Elora Centre for the Arts

ARTFUL AGEING! MAY IN THE ATRIUM
2026-05-06 12:30 - 2026-05-27 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
ARTFUL AGEING. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS IN MAY PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER FOR JUNE CLASSES
Celebrate creativity, connection and community every Wednesday at the Arts Centre! Beginner-friendly art projects designed for older adults that embrace creative freedom and collaboration in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere!

If you’re looking for connection and CreativiTea, we’ve got it for you!
RECONNECT, CREATE, & CELEBRATE THE ART OF AGEING WITH IMAGINATION!

JOIN US THIS MAY!

We offer 4 individual Wednesday classes in May
Each week will offer something fresh, fun, and inspiring for all skill levels
Explore fresh ideas, materials, and techniques in a relaxed, welcoming space
A new guest instructor and engaging project each week
2-hour classes are playful, fun and only $15!
12:30-2:30 pm every Wednesday
Please come to catch up over tea and cookies anytime from 12:30 with the class starting at 1pm.
Participants are invited to come 30 minutes early for complimentary tea & connect or visit the exhibition before class
Registration is available per month, April to June. Simply scroll down to GET TICKETS

This program is geared towards the senior community, however there is NO AGE MINIMUM.
We regret, refunds are not available. Missed classes are transferable to another week or to a friend!
Please note, Member Discounts are not applicable for this Outreach Program

NEED HELP WITH TICKETS? Please email us or call 519-846-9698, Wed-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4

ACCESSIBILITY at the Elora Centre for the Arts

The Elora Centre for the Arts is committed to being fully accessible and welcoming to everyone in our community. We provide accommodations for visitors with mobility and accessibility needs to ensure a comfortable and inclusive experience. Convenient parking is available in our lot, located directly beside the Art Centre off Chalmers Street.

The 2026 ARTFUL AGEING season is supported through the generosity of our community.
We thank you!

Please contact us for more information or availability on our waitlist.

FIRE & FORM. CREATING A FUSED GLASS BOWL WITH STEPH HOWE
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
Join glass artist Steph Howe for an introduction to the art of fused glass and create a beautiful set of two sculpted dishes. In this hands‑on workshop, participants learn the essentials of cutting and grinding glass, then work on a pre‑fused flat glass panel as their creative base.

This workshop will explore colour, form, and surface design while learning essential fused‑glass techniques. Using glass frit (powdered glass), glass noodles, and fusible glass paints, students will build their own custom design with vibrant detail and depth.
Each bowl, approximately 6” will be crafted from 2 layers of glass that are fully fused flat and ready to decorate before the class. By the end of class, you’ll have a pair of unique, handcrafted dishes ready to display or gift.
Following class, Steph will take each piece to her home studio for final kiln firing.
Finished artworks will be returned to the Art Centre within 2 weeks. Participants will receive an email notification when their pieces are ready for pickup!

Fused glass is a labor-intensive process to prepare, with a higher material cost. Please note, there is a $30 kit fee payable to the instructor in cash or transfer at the start of class. All tools and materials will be provided in the kit fee.
If participants have their own glass cutting tools, please feel free to bring them along!

ROOTED TOGETHER. MOTHER’S DAY CREATIVE WOODBURNING RETREAT
2026-05-10 10:00 - 15:30 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
A MOTHER’S DAY WOODBURNING RETREAT WITH HEATHER MARTIN
Spend Mother’s Day slowing down, creating, and sharing time together in nature. with artist Heather Martin. This day-retreat is an invitation to spend a day with your mom, close friend, or come as you are to gather with others and enjoy a meaningful creative experience rooted in presence, gratitude, and connection!

We’ll begin outdoors with a plein air nature study, taking time to observe natural forms, textures, and patterns. Surrounded by fresh air and quiet moments, you’ll be guided through simple mindfulness practices designed to help you arrive fully, soften your pace, and tune into your senses.
We will break midday and invite you to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy outside, weather permitting. Warm tea and healthy snacks will be available throughout the day as we settle into an easy, inspired rhythm.
From there, we’ll move into the light-filled Atrium space for guided woodburning on live-edge wood, allowing the organic shape, grain, and character of the wood to guide your design.

Heather’s teaching emphasize texture, tactile awareness, and a slow, almost meditative process, encouraging you to notice the warmth of the tool, the resistance of the wood, and the calm repetition of mark-making.
Gentle journaling prompts will support reflection and intention-setting, with a special focus on gratitude for the time shared, the relationship you’re celebrating, and the simple act of creating together.
This retreat is not about skill or perfection. It’s about presence, connection, and making something meaningful side by side.
No prior woodburning or art experience is required. Come as you are, spend the day immersed in nature and creativity, and leave with a finished live-edge piece and a shared memory to carry forward.

