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Community Art Programs

Art Programs in Our Community

The Oakville Art Society is a firm believer the arts should not be a realm exclusive to the privileged and should be accessible to everyone in a community. It is because of this belief the local charitable arts organization has been putting on its Community Outreach Arts Program (COAP). “It comes from a deep knowledge of how important the arts are for people — there shouldn’t be financial or mental health barriers, or whatever there may be — everybody can benefit from them (the arts) and enjoy them and in fact, they can be life-enhancing for a lot of people,” said Carolyn Crosby, OAS president, who noted the local art society created the program as a way to give back to the Oakville community. John Bkila, Oakville Beaver.

Community Outreach Art Program

In early 2014, in order to celebrate the Oakville Art Society upcoming 50th anniversary, we launched a new initiative, the OAS Community Outreach Art Program (COAP). The goal of this program was to give back to community, and promote engagement in visual arts for everyone. This initiative provides free art classes with professional art instructors and materials. It was developed to form partnerships between the OAS and various  charitable organizations based in Oakville.

COAP initiative key objectives are to:

  1. Provide a variety of free art classes. These classes may include drawing, painting, mixed media, and collage.
  2. To support creativity by providing free studio space, artist instructors, studio space and all materials.
  3. Help promote newcomers and their work in order to establish an artistic presence within the community and beyond.
  4. An annual art exhibit with an opening reception to showcase the talents of all the groups.
  5. Provide support in the form of scholarships or bursaries to graduating high school students registered to attend a college or university program in visual arts who have financial needs and meet all OAS scholarship criteria.

There is a great need for these programs in our community and the groups
and individuals involved truly appreciate and enjoy the art experiences.

Our goal is to sustain and expand this program for years to come with the funds raised by donations.

Please donate to the Community Outreach Art Program -
together we can make such a difference!

We are grateful to the Town of Oakville and the Oakville Arts Council
for their support in helping us continue this program

The Oakville Art Society is a charitable not-for-profit organization.
Charitable Registration Number: 119248144RR0001

“Thanks so much for arranging the great class yesterday! It was a great class, our participants put so much time and energy into their paintings...not one asked when we were leaving or when it was time to go! They were so proud of their art by the time the workshop had ended and they saw their finished product. Coming to the studio allowed them to feel like artists; a neutral professional environment to express themselves. They had a blast!” R.D. for SOAAR

“It was a good experience. That was so relaxing. I had forgotten what that was like, thank you." HWS Participant

We have received great feedback that many of our matches had a wonderful time and enjoyed the art class with Mary. Thanks so much. K.D. BBBS Case Manager

To request Oakville Art Society's COAP for your group please send in the following information:

Please note that our instructors are artist/instructors. The instructor provides art for fun.
They have no art therapy experience nor are they trained in working with disabilities.

Please provide us with as much detail as possible:

1. Name of Organization with address and Postal Code
2. Name of Contact person(s)
3. Contact person(s) email
4. The number of clients
5. The age range of clients
6. The cognitive capabilities of clients
7. Staff to client ratio
8. Measures that you would take should a client gets anxious or unruly
9. Do you have any supplies ( paints, brushes, canvases)on hand to be used?
10. Can you provide old magazines that can be cut up?
11. Does your group enjoy art using tactile mediums?- Sponge stickers, air dry clay, tissue etc.
12. What days and times you would prefer? (funds are limited to not more than 1 class per month. If you wish to subsidize this with supplies/some funding extra time may be allotted)
13. We have found that 1 to 1 ½ hours works best with most groups. Would this time frame work for you?
14. Do you prefer classes at your location? We do have studio space at 560 Bronte Road.

We do take photos of art and students to promote COAP. These photos are posted on our social media pages.

Community Art Programs

Community Arts Programs (CAP) is an arts program which serves to engage senior participants with a great variety of diverse fine art projects and experiences.
Our professional artist/instructors emphasize creative self-expression and they inspire seniors to discover and explore the creative process as they share their life experiences through art.

CAP Program
CAP Program
CAP program

Professionally conducted art exercises in our aging population have a wide range of benefits, including the following:

  1. providing a sense of control
  2. reducing depression and anxiety
  3. assisting in socialization
  4. encouraging playfulness and a sense of humor
  5. improving cognition
  6. offering sensory stimulation
  7. fostering a stronger sense of identity
  8. increasing self-esteem
  9. reduces boredom
  10. improves in communication with others

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