Teens take up space at the library to play with cameras and stuff

A new teen hangout space that also gives access to professional media equipment has just opened at the Centennial Library.

The ‘digital maker space’ as it’s being called, is part of the Digital Creator North program that has started up six creative workspaces for youth aged 14-19 to use advanced digital production tools.

The spaces give access to MacBooks, digital cameras, sound recorders and microphones, iPads, professional media software, and more.

It’s not an equipment lending library, but more of a place to go and use the tools while it's open.

“It’s a mix hangout space with structured programming (to) really give young people the freedom to explore,” said Kirsten Kosloski, program director for Near North Mobile Media Lab, the managing organization. “(We want to) give them some ownership over the space and confidence and digital literary so they can become creators of culture rather than just consumers.”

The idea is to give youth in northern communities access to the new media tools, mentorship, and training that are more commonly available in southern Ontario, said Kosloski, who believes that while doing so, more youth will be enticed to stay in their areas.

“We want to show young people that they can use the talents and skills that they have in their community and stay in their community,” said Kosloski. “They can do these things in their communities, they don’t have to migrate down south. They can have viable careers as artists and digital technicians in their own communities as well, and they don’t have to migrate down south.”

In 2016, the North Bay-based arts organization Near North Mobile Media Lab was awarded a $700,300 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to create these spaces in Temiskaming Shores, Timmins, Elliot Lake, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, and the Sault. The program also received funding from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

These have all opened in the last month, though the Sault location will be posting its hours next week and holding a launch event on June 29.

Kosloski said each location is set up in a ‘low-barrier’ location like an accessible community centre, library, or museum.

The local space will give youth access to two Canon EOS Rebel Ti6 DSLR cameras, a GoPro Hero 5, LED lighting kits, light reflectors, tripods, Rode microphones, a zoom H4n handheld recorder, an iMac, two MacBook pros, an iPad pro with an Apple Pencil, an Xbox one with games, and a flat screen TV.

They also have access to professional software like Adobe’s Creative Cloud, FL Studio, Sketchbook, and more.

The Sault location will be run by Katie Huckson.

Based on polling and feedback from teens in the community, those hours will likely be 1-6 p.m. on weekdays with other additional programing added based on the needs of those who use the space said Huckson.

Huckson said she will also run workshops for younger youth.