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Eighth Year of ArtHouse - an utter success

ArtHouse AUGUST 2017 FINALE | ArtHouse
ArtHouse AUGUST 2017 FINALE | ArtHouse

ArtHouse turned Eight on June 30, 2017 and without skipping an “Art” beat, we have launched our 9th Year with a record 26 Summer Programs that have put a sparkle in the eyes of over 350 individuals.

We are so proud of our accomplishments, the children and youth we are reaching and we are honoured to now have three Halton communities providing their support and confidence in all we are doing to help change lives.

Previous ArtHouse article: ArtHouse predicts a hot summer as it begins its 8th Year!

This past Fiscal Year, ArtHouse achieved many milestones, including an Imagine Canada Accreditation and a 3-Year Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant of more than $250,000! We implemented 112 FREE Programs at a total of 37 accessible locations throughout Oakville, Burlington and Milton reaching 1,260 children, youth and seniors.

While most of these wonderful participants have little access to arts programs because of cost, our work also took us into schools with programs to support youth living with learning disabilities and autism.

In addition, we partnered with ROCK’s Positive Space Network providing an urban dance workshop for over 40 LGBTQ Youth. With our years of research indicating the important role the arts play as a catalyst for positive mental health and social inclusion, we continue to strengthen our collaborative relationships to ensure that we can meet the needs of our diverse communities.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Oakville Community that has been so solidly behind ArtHouse since 2009 – with a staff of two and a cell phone as “Head Office”, ArtHouse has leveraged its growth through the most wonderful partnerships anyone could ask for. From 30+ highly qualified Arts Instructors that are hired, to professional staff support from our Agency Partners, Schools, Halton Region’s subsidized Communities, the YMCA of Oakville, and at many of our Venues, ArtHouse has been able to provide Safe and Accessible Programs ranging from music to visual arts, zumba to hip hop, cooking and gardening and our flagship Performing Arts Camp at Sheridan College. Thanks to Oakville’s long-time endorsement of ArtHouse, the organization has been able to replicate its programs in Burlington and Milton where we have also been received with warm welcomes.

And while our funding has helped us to grow each year, we still need to expand our network of financial supporters including individual donors, local businesses and granting organizations who see the vital connection between the arts and strong communities.

Perhaps it’s best said with a few testimonials:

“When ROCK recommended that our son try acting as an activity that would help him with his confidence, we didn’t know where to go. Then, somebody told us about ArtHouse. We have seen how he challenges himself to try new things, the effort to look into the eyes of others and to have the courage to be on stage. He is realizing that he CAN do a lot of things and how amazing he is. This sense of confidence that he is getting helped him a lot to make new friends. It is with tears of happiness in my eyes that I see how this camp is helping him so much.”

What do you like best about the ArtHouse Program?

“How everyone is so nice and kind.”

“It let me do dancing and my mom can’t pay for dancing.”

“When we started our Improv program, they were walking back out of the classroom; fear of failure, fear of judgement. For some of these kids life is high drama already, so the thought of performing it isn't that desirable and hiding behind a mask is easier. I look forward to each week as they slowly melt their initial avoidance of being exposed in front of their peers. I think this is a group of kids that need this.” Amy Mckenzie – ArtHouse Instructor

“This was our daughter’s 4th summer with ArtHouse and the tools and confidence has made such a huge impact on her. This year, she was the winner of the Halton Speech Competition. I firmly believe that the skills and confidence she acquired at ArtHouse made her successful. Thank you ArtHouse for contributing to her success as a thriving, confident young lady!”

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