Collaborating with students from Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF), ‘The Skatrix’ is public screening of animated shorts that marks the first edition of DesignTO Youth, a new program that provides youth with access to creative disciplines and professionals. Working together, DesignTO and OSF craft a program that teaches art and design skills through hands-on workshops, talks, studio tours, and mentorship.

Through this program, OSF students attended guest talks by game designer Rob Elsworthy and an unnamed Toronto-based artist/animator, and toured the pre-production animation studio House of Cool, where they learned about the intensive design process behind an animated series. The students then participated in an animation bootcamp led by new media artist and educator Tommy Truong, learning about stop-motion animation, rotoscoping, sound, and editing, to self-produce their own animated shorts.

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Oasis Skateboard Factory is a Toronto District School Board alternative school program  where students earn high school credits by creating their own brand, and running a skateboard business and design studio.

Established in 2019, DesignTO Youth is a program that provides youth with access to creative disciplines and professionals. The program works with local artists and designers and community collaborators like schools, non-profit organizations, and community groups that are already actively engaging with youth.

DesignTO Youth is generously supported by the City of Toronto, Economic Development & Culture. Event space provided by Artscape Wychwood Barns.

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