Visual Artists of Welland receives federal funding to start art classes
Visual Artists of Welland (VAW) recently received more than $21,000 in funding under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program that will be applied to its own programming.
“This program is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help improve the well-being of seniors and foster social inclusion and engagement in their communities,” a government press release said.
VAW is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes both experienced and emerging visual artists.
“The funding is for the overall program, it is for the development of the program,” said Pamela Duncan, VAW co-president.
The funding is to be used for supplies, instructors, marketing and promotion.
“It is also for the outreach to seniors, it’s to help with isolation, it’s to give them more confidence and to help them get involved more in the community,” Duncan said.
Added co-president Deedee Alexandre, “A lot of them have felt isolated during COVID.” “So, it’s to get them more active, get them moving again.”
The classes are underway.
“I did the first class on April 3 called ‘Making a vision board,’” Alexandre said.
Classes will normally be scheduled on the third and fourth Sunday of the month. Classes are $20 per three-hour session. There are some classes that are being planned that are two sessions so the price will be $40. Class subjects will include how to create acrylic and watercolour paintings, and how to draw. Proposals are welomed from people who would like to instruct workshops.
“What we are looking for is a wide spectrum of classes so that it isn’t all drawing or painting because some people aren’t attracted to that,” Alexandre said.
“It can’t all be watercolour, we are trying to put together as diverse a curriculum as we can.”
One of the proposed courses will have seniors make use of ipads for art and research.
The classes are mainly for seniors but, Duncan said, “the classes are open to anyone over 18.”
Watch the Visual Artists of Welland Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ Visualartistsofwelland, and its website for visualartistsofwelland.com for more class announcements.