Walnut Hallow brass tip burners and templates will be available for use. Or bring your own woodburning tools!
No experience necessary. Suitable for any level.
Please note there is a kit fee for this day.
Kit fee is based on materials, payable to Heather in cash, debit or credit at the start of class.
Included in the kit fee: Your choice of Cherry Charcuterie board and 1 oz container of food safe board cream.

Approx 8×12″ for $30 each
Approx 8×16″ for $35 each
Approx 8×20″ for $40 each

MOSAIC STAINED GLASS FOR ALL WITH STEPH HOWE
2026-05-23 12:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
MOSAIC STAINED GLASS FOR ALL WITH STEPH HOWE
Immerse yourself in a world of color and light with glass artist Steph Howe. Discover the captivating world of stained glass —from cutting and shaping glass to assembling your very own luminous piece.
Whether you’re new to stained glass, or just eager for some fresh creativity, this class is designed to be a relaxed afternoon of inspiration and fun!

With step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn techniques, gain confidence, and leave with a beautiful project that is a reflection of you!
Choose from one of Steph’s original designs and learn how to score, cut, and arrange vibrant glass pieces into a beautiful approx. 10” x 10” framed mosaic.
For those who have taken Steph’s class before, students are welcome to bring your own image or design idea.
Great for beginners and those with some experience—just bring your curiosity and leave with a one-of-a-kind creation!
All materials included.

BASKET WEAVING INTRO WITH WOVEN HUES
2026-05-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
INTRO TO BASKET WEAVING WITH DAVID GRIEVES OF WOVEN HUES
Join artisan David Grieves and craft a traditional piece of functional art from the WOVEN HUES NATURALS COLLECTION. Guided step‑by‑step, weave a clean, modern round basket in a refined two‑tone palette and timeless design.

More than just a craft session, this experience introduces you to fundamental weaving techniques using materials thoughtfully prepared, sustainably sourced, and natural. You’ll leave not only with a finished basket, but with the skills and confidence to continue your weaving journey!

Unique Features & Materials

Thoughtfully Pre-Dyed Reed. Natural reed is hand-dyed using traditional, sustainable methods with Walnut Husk and Madder Root to achieve a subtle, rich two-tone effect.

Modern Stake and Strand Weave design incorporates a stake and strand weave with varied thickness, resulting in a contemporary aesthetic that fits perfectly in any home.

Ready-to-Weave Kit includes everything needed to complete the basket is included and pre-prepped. Woven by you, prepped by us! You get all the necessary materials (reed and cane) to start weaving immediately.

Skills You Will Learn

Perfect for an enthusiastic beginner or an intermediate weaver looking to explore natural dyeing and modern design.

Master the round base technique, learn how to add filler for structural integrity, and practice twining.

Practice the core weave along with a clean start & stop.

Learn professional finishing; rimming skills, including trimming & tucking stakes and applying a clean lashing finish.
All levels of experience are welcome. No experience necessary.
All materials included.
Contact us for more info.

MONET HAYSTACKS 1890. IMPRESSIONIST OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2026-05-30 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
MONET HAYSTACKS IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
Painting Light! Step into the luminous world of Claude Monet and discover how colour can become your most expressive tool.
In this beginner-intermediate oil painting workshop, artists will investigate the techniques Claude Monet used to capture shifting light, fleeting moments, and atmospheric nuance, focusing especially on his iconic Haystacks series.

Studying a master’s work has long been one of the most effective ways to grow as a painter. In this one-day session, we’ll explore how Monet used colour — rather than detail — to capture light, atmosphere, and time of day. Through simplified forms, expressive brushwork, and thoughtful colour relationships, you’ll learn how to suggest changing light and build a cohesive palette inspired by Monet’s approach to temperature and harmony.

Suitable for painters with some oil experience.
Demonstrations and individual instruction will be provided throughout the day.
Please note, there is a $25 kit fee payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class.
All materials are provided in the kit fee.; oil paint, canvas, odourless solvent, brushes, reference image

BIRDS OF BECOMING. SCULPTURE WITH CAROLE CHALOUPKA
2026-05-31 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
BIRDS OF BECOMING WITH ELORA SCULPTOR CAROLE CHALOUPKA
Birds of Becoming is a hands-on sculpture workshop centred on making a bird form as a container for personal reflection and becoming.
Professional sculptor Carole Chaloupka approaches sculpture as a meaningful creative practice—one in which the act of shaping an object by hand allows form, intention, and meaning to emerge together.

