Villawayz
In 2007, at the request of local residents, the Children’s Aid Society and former trustee Adventure Place, Art Starts began programming at the Villawayz Arts Studio. Villawayz is a neighbourhood with absolutely no access to community resources. Art Starts provides essential programming, teaching life and leadership skills while developing the creative capacities of to the spirited children and youth of Villawayz. These are the programs offered in this community.
Look Up : Live Large
The culmination of six weeks of workshops with renowned artist Dan Bergeron, Program Manager Sarah Bothwell and the children and youth of Art Starts’ Villaways Art Studio. Bergeron worked with participants to create a series of straight-talking images ranging from life-sized to building-sized portraits reflecting on sense of community, sense of play and sense of self. Go and see them for yourself – look out for them as you travel up Leslie just north of Sheppard.
Afterschool Arts & Creative Cooking
Participants aged 6 to 19 work with professional artists to explore their community – its people, its space, its state of being. Mediums explored include video, writing/spoken word, photography, sculpture, sound art, mosaic, stilt walking, go-kart construction and more. Each program session also includes a cooking component, where participants learn how to make delicious, healthy foods from scratch and then dine together. All programs are Coordinated by Program Manager Yvette Martin.
Villawayz Women’s Health Circle
The Women’s Health Circle explores health and wellness from a community perspective as individual, independant women. Workshops include drama and role-playing, creative movement, meal preparation, knitting/crocheting, sewing and creative writing. Childcare is included for the women for the duration of the program.
