Elora Centre for the Arts

Private Shopping on Wednesdays in the Artisan Shop | Pre-registration required!
2020-12-02 11:00 - 2020-12-30 16:00, 2020-11-25 11:00 - 2020-12-23 16:00 (America/Toronto)
We want to make it as comfortable as possible for our community members to come on in and support our amazing makers and artists this holiday season! If you would prefer to pre-register for a more private shopping time on Wednesdays leading into Christmas, please click here to sign up for a time that works best for you. We will only be opening the doors for people who pre-register on Wednesdays, and we will be keeping the numbers to 4 maximum at any one time. Our regular safety protocols are in effect, so you can rest assured that your shopping experience will be relaxing and enjoyable!

Let's Sing About Passion! | A live-stream fundraiser for the Arts
2020-11-15 14:00 - 15:30
Hosted by TV and film actor Noah Danby!
The most exciting live-stream event will be coming to your computer screens – let’s come together, celebrate and be rejuvenated with songs performed by stage performers who you know and love! We have an incredible line-up of performers (with more being added to the list every day)!
We want to help keep the arts alive during this global pandemic. This event acknowledges the impact the pandemic has had on our stage performers as well as the arts in our small communities. All proceeds are being donated to the Actor’s Relief Fund and the Elora Centre for the Arts.
Live Performances by:

Jay Davis – Dear Evan Hansen (Mirvish Productions)
Steven Allerick – Lion King (Mirvish Productions & Broadway), NCIS: Los Angeles, The Expanse, Nancy Drew, Supernatural, S.W.A.T., 9-1-1 and Jane the Virgin
Saskia Garel – Lion King & Rent (Mirvish Productions)
Cynthia Galant – most notably the iconic cult favorite “young Charlotte” in Orphan Black and Edwin Boyd
Renee Marino – Mary Delgado in Jersey Boys on Broadway and in the film directed by Clint Eastwood
Eric Arndt-Charters – Murdoch Mysteries, stage actor
Sarah Strange – stage & TV actress
Darcy Stewart – Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda in Toronto
Taylor Whittaker – TV/movie actor
Patrick Dunn – Valjean in Les Miserable North American Tour
Jamie Karen – Broadway Actress, Chess, Man of La Mancha and the National Tour of Spamalot
….and more!

Tickets are $30 each. Once you have purchased your ticket, a link will be emailed to you 24 hours before the online show so you can view the live performance from your home. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to purchase your tickets online now! Visa and Mastercard accepted (no debit). Please note that your ticket price is considered an unreceipted donation.
This show has been generously produced by Deva Neely, Raise Your Voice in partnership with the Elora Centre for the Arts. All performers and organizers are donating their time and talents.
Want to do More?
To contribute to this fundraiser beyond buying a ticket, please consider donating through Canada Helps to the Elora Centre for the Arts, or to the Actors Fund. Please note that donations made through these options will receive a tax receipt.

Tell Good Stories! | A workshop on the art of storytelling #2
2020-11-12 19:00 - 21:00
SOLD OUT!
Learn to tell good stories!
Stories entertain and inform us, but they also help us understand who we are, where we come from and where we are going, so it would only make sense that we should want to tell good stories. Join professional Storyteller Brad Woods to discuss and discover what makes a good story and how to tell it. Through the Art of Storytelling, Brad will use traditional, original and personal stories to provide an opportunity for you to engage, to interact and to learn, but mostly to just sit back, relax and listen.
Small group, socially distanced. Maximum 10 participants. Safety protocols in effect. Minimum 4 participants required to run the workshop.

About the Instructor:
Brad Woods has told stories at festivals, theatres, conferences, prisons, churches and pubs all over North America and the UK. He tells traditional tales, literary classics and personal stories. His stories have been featured in a variety of broadcasts and publications including CBC Radio 1 and the Globe and Mail. Brad has told to all ages and in every type of venue imaginable. He is the recipient of the 2016 Alice Kane Award for Storytelling and used it to travel to Lesotho (Southern Africa) to tell, trade and collect stories on behalf of Bracelet of Hope.
“Hilarious, suspenseful – a masterful story teller. “Ins Choi, Creator-Kim’s Convenience

“Brad Woods is a master storyteller. With wit and wisdom, humour and heart, Brad skillfully weaves tales that leave his audience laughing and thinking, often at the same time.” Terry Fallis, Novelist – Two Time Leacock Award Winner

