Art Together free drop-in program returns

Art Together, a free drop-in community art-making program returns to the County Arts Lab (PEC Arts Council) this month.

Participants receive guidance as they explore a variety of visual art forms, and can also bring their own projects to
work on, or create with the County Arts Lab’s abundance of art supplies. No artistic experience is required, and anyone aged 16+ is welcome to join.

The program takes place at the County Arts Lab on the main floor of the Picton Armoury (unit 2E) and registration is now open for sessions Feb. 20 to March 27. Participants are encouraged to sign up for as many sessions as they like at countyarts.ca/art-for-well-being.

Funding from two local businesses – Sage Design and Construction and Elizabeth Crombie Real Estate Team along with the Huff Family Fund make the program possible.

Janna Smith, County Arts Executive Director says the belief of these funders in the power of art to change lives is reflected in the compelling testimonials from Art Together participants, who express how their experience has helped them heal; break down isolation and connect with fellow community members; spark curiosity, learning, and confidence.

County Arts Programs Manager Stacey Sproule, who also worked as an Artist Facilitator in the Art Together pilot project, adds that the accessibility, care and support built into the program is what makes it special.

“From the quality of the learning opportunities to the knowledge and attentiveness of the artist facilitators to participants’ needs and to the program’s ethos – that we are all artists, we are allowed to and in fact should make bad art, and that experimentation and open play is essential to art-making – this is an incredibly unique and important offering, and we are so grateful to these funders for helping us deliver it to our community.”

The Art Together team features Gwen Shandroski, Kaya Joan, Frank Hannan, Lucy Sterezylo as four rotating Artist Facilitators and Sharon Hart, the new Well-Being Support Worker.

Art Together falls under County Arts’ Art for Well-Being programming stream, creating accessible free group art-making opportunities for residents, and prioritizing access for those experiencing, or at greater risk of, social isolation and physical and mental health challenges.

The Art Together pilot project ran in 2022-23 and was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation/ Government of Ontario.