In this workshop, Carole guides participants through a considered, step-by-step sculptural process using a lightweight, Japanese stone clay. The method is clear and well-structured, while leaving space for individual expression.
Birds have long appeared across cultures as powerful symbols of transition, freedom, and inner movement – creatures that move between earth and sky, matter and spirit. In Birds of Becoming, the bird form serves as a quiet, sculptural metaphor, allowing participants to work with ideas of change, resilience, and attention through making.
Participants may choose to colour their clay prior to sculpting, or paint after drying. Completed birds can either be mounted as a freestanding sculpture on a small wooden base, or become a suspended sculptural form incorporating glass beads.
All materials are provided, and participants will leave with a completed sculptural piece.
This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as those with prior art experience who are interested in sculpture as a reflective, process-led practice.
Sculptor Carole Chaloupka approaches sculpture as a deeply rewarding creative journey–one where the maker shapes an object with their own hands, imbuing it with personal meaning and intention.

Please note there is a $25 kit fee, payable to Carole at the start of class. All materials are included in the kit fee.
There is a minimum of 6 to run this class. Fees will be fully refunded if class is not able to run.
Contact us for more info.

LIFE DRAWING IN THE ATRIUM. JUNE
2026-06-02 17:30 - 20:30 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
LIFE DRAWING IN THE ATRIUM. 3-HOUR SELF-GUIDED SESSIONS WITH LIVE MODEL
Join us on the first Tuesday of the month for self-directed life drawing centered on creative flow, shared space, and working from the human form. This is a welcoming evening designed to support both personal practice and community connection. Come draw, paint and reconnect with your practice alongside fellow artists!

Draw from a professional nude model through a series of varying timed poses, moving between quick, energetic gestures and longer, more contemplative holds.
There is no formal instruction. Artists are free to work independently, follow their own practice, and use the materials and approach that suit them best. The atmosphere is respectful, calm, and centered on observation and creative focus.
Classes will take place in the Atrium space. Blinds will be lowered during all sessions to ensure privacy.
Each session will be facilitated by an ECFTA staff member.
For more information, please contact us.

Artists are asked to bring their own materials;

Easel or backboard
Clips
Newsprint
Drawing or painting materials

Easels and table will be available to work on.
When completing the registration form, please specify in the NOTE FIELD if you would like a table, an easel, or drawing bench, as available.

ARTFUL AGEING! JUNE IN THE ATRIUM
2026-06-03 12:30 - 2026-06-24 14:30 | Ontario
ARTFUL AGEING. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS IN JUNE
Celebrate creativity, connection and community every Wednesday at the Arts Centre! Beginner-friendly art projects designed for older adults that embrace creative freedom and collaboration in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere!

If you’re looking for connection and CreativiTea, we’ve got it for you!
RECONNECT, CREATE, & CELEBRATE THE ART OF AGEING WITH IMAGINATION!

JOIN US THIS JUNE!

We offer 4 individual Wednesday classes in June
Each week will offer something fresh, fun, and inspiring for all skill levels
Explore fresh ideas, materials, and techniques in a relaxed, welcoming space
A new guest instructor and engaging project each week
2-hour classes are playful, fun and only $15!
12:30-2:30 pm every Wednesday

Please come to catch up over tea and cookies anytime from 12:30 with the class starting at 1pm

Participants are invited to come 30 minutes early for complimentary tea & connect or visit the exhibition before class
Registration is available per month, April to June. Simply scroll down to GET TICKETS

This program is geared towards the senior community, however there is NO AGE MINIMUM.
We regret, refunds are not available. Missed classes are transferable to another week or to a friend!
Please note, Member Discounts are not applicable for this Outreach Program

NEED HELP WITH TICKETS? Please email us or call 519-846-9698, Wed-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4

ACCESSIBILITY at the Elora Centre for the Arts

The Elora Centre for the Arts is committed to being fully accessible and welcoming to everyone in our community. We provide accommodations for visitors with mobility and accessibility needs to ensure a comfortable and inclusive experience. Convenient parking is available in our lot, located directly beside the Art Centre off Chalmers Street.

The 2026 ARTFUL AGEING season is supported through the generosity of our community.
We thank you!

Please contact us for more information or availability on our waitlist.

SUMMER BLOOMS! PUNCH NEEDLE CUSHION
2026-06-06 11:00 - 2026-06-07 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
2-DAY RUG HOOKING WORKSHOP WITH CAITLIN BARRIE
Bring the beauty of the summer garden indoors as you create your own vibrant blooms cushion. In this hands‑on workshop, students will design and create a bright, cheerful, one‑of‑a‑kind punch needle cushion inspired by summer flowers and foliage!

Perfect for beginners, this workshop introduces the fundamentals of punch needle rug hooking.
Caitlin will guide you step‑by‑step through the tools, materials, and techniques, ensuring you leave with new skills and a finished, 2-sided piece you’ll be proud to display or share!

Please note, there is a $40 material fee payable to the instructor in cash or e-transfer at the start of class.
All materials are included in the kit fee.
There is a minimum of 6 to run this weekend. Fees will be fully refunded if class is not able to run.

AFTER VAN GOGH. OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2026-06-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
THE STARRY NIGHT. POST-IMPRESSIONISM WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
Join artist Rick Worthington for this beginner to intermediate oil painting workshop, inspired by the Post‑Impressionist vision of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Explore how Van Gogh used bold, directional brushstrokes and striking colour contrasts to infuse the night sky with movement and emotion.

Rather than focusing on fine detail, this workshop encourages a looser, more expressive approach—aimed at capturing the rhythm, light, and energy of the scene.
Throughout the day, we’ll experiment with mixing luminous blues and vibrant yellows, keeping colours clean, and using confident, textured brushwork to build depth and atmosphere. Demonstrations will guide you through each stage of the process, and individual support will help you develop your own expressive style.
This workshop is ideal for beginners with some painting experience as well as intermediate painters looking to loosen up and explore impressionistic techniques.
All skill levels welcome. Just bring your enthusiasm!

Please note:

Students are welcome to bring their own supplies, or a $25 material kit will be available for purchase.
A recommended materials list will be provided in advance for those bringing their own supplies.

$25 Kit Fee Option, payable to Rick in cash at the start of class includes oil paint, a canvas, odourless solvent, reference image, grey scale palette for mixing, brushes etc.

PLAYFUL PUNCH NEEDLE CHARACTER! WITH ALISA McRONALD
2026-10-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
Summon a soft, squishy sidekick from the depths of your creative cauldron—let’s BREW UP A PAL with ALISA McRONALD! Let the colours swirl and the characters emerge with internationally exhibited textile artist Alisa McRonald!

This Brew Up a Pal workshop will begin with playful, abstract watercolour techniques to conjure up mysterious faces and whimsical beings from the page. Through guided prompts and intuitive mark-making, you’ll invite unexpected personalities to surface—some sweet, some strange, all uniquely yours.
From your cast of painted characters, you’ll choose one special face to bring into the third dimension using hand punch needle techniques. With vibrant yarns, tactile textures, and plenty of creative freedom, you’ll poke your new pal into life—one loop at a time!
This workshop is a joyful mashup of colour magic, character design, and soft sculpture. No drawing or punch needle experience needed—just curiosity and a love for creatures who live in the margins of imagination.

Please note, there is a $20 kit fee payable in cash to Alisa at the start of class.
All materials are provided in the kit fee; punch needle, yarn, hoop and burlap.

WEAVING A CANADIAN LANDSCAPE WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
2026-10-25 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
TAPESTRY WEAVING WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
Discover the quiet joy of tapestry weaving with fibre artist Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden and create your own hand-woven Canadian landscape. This workshop welcomes both beginners and experienced weavers into a relaxed, creative space that celebrate the land, sky, and beauty of our home-Canada.

Bring a favourite photo or choose one provided. Together, we’ll transform your image into a simple line‑drawn cartoon to sit behind the warp—an intuitive guide as you weave. From there, you’ll learn approachable techniques that bring natural textures to life!
Techniques such as soumack, rya knots, and blended yarns will help you create depth, movement, and atmosphere.
A welcoming space for both new and experienced weavers to explore the beauty of place through fibre. By the end of class, you’ll have a woven landscape that feels personal—rooted in place, memory, and the colours of home.
Whether you’re picking up a tapestry needle for the first time or expanding your skills, this workshop offers a welcoming space to explore the beauty of fibre and the Canadian landscape!

Please note, there is a $25 kit fee payable in cash to Dianne at the start of class.
All materials are included in the kit fee: a tapestry loom, an assortment of beautiful yarns, and weaving needles—all yours to keep.
