Voices on Canvas Inc. is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses art as a way for young people to communicate, participate and help shape the communities around them.
Our purpose
Since 2007, Voices on Canvas has created opportunities for youth to develop communication and civic skills through art. The work is grounded in a simple belief: young people should not be treated as an audience for community decisions. They should have meaningful ways to express what they see, ask questions, create, and contribute.
How the work has evolved
Art remains the foundation. Today, projects can also include photography, video, audio, digital storytelling, responsible use of emerging technology and browser-based augmented reality. Those tools are used when they make participation easier or help a story reach people where they already are.
What we value
Youth voice
Young people are participants and creators, not decoration for an adult-led program.
Community relevance
Projects should connect to real places, real questions and the lived experience of the people involved.
Access
We design for practical participation, including mobile access, language access and people who may not use specialized technology.
Accountability
Public-facing work should be clear about what is proposed, what already exists, what is measured and what still needs to be proven.