FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2014, KLEINBURG ON – The McMichael Canadian Art Collection has unveiled exciting changes to its children’s art classes and camps, including an array of new program options that allow participants to build upon their skills from session to session.
The McMichael’s ArtVenture programs—which include children’s camps, Wednesday and Saturday art classes, and accessible options for participants with special needs—are designed to engage children of all ages in art making and outdoor exploration. The gallery’s location amid 100 acres of stunning conservation land creates a unique opportunity for children to engage with Canadian art and culture while surrounded by nature.
“The beauty of the art on the walls and the wooded landscape speaks to young minds in a way that cannot be replicated,” said Anna Stanisz, Associate Director, Creative Learning and Programs. “ArtVenture programs allow children to experience Canadian masterworks first-hand and tap into to their creativity, inspiring a new generation of artists and art lovers.”
The addition of new levels within the McMichael’s Saturday Art Classes—running from April 5 to June 7 and September 20 to November 15—gives participants the opportunity to learn, apply, and build upon their art-making skills. Students can begin by experimenting with basic materials and techniques in Art Explorers (Ages 5 – 7) and Art Seekers (Ages 8 – 12) before progressing to Art Apprentices (Ages 8 – 12), a program offered to children with at least two years of previous art-making experience. This enriched class emphasizes drawing and painting skill development, knowledge of composition, principles of design, and the use of professional artist materials.
ArtVenture camps, offered over March Break and during the summer, include art-making options as varied as painting en plein air, sculpting, puppet-making, spray-painting, photography, and cartooning. All programs take full advantage of the McMichael’s world-class collection of art and spectacular outdoor spaces.
New this summer, budding artists can develop classic art-making techniques inPainting Masters; experiment with graffiti, stenciling, and unconventional materials in Street-Art Wise; explore bold colours and modern forms of expression in Pop Art!; create digital images in Picture Perfect; or discover the Humber Valley in Get Wild!
The McMichael has also expanded its ArtVenture Accessible Children and Youth Programs, designed to engage participants with special needs in art-making activities, dramatic play, and outdoor exploration. Accessible camps and family programs led by experienced educators cater to the various skill levels, abilities, and interests of participants, providing them with a one-of-a-kind, multisensory experience.
The McMichael’s full schedule of ArtVenture camps and classes is complemented by the popular Family Sundays program, which runs on select Sundays each month. Included with gallery admission, it features drop-in art workshops, outdoor activities, and special performances offered in conjunction with exhibitions showcasing art from across Canada.
The gallery’s enhanced programming for children and families offers a truly unique and enriching experience that combines art and nature. Download the ArtVenture brochure at mcmichael.com/programs/McMichael_artventure_2014_brochure.pdf or call 905.893.1121 ext. 2209 to register.
About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of almost 6,000 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan.
For more information: mcmichael.com.
Media Contacts:
Wendy Campbell
Manager, Media Relations and Online Presence
905.893.1121 ext. 2201
wcampbell@mcmichael.com
Rachel Weiner
Media Relations and Communications Coordinator
905.893.1121 ext. 2210
rweiner@mcmichael.com