When Keli Dunn first learned that the Amber Academy would face a curtailment of activities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she said it was B次元官网网址渁 moment of adaptation.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t was a lot of work and learning going into it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e were able to make it work quite well.B次元官网网址�

To be sure, Amber Academy wasnB次元官网网址檛 the only one shaken the last year, thrown into the deep end of whatB次元官网网址檚 next B次元官网网址� as COVID-19 forced a global lockdown. But many did a quick pivot, creating new and creative ways to engage their community.

In DunnB次元官网网址檚 case, this included creating a new class to teach students the art of video and film production so that the children could take on the roles of film and editing crew to produce a digital delivery of the spring show to an online audience.

The decision to be proved to be B次元官网网址渨onderfully successful,B次元官网网址� Dunn said, and Amber AcademyB次元官网网址檚 production of DisneyB次元官网网址檚 Beauty and the Beast is available to view online at . There is no fee to watch the film, but donations are accepted through the Amber Academy website at .

Amber Academy launched five years ago with the idea to empower youth through the arts. So far, more than 400 children have taken part in the classes that range from art to music to acting.

The pandemic has brought several challenges to the youth programs and activities.

Amber Academy was forced to cancel three events in the spring of 2020, which resulted in a significant loss of operating funds to the program. Last spring, there were more losses, but 70 children did participate in the program.

B次元官网网址淔ortunately, we were able to secure funding from the Arts and Culture Resiliency Supplement, which gave us the ability to resume our program last season under new COVID-19 health and safety protocols,B次元官网网址� Dunn said.

Enter the video and film class. Dunn was determined to find a way for the students to have a production so their friends and family members could see their achievements, even if it meant no revenue from ticket sales.

B次元官网网址淓very year, the kids work so hard to put our shows together, itB次元官网网址檚 something they really look forward to, and they deserve the chance to present their work,B次元官网网址� she said.

Now Amber Academy is gearing up for another season with a full range of classes and, of course, more fundraising. The group will hold a 50/50 draw which will go toward its next springB次元官网网址檚 production of the Wizard of Oz. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five tickets and can be bought at Forbes Pharmacy Sooke, Sooke Yarn & Fibre, Sooke Sweet & Pop Shop, and the Sooke Art Gallery. Tickets can also be purchased by emailing admin@amberacademy.ca or by telephone at 250-888-1921.

Registration information for this yearB次元官网网址檚 classes is available online at . Classes begin Sept. 13.

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