Supporting Children's Dreams
of Becoming Creators – 2

"CREATE Program" Expanding Future Possibilities and Connecting Hopes

 

 

Sisler High School in Winnipeg, Canada offers the "CREATE Program," where students can learn 2D/3D animation, game design, and video FX for free. Wacom Canada has been involved as a partner since its launch in 2020 in an effort to support students who want to embark on career paths in the creative industry.

Dave Bolton works at Wacom where he is responsible for sales across Canada. He is also helping run the CREATE Program initiative at Sisler High School. Dave is thrilled to see Wacom products accompanying the students’ journeys as they grow and succeed, whether the students are new to creating or have gone on to become professionals. In the following interview, Dave will introduce the CREATE Program, an initiative that demonstrates his commitment to Wacom’s Life-long Ink.

What does the CREATE Program offer?

Dave: The CREATE Program is an initiative at Sisler High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It's a free program created specifically for students to acquire various creative skills through experiences like 2D/3D animation, game design, and video FX. Each part of the program is designed to support pathways leading to secondary education and careers in the creative industry. It's open to students from grade 9 (age 13-14) regardless of their experience.

Wacom is one of the CREATE Program’s partners. As a partner, Wacom supports new projects every year, facilitates lectures by professional artists, and supports award ceremonies celebrating completed works within the scope of the program.

 

What prompted Wacom to get involved?

Dave: Jamie Leduc, the founder of the CREATE Program and an animation instructor, was previously involved in the "Orange Tree Project" by Nickelodeon. The project allows high school graduates to receive guidance in animation production from Nickelodeon’s artists. I was inspired by this which led me to think of ways Wacom could get more involved with the project. Then, in 2020, Jamie started the CREATE Program at Sisler High School, and we were able to partner with them.

What kind of students participate in the CREATE Program?

Dave: Sisler High School is located in an economically challenged area, where many students cannot afford to purchase new computers or the necessary tools for creation. Additionally, many of the students involved in the CREATE Program are first-generation Canadians, with parents working multiple jobs, often taking care of their siblings, helping with household chores, and assuming various roles at home. The CREATE Program allows anyone to participate free of charge if they wish, and the classrooms are open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. It's a program where students can learn and work on their creations. An opportunity where they can hone their potential rather than wasting it, while providing a safe and supportive environment for learning.

Please tell us how Wacom supports the projects every year.

Dave: The CREATE Program is student-driven, meaning the students decide what projects they want to work on. Each academic year, the students collectively choose topics they want to create together and Wacom supports one of the annual projects the students decide upon.

During the 2022/2023 academic year, students created a webcomic called "Depth of Mind," in collaboration with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This project focused on teenage mental health care and gave students the chance to learn about production environments – from creating timelines and making project lists to actual production. Additionally, Production Designer Jason Scheier serves as a project mentor which gave students the opportunity to learn from professionals working in the field.

Each project supports the students to have ownership over their ideas, while they also learn how to make their own decisions and collaborate with peers. For instance, if one student is responsible for background art, another may be in charge of character design. For the project to succeed, they need to cooperate to bring the idea to life. There are also opportunities for older students to support younger students, helping to build a team environment.

”Depth of Mind - To Dive into The Psyche” By CREATE FOR THE WORLD

Have there been any changes in the students as a result of the projects?

Dave: "Depth of Mind" focuses on themes such as fitting in at school, experiencing bullying, and finding inner strength. When speaking about the impact of the pandemic, many students talked about how difficult the social isolation was due to the missed school year. During the conversations, some tears were shed. As a result, they were able to arrive at ideas that everyone could empathize with. I believe it's because they're all creative. They have that common thread of creativity, which makes it quickly clear that they're much more similar than they are different. It might sound over the top, but I think engaging in creative acts is a form of therapy for them.

I can feel the students' growth at our monthly meetings as well. At the beginning of the new semester in September, some students were too shy to even look at the camera. However, by the end of the project, they were leading conversations, looking at Jason and me through the camera, and actively engaging with us. It’s truly moving.

The CREATE Program also plays an important role in supporting students' secondary education and career paths.

Dave: Especially for students facing economic difficulties, support for their career paths after completing the program is crucial. In November 2023, Wacom donated Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 to sixty students through a partnership with the Schroeder Foundation. The event was a surprise and when the donation was announced, cheers erupted throughout the classroom and some students even cried out of sheer emotion. Students who previously were limited to working in the classroom were now suddenly able to continue their work with professional equipment at home. One student who received a product of ours happily said through tears of joy, “I can continue learning so I can turn this into a career.” Most students dream of going to college or university, and this donation will help that vision become reality.

It seems that there is also an increasing number of children who aspire to enroll in Sisler High School so they can participate in the CREATE Program.

Dave: Every March, Sisler hosts an animation event called AniJam, which Wacom proudly sponsors. This event gives us the opportunity to interact with 5th and 6th graders (ages 9-11) alongside CREATE Program students. Students who are interested in animation are enrolling at Sisler High School, hoping to participate in the CREATE program.

It’s inspirational, and I am truly proud to see students learning to use Wacom products at a young age. This gives them the chance to accumulate knowledge and experience in the creation process, while they continue to apply what they learn as they evolve into professionals. For me, the CREATE Program embodies Wacom's commitment to Lifelong Ink. We are not only responsible for the program, we have also been given the unique opportunity to support students through these projects. It's an honor that Wacom products contribute to the students’ growth, and I'm grateful to be a part of a company that enables initiatives like this.

The CREATE Program’s students are also widely recognized in the creative industry as skilled artists. Some students participate in internships and creative jobs at renowned studios during their studies, and some are hired by the industry’s biggest studios after their education is complete.

This spring, there will be a presentation at the Nickelodeon Studios in Burbank, California where each team of students will present their final projects to Nickelodeon’s executives and invited guests. It is amazing to see these students present their own work. They are proud of their achievements, and I am so honored to be a part of their projects.

 

Please tell us about any future initiatives.

Dave: New projects are launched every September when the new school year begins. From Wacom's perspective, we will continue to provide the framework for creative learning by offering mentorships and equipment. Since it’s really up to the students, it has very little to do with us giving direction. We are encouraging but we do not tell them what to do. They truly grow on their own. We look forward to September every year.

Students in the CREATE Program also collaborate with Wacom Canada's social media team. They will do a weekend takeover where they post content or create content for us. The program helps them develop within every aspect of the creative process.

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