Program Spotlight: Akron Library’s Teen Time: Yeet Art Program

We’ve asked libraries across Colorado to submit program they’ve run in the last year that they’re proud of and they want the rest of us to see and celebrate. Sharing stories in books is great… but what about our stories? The stories of the ways our libraries bring the community together, enrich the lives of our neighbors, and serve the people who live and work in our cities and towns.

Angelica Smith, Program Director, answered our call and we’re excited to let them tell you about Akron Library’s Program Name in their own words.

Library Name: Akron Public Library

City/ Town: Akron, CO

Program Name: Teen Time: Yeet Art

Date/ Date Range of Program: June 15, 2024

Intended Audience: 13-19 years old but if they had siblings or were just there we invited them to join in since we had a lot of supplies.

Description:
We allowed the teens to take whatever color paint we had available and put it on a canvas however they felt. Then, they went out into the dirt and tossed it at the target (a tarp we had laid out previously) like a Frisbee to see what kind of weird art they could make. They used many different colors with different brands and kinds of paint to create cool effects. Some of the work even got some dirt and rocks in it to add some texture while others had what looked like bubbles from the paint and air.

How did you come up with the idea for this program?
Heidi saw that someone was doing “Yeet Art” on Facebook, but it was just someone throwing paint on a canvas. So, she made it more exciting by saying “why don’t we just throw the canvas instead?” Thus, our version of “Yeet Art” was created.

What partners (if any) did you work with in developing or implementing this program?
We partnered with Town Hall to use the lot next to their building.

What about this program did you find successful? How did you measure the success of this program?
We found everything about this program successful. The teens enjoyed themselves and so did we! There was a great turn out as well and pretty much everyone left with art they had fun making and a smile.

Final Thoughts:
We proved that crafts like this can be fun for pre-teens, teens, and even adults! We had many people ask us before and after if they could try it out or what it was and if they could do it too. Everyone deserves a little process art in their lives!

Angelica has permitted us to share their contact information so that anyone interested in reaching out to them about their program can do so. It is an incredibly generous offer of which you are invited to avail yourself if you’re inspired by their work and want to celebrate them or if you have questions about ways you can follow their lead.

To reach Angelica, email them at asmith@townofakron.com

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Colorado State Library (and the readers of this point as well, no doubt) understands how time consuming, emotionally draining, costly (in so many ways), and challenging it can be to run a program or project. Sometimes they fail gloriously… sometimes they fail with barely a whisper. It can be hard to recover from that. You’ve worked so hard!… and it just didn’t work out. Be gentle with yourself. Self-reflect. Pick up the pieces. And then get to the next thing. It’ll be worth it.

For all those other times, be sure to celebrate. Brag about it! Feel good about yourself, the team that collaborated on your work, and the community members who participated with it. Celebrate your hard work and the value that you contribute to your community.

Tell us the story of your program just like this library did here. Submit your library’s program for a Program Spotlight featured here and shared as far as Colorado State Library news reaches.