Changes

In our last post we said that after a review of the programs and services we would begin to implement  a number of changes. The first of these changes is the elimination of the professional development programs. Even though we said that we would not change these programs, we felt that these programs should be offered through another service in Halifax.

The second major change in programming is the expansion and renaming of the Creative Start Open Studio Program. The new name for the program will be the Visual Connections Open Studio program, which will be expanded from a ten week program to thirty week long program. This newly expanded program will also have an employment component, in which program participants will also do a work placement within the visual cultural industry. Of course this expansion will only happen if the funding come through.

Changes are Coming

Over the next couple of months there will be a review and redevelopment of the programs offered through the Visual Connections Project – Community Education Programs. Some programs will be transformed while other programs will be replaced by new programs.

The Visual Connections Project – Professional Development Programs will not change, and we hope to offer the MIX: Integrating the Visual Arts into Adult Education in the fall. There are also plans in the works to develop a brand new social enterprise.

Some of these changes will take place in September, while others will be more long term.

ART AT APSEA

The images below are samples of artworks by students at APSEA (Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority). I had the students do giant artist trading cards.

CSOSP Final Exhibition

Here are some images from the final exhibition for the Creative Start Open Studio Program held the Bloomfield Centre, Halifax June 1st, 2012.

Time Frames Program Final Exhibition

Here are some images from the final exhibition for the Time Frames Program held at the Alderney library on May 31st, 2012.

CREATIVE START EXHIBITION

CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO PROGRAM 

ART EXHIBITION

Come help us celebrate the artworks created over the past ten weeks by the participants in the CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO PROGRAM.

The CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO PROGRAM has been developed for youth, 17 to 21 years of age with disabilities and related challenges so they can explore different types of visual arts. Through this program, participants decided what kinds of art materials and processes they want to explore such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and more.

DATE: Friday June 1^st, 2012

TIMES: 1:00 – 3:00PM

LOCATION: Room 117, Bloomfield Centre, 2786 Agricola Street, Halifax

The CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO PROGRAM 

Has been made possible through a grant from             

TIME FRAMES EXHIBITIONS

TIME FRAMES PROGRAM

ART EXHIBITION

Come help us celebrate the artworks created by the participants in the TIME FRAMES PROGRAM

The TIME FRAMES PROGRAM is a ten week long program that provides a vehicle for adults 55 and older with disabilities and seniors to express themselves through a community based arts program while at the same time addressing various issues facing the communities that they are a part of.

Date: Thursday May 31^st, 2012
Times: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Location: Maxine Tynes Room, Alderney Library, 60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth

The TIME FRAMES PROGRAM has been made possible through a grant from the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors – Positive Aging Fund.

NEW WORKS

Here is an example of some of the art works by the participants in the Creative Start Open Studio Program.

More Artworks from the Time Frames Program

From the Time Frames Program

Here is a small sample of artworks created by participants in the Time Frames Program.

PROGRAMS RESUME

Both the Creative Start Open Studio Program and the Time frames Program will resume in the next week or so. The start date for the Creative Start Open Studio Program will be March 23rd and the start date for the Time Frames program will be March 29th.

TRANSIT STRIKE IMPACT

I just wanted to speak on the impact that the HRM Metro Transit strike is having on both the CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO and TIME FRAMES PROGRAMS. To date both programs have now been postponed going on five weeks. As a transit user myself, and the facilitator of the programs, I have had to walk quite a bit but because I carry some thirty pounds of art supplies to the programs there is no way that I can walk and taking a cab is not an option. It is however the program participants in these two programs, and program participants in many others around the city that have been left out in the cold so to speak. I have also seen first hand how this strike is affecting peoples physical and mental health. There has not been enough dialogue between the two sides but far too much propaganda. There has to be another way to resolve this.

PROGRAM POSTPONMENTS

Due to the transit strike in HRM we have been forced to postpone both the CREATIVE START OPEN STUDIO PROGRAM and the TIME FRAMES PROGRAM. Once the strike has been resolved we will start the programs.