“Brad Woods in an engaging and creative storyteller. He has a mix of personal and traditional stories and some that interweave the real and the fabulous.” Dan Yashinsky, Founder – Toronto Storytelling Festival

Animation Flip Books! For Kids (Sunday workshop)
2020-11-08 13:00 - 16:00
sold out!
Ages 8-16
$35 includes materials
Learn to create your own moving characters with artist Katherine Olenic.
In Sunday workshop, Katherine will work to develop your animation skills by making your own flip books. Bouncing balls, flying birds and finally bringing your own original character to life. Learn how your favourite animated movies or TV shows are made and how you can do that too!
A great intro class for kiddo’s that want to have fun drawing and learning the basics of animating!
Maximum 8 kids. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Katherine Olenic has a Degree in Animation and Digital Production from Durham College. After graduation Katherine worked in the film industry for companies such as Disney (Star Wars The Awakens), Warner Brothers (Terminator Genisys) and Black Stone Studios (Little Letter Kenny). Katherine has completed illustrations for many children’s books and comic books. . Katherine also teaches drawing and animation at Maggiolly in Orangeville and the Homer Watson House and Gallery in Kitchener
www.katherine-olenic.com
www.instagram.com/artby_katherineolenic/

Paint! Dutch Floral Still Life with Eileen MacArthur
2020-11-07 12:00 - 17:00
SOLD OUT! This class will be an introduction to painting in oils with florals as the subject. Looking at the works of Dutch masters for inspiration, we will be learning about paint handling, colour mixing, and creating shape and drama. We will also discuss glazing and how to unify paintings and create strong focal points.
Students will go home with an 8×10 canvas detail of a Dutch Still Life botanical.
No experience required.
A $10 kit fee is payable to the instructor at the beginning of class.
Led by artist Eileen MacArthur.
Ages 16+

$60 per person, plus HST
Max 16 participants, spread into 2 rooms. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.eileenmacarthur.com
www.arthurschoolofart.com

Tell Good Stories! | A workshop on the art of storytelling
2020-10-29 19:00 - 21:00
sold out!
Learn to tell good stories!
Stories entertain and inform us, but they also help us understand who we are, where we come from and where we are going, so it would only make sense that we should want to tell good stories. Join professional Storyteller Brad Woods to discuss and discover what makes a good story and how to tell it. Through the Art of Storytelling, Brad will use traditional, original and personal stories to provide an opportunity for you to engage, to interact and to learn, but mostly to just sit back, relax and listen.
Small group, socially distanced. Maximum 8 participants. Safety protocols in effect. Minimum 4 participants required to run the workshop.

About the Instructor:
Brad Woods has told stories at festivals, theatres, conferences, prisons, churches and pubs all over North America and the UK. He tells traditional tales, literary classics and personal stories. His stories have been featured in a variety of broadcasts and publications including CBC Radio 1 and the Globe and Mail. Brad has told to all ages and in every type of venue imaginable. He is the recipient of the 2016 Alice Kane Award for Storytelling and used it to travel to Lesotho (Southern Africa) to tell, trade and collect stories on behalf of Bracelet of Hope.
“Hilarious, suspenseful – a masterful story teller. “Ins Choi, Creator-Kim’s Convenience

“Brad Woods is a master storyteller. With wit and wisdom, humour and heart, Brad skillfully weaves tales that leave his audience laughing and thinking, often at the same time.” Terry Fallis, Novelist – Two Time Leacock Award Winner

“Brad Woods in an engaging and creative storyteller. He has a mix of personal and traditional stories and some that interweave the real and the fabulous.” Dan Yashinsky, Founder – Toronto Storytelling Festival

'Continuum' - Considerations of Memory in Unquiet Landscapes | Opening Reception
2020-10-24 13:00 - 16:00
Saturday October 24 from 1-4PM
Our Opening Reception is by registration only – please sign up for your preferred arrival time so we maintain small numbers in the gallery. Meet Sylvia Galbraith and be one of the first people to view her exhibition! Please click here to register for your Opening Reception time slot.
Please note that social distancing protocols are in effect. Masks must be worn inside the building.
Co-presented by the Elora Centre for the Arts and Art North Magazine (Scotland), “Continuum” is a physical manifestation of an upcoming feature on Sylvia Galbraith’s art practice, to be published in the Fall 2020 Special Edition of the magazine. (release date to coincide with the exhibition opening). Comprising large-scale framed photographs as well as video, the overall collection is an examination of relationships with “place”, our overlapping experiences, and our tendency to perpetually seek connections with the landscape; geographically, in time, and in memