessible bathrooms. For more information, please contact Neil Allen at neilpierceallen@gmail.com, or 603-558-8549.