Arts programs roll out this fall

 In Community

A community-based program that will bring music, creative writing and visual arts to members of the Creemore community has been launched.
The Creemore Community Arts Program is in partnership with the Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society.
This initiative is the brainchild of local artist and farmer, Sara Sniderhan. She said the goal of the program is to, “offer accessible cultural experiences with the goal of igniting or supporting a passion for the arts and contribute to the well being of our community.”
In its first year, it will focus on providing workshops to children, youth and seniors in Creemore.
Sniderhan cites her own experience as being her inspiration. In grade school she was offered a spot in a free, multi-disciplinary arts school and she says, it totally changed her life. Her positive experience led to her being involved in several community arts programs in Toronto.
She decided to continue this community work in Creemore because, “in our rural location there are several barriers to accessible arts and culture programs. I think making art, music and creative writing can open kids up to lots of opportunities and can enrich the lives of our seniors.”
The program kicked off in July with a visual arts drop-in class for kids that ran until the end of August. It allowed students to experience art classes at a low cost.
The program was a success with class sizes ranging from 10 to 24 participants per session.
One young participant described the classes as being, “really fun” and liked the fact that, “there were projects but you could do them your own way”.
Parent Erik Roat said that this was his daughter’s first art classes and that it, “opened her up to the possibility of being an artist herself.”
Starting in October there will be weekly arts, music and creative writing programs for kids, teens and seniors.
Writer and teacher Emily Worts will be leading the writing workshops and teacher Brad Holden, will head up the music sessions. Sniderhan will be leading the visual arts classes, with a suggested donation of $5 per class to cover the cost of materials.
In December, a collaborative project called Water Runs Through Us will kick off. It will explore Creemore’s history and relationship with its waters, such as the Mad and Noisy rivers and Georgian Bay, through recorded oral histories, individual creative writing and visual art.
Water Runs Through Us will focus on engaging seniors and youth in the Creemore area and the plan is to display the work at the 2020 Creemore Festival of the Arts. The classes associated with this program will be free of charge.
The Purple Hills board enthusiastically signed on because it fit so well with its arts and heritage mandate. Individuals who would like to donate money to the Creemore Community Arts Program will receive a tax receipt.
Residents are also encouraged to become Purple Hills members. Membership fees go to support a range of arts and heritage activities, including the annual Creemore Arts Festival, and student scholarships. For more information about joining please visit www.phahs.ca.
If you would like to know more about the arts program you can contact Sara Sniderhan at sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or info@phahs.ca
You can also support the program if you have an unused instrument in good repair that you would like to donate. Please contact Brad Holden at brholden@gmail.com.

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