B.C.M.A

BIPOC Center for Music and Arts

THESIS CONCEPT & DESCRIPTION

INSPIRATION

THESIS CONCEPT & DESCRIPTION

During my research for my topic, I learned that in Calgary as of a study done in 2018, 33 percent of the population is a visible minority, while 67 percent of the population is white. Despite this statistic, growing up a minority in Calgary, I as an individual felt very isolated and had a hard time with my self-identity and who I was as a person.

This all started to change when I found a space that supported me and provided so many different outlets for me to reveal my creativity. This space for me was during my 4 years at Mount Royal University

INSPIRATION

For the design of the space, I was inspired by the idea of sound, I asked myself, what is music? As someone who both listened and played a lot of music, I had never sat down to define this concept. After some research, I came to the conclusion that music is creating the beauty of form, harmony, and the expression of emotion. The next thing I asked myself was, how I can transform this idea into a physical space. From studying the visuals in musical elements like the wavelength of sound, or the keys on a piano, I learned that repetition creates a sense of harmony.

GOAL

The goal of this center is to be a safe space for minority youth to be able to realize and actualize their full potentials through cultural understanding and awareness through the outlet of creativity. Knowledge of one's history and culture is an integral piece in the formulation of one self-esteem and self-awareness. It is also a core fundamental in the creation of one's moral compass and personal values. North American school curriculums tend to fall far short in terms of adequately educating students with non-European backgrounds about their cultural history.

From personal experience growing up in Calgary I have learned that when young minorities are supported for who they are, their potential becomes unlimited. And I am a living example of that.

“ENTICING A FEELING OF CREATIVE EUPHORIA”

This term describes the emotions one feels when they have the feeling of being connected within a space. Excitement, and Intense feelings of well-being and happiness. This connects back to how I want my space to be supportive and excite the users of the space to be creative and comfortable.

MATERIALS

During my research, I learned that nothing connects people like sports. Creating a space of diversity, sporting events were so important to look at because it brings people from all walks of life together in one space and one accord to get excited about one thing SPORTS! For my space this one thing is CREATIVITY! So I got my inspiration for materiality from some of Calgary's local sports teams