Kamloops Art Gallery staff are betting a youth-focused event featuring musical performances and an exhibition tour is just the ticket to attract young members to a new youth art council.

The Youth Party takes place Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the downtown gallery. Tarin Hughes, KAG education co-ordinator, said the event is being held as part of B.C. Youth Week, which is intended to promote youth programs and events in the province.

Hughes said Thursday the party is the first of many gallery hosted youth-specific events. Not only is it intended to be a fun event, but the hope is young people will have a good enough time that they’ll want to become part of the KAG’s new By Youth 4 Youth council.

“We’re hoping this will attract members to the council as we’ve got our first (council) event happening in the fall,” she said.

By Youth 4 Youth was created in January in response to a growing interest in promoting youth involvement in museums and galleries. Hughes said the goal is to get people aged 13 to 21 working with artists and gallery staff to create programs for young people.

“We want them to engage other youth in the community through this programming,” she said. “It’s about youth creating programming for youth.”

Hughes has lined up a number of activities for Wednesday, including a tour of Esther Shalev-Gerz’s exhibit White Out: Between Telling and Listening. Kamloops Nicola Cariboo United Way student board member Lauren Sutherland will lead the tour.

Jessica Ganton-Stanley, an art therapist, will run an art-making workshop while the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music holds a free concert.

Hughes said there will also be food and drinks and a button-making station. By Youth 4 Youth’s new logo will also be unveiled.

She said all youth from the region are invited to attended.

“The event itself will feature and celebrate youth in the community,” said Hughes.

For more information on the party phone Hughes at 250-377-2405. Youth Week began in B.C. in 1995 and has since expanded into an international celebration of youth and their contributions to their communities.