As arts funding has been cut from high schools, students are in need of alternative programs more than ever, according to 16-year-old Alex Boyd of the Riot Police.
Boyd is the vocalist, bassist and keyboardist for band made up mostly of high school students. The band was an important outlet for Boyd, one that he hopes other students will be able to find as well.
“There are a lot of great opportunities [in high school] so it’d be a shame to get rid of them,” Boyd said.
He added that while he was able to get his artistic fill with his band, other students might not have the same opportunities.
Enter Art Child, an event that raises awareness about arts funding in high schools and provides alternative art programs. The first annual event was held in Carleton’s Unicentre atrium Jan. 29 and included a performance by the Riot Police.
Sandwiched between DJ lessons and breakdancing workshops, the Riot Police took the stage for a 30-minute set.
The four-piece band, composed of Boyd’s high school friends and third-year Carleton music student Taylor Harris, whipped through a setlist that combined tracks from their two albums. One of the highlighted songs was “Choir Boy,” which was inspired by Boyd’s experience singing in the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.
Programs like the choir coupled with band camps helped enrich Boyd’s experience even more than his classes did, he said. He said he hopes students can continue to get exposed to the arts, if not in school, then through workshops and events like Art Child.
“It’s pretty easy for anyone to get into it once they start,” he said.
