Community arts program launches

Watch next week for the launch of a pandemic friendly version of the Creemore Community Arts Program.
The program, funded by Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society, started last year with arts, writing and music components offered to different age groups.
Program coordinator Sara Sniderhan said they were ready to roll out the spring program in March when the pandemic hit.
Now, because people cannot get together in groups, art instruction and activities will be published in The Creemore Echo, for people to do independently. The program is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
“I hope there’s something in it for everyone,” said Sniderhan. “The challenge will be that we engage everyone at least once.”
Over an eight-week period in January and February local artists will be commissioned to create a series of exercises that are instructional and accessible to all ages and abilities.
Sniderhan said she hopes the program will provide a way for people to engage with the community and learn something new, while providing a little distraction for the long winter ahead.
The Creemore Echo is sponsoring the program, and is offering discounted art supply packages for community members, for those who need them, but Sniderhan says most of the activities will be designed so people can use the supplies they have at home.
This pandemic art program will kick off in the Dec. 11 edition, with a Christmas card challenge, created by illustrator Peter Mitchell. After that, every week in January and February there will be a full page in The Creemore Echo dedicated to that week’s challenge and instruction, and some of the work completed by participants in weeks past. The artists will also be asked to create supporting videos with tips on how to attack the project successfully. The video links will be shared in the paper and on social media.
Community members are encouraged to post their work on their own social media accounts using the hashtag #creemoreartchallenge and tagging Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society. Participants can also email their work to info@creemore.com or drop it off at The Echo office.
The art packages, available at The Echo’s Newsstand, cost $17.50, and include a sketch book, three drawing pencils, a white eraser, kneadable eraser, pencil sharpener, a blank watercolour greeting card and a “getting started” drawing assignment prepared by Sniderhan.
For more information, contact sara.sniderhan@gmail.com. Tag Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society on Facebook, and @purplehillsarts on Instagram.