Mission Statement
Rock the Arts aims to celebrate youth accomplishment and collaborations in the arts by unifying young people through creative achievement, thus inspiring and advocating teen talent for the enrichment of the community.
History
Rock the Arts was started in 1998 by the Teen Centre. Held in the CSMA annex, it was an evening of teenagers displaying their love for the arts through poetry, singing, and band performances. It was held a second time two years later responding to the demand for a venue for youth to perform. When Orange Tree Theatre Company wanted to have a day-long festival for youth performances and to showcase the many talents of students in the community, the Teen Centre came forward and said that they have been looking to expand Rock the Arts. After a few meetings between the two, it was decided that a separate committee be formed in order to put on a festival in Spring 2000. After many months of hard work, the festival was held on May 13th on the Commons with local performers in the daytime and a bandfest at night. The event was a huge success with an attendance of over 1000 people.
Rock the Arts Today and Tomorrow
Every year, Rock the Arts is organized by a committee composed entirely of youth under the age of 18. The festival usually takes play on a Saturday in late April or early May on the Ithaca Commons. The whole day is spent celebrating youth and their involvement in the arts. All manner of students perform, from jugglers to singers to dancers to comedians. While Rock the Arts is currently a local event, there are hopes that as board members go off their separate ways, they will take pieces of the festival with them, spreading youth involvement in the arts everywhere.
