‘The Art of Finding Home’
We recently had the pleasure of supporting Montreal-based artist-educators Jacqueline van der Geer and Anna Jane McIntyre at the annual Concordia QUESCREN forum. They shared powerful insights from their work, using art to foster belonging within anti-oppression initiatives, specifically serving Quebec’s English-language minority community.
As a 2017 Vital Signs report noted, 77% of Canadians feel arts experiences help them belong to their local community, a feeling particularly important for newcomers and minority-language groups.
Anna Jane and Jacqueline have designed and led community-based projects in a variety of settings, from public English-language schools to alternative learning spaces like senior’s residences.
Their presentations, on Art & Belonging, were immersive, audio-visual storytelling sessions discussing the methods, resources, and lessons learned over years in the field, moving beyond theory to focus on the practical aspects of their facilitation style. Their approaches show how an arts-based philosophy can inject life and purpose into any area of study, promoting outcomes like:
- Self-Direction, working through problems, and innovating.
- Resilience and connection.
- Confidence and using your voice.
They championed the idea of seeking similarities over differences, proving that learning through art fosters deeper rapport and increases educational potential across the board.
The second session focused on a critical research partnership between LEARN Quebec and McGill researchers that focuses on identity and belonging. This study gathered input from artists, schools, and students, providing a crucial academic framework for understanding this work. (Find the full research here: https://hosted.learnquebec.ca/belonging/).
The work showcased at QUESCREN is a powerful reminder that art is essential infrastructure! It is a tool for building confident learners, connected communities, and a stronger sense of home in Quebec.
ELAN Artists Jacqueline van de Geer (above) and Anna Jane McIntyre (below) present workshops on Belonging in Quebec.
Photo credit: Quinten Sheriff
