Ignite the Americas.

• Author: Cattivelli, Adrian
• Position: OAS

THE MINISTERS of culture of OAS member States and youth art leaders from every corner of the Americas met in Toronto, Canada to analyze the possibility of creating a cultural policy that uses the arts as a tool for working with youth.

"Ignite the Americas," or "Illuminando las Americas" was inaugurated by the Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, and by the director of the OAS Department of Education and Culture, Lenore Yaffee Garcia. Both emphasized that cultural activities contribute to economic growth and to reducing and preventing violence by strengthening human potential, creating strong community ties, increasing self-esteem, and developing skills that will help young people to find decent work.

The event produced three primary results. The first was the creation of a tool kit for practical information for educating youth on how to strengthen their capacity to develop successful cultural enterprises. The second was...