Overview

The Landon Pearson Centre (LPC) is Canada’s most long-standing children’s rights centre. The centre houses the country’s largest collection of over 14,000 children’s rights materials and is a pioneer in youth participation, integrating research, policy, advocacy, and action. The LPC champion a rights-respecting approach that advances the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child through research, advocacy, and practical action and support practitioners, students, and global collaboration through the Child Rights Academic Network (CRAN), a powerhouse of professionals using research to drive policy and practice for sustainable, long-lasting change.

The LPC is launching a Youth Arts Contest to promote engagement and education about the right to freedom of expression and identity. This contest will create an opportunity for meaningful participation for children and youth of all ages who, by contributing to this Arts Contest, will learn about their rights and be able to express themselves through the arts.

This project creates a valuable experiential learning opportunity for Carleton students who will participate as volunteers on the evaluation committee. Working closely with other volunteers, LPC staff and the Interim Director, students will learn to apply the children’s rights framework, evaluate art and narratives through a rights-based lens, and contribute to writing a report that captures key findings. They will gain hands-on experience in advocacy, collaboration, and public engagement as they help organize the final art exhibition and support the presentation of results at the CRAN conference and the 20^th Anniversary event. In doing so, students will build essential skills while contributing to a larger movement that ensures children’s voices shape research, policy, and practice in Canada and beyond.

The Background

The LPC is dedicated to building a culture where every child’s voice is heard and valued. Rooted in a long tradition of championing children’s rights, the Centre works to ensure that young people are not only protected but also inspired to participate fully in society. The Arts Contest is an extension of this vision—it invites children and youth from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives through creative expression. By interpreting themes of identity and freedom of expression in their own way, participants will deepen their understanding of their rights while helping others see the world through their eyes. The insights and artworks generated through this contest will complement findings from the 2025/2026 Shaking the Movers Workshop series, which also explore identity and freedom of expression. Together, these contributions will form part of a national dialogue on children’s rights, showcased at the Child Rights Academic Network (CRAN) conference in April 2026 and featured in a public exhibition during the LPC 20th Anniversary celebratory event  of June 1 2026, where key decision-makers will have the opportunity to engage directly with the messages and experiences shared by young people.

The Rollout

The funds will be allocated for three primary purposes: awarding prizes, supporting student engagement and contributing to the art exhibit that will serve as a centerpiece for the CRAN annual conference and LPC’s 20^th Anniversary celebration, both to be held at Carleton University in April and June, 2026, respectively.

The Impact

With your support, we will be able to turn art into advocacy. You’ll enable us to provide a platform for young people to express their perspectives and concerns, while giving the Landon Pearson Centre the authentic testimony needed to place their insights directly before key decision-makers at the CRAN annual conference and the 20^th Anniversary celebratory event.

The Arts Contest will not only inspire children and youth to explore their rights to identity and freedom of expression through creativity but will also generate meaningful insights that supplement findings from Shaking the Movers workshop series.Your support will also enhance hands-on learning opportunities for Carleton students. By volunteering on the evaluation committee, students gain experience in children’s rights, advocacy and public engagement. Through youur generosity, they can work alongside professionals, contribute to national events and develop real-world skills—while helping ensure children’s voices are heard in research and policy across Canada.