AHA Media

If you are between 19 and 30 years old, are eager to train and work hard, then this could be for you! Honorariums are paid to participants for 24 hours/week, daily lunch is provided. Aboriginal youth, women, and youth of colour from the inner-city are encouraged to apply. This is designed as an apprenticeship program for people who face systemic barriers to a creative technology career.

ORIENTATION SESSION: Oct 1, 7-9pm, 112 West Hastings (W2’s new space). Snacks and bus tickets provided. Learn about what’s involved in the apprenticeship program. How does it work, when does it start, what kind of committment will you make, and what will W2 provide. We’d also like you to let us know what experience you have with creative technology.

ORIENTATION SESSION: Oct 8, 7-9pm, 112 West Hastings. Snacks and bus tickets provided. Hear from an overview of subjects you will be immersed in over the next 5 months from some of W2 Mentors. Learn about the internet and social media, mobile/locative media, buliding web sites, VJing, and other media arts practices. Learn about our program and tell us what you can do – and where you want to take it!

When you get involved with our 5-month youth apprenticeship program you will play a central role in W2 as we get set to open 9000 sq ft at Woodward’s in January 2010, and emerge as a world-class crossmedia centre. It will be an exciting few months, and for young people wanting an awesome experience working collaboratively to create media art, events, installations, and live interactive experiences = this is it!!

Following this challenging five month apprenticeship program, participants will receive regular employment with W2 or our partner employers from the local digital media/ Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

We open at Woodwards in January 2010, but in the meantime we are actively developing and launching programs from our temporary space at 112 West Hastings. (This month we are moving from the Flack Block and consolidating at 112.)

Our innovative programs confront the digital divide with marginalized inner-city residents accessing and using technology. Visiting artists-in-residence and mentors provide inspiration and mentorship, and live events and projects give our crew the chance to test and showcase their skills and achievements.

Antoni Abad will be one of our mobile media mentors with Mobile*Native, during November 2009. Jon Cohrs/OMGIMON.TV will set up an analogue TV station. Other artists will work with us to build web sites, and we will produce major events, receptions, screenings, and parties.

The development of training, apprenticeship/employment placement programs for the digital media sector has been identified as a priority amongst governments, industry, and the community. Bladerunners is an internationally recognized, award winning employment program assisting multi-barrier and disadvantaged youth in gaining on the job construction training and apprenticeships. W2 is delivering Bladerunner’s first non-construction trade apprenticeship program, with funding by Bell and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. W2 is also collaborating with Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society (BOB) new ICT Cluster, and this will be a connection point for participants to the local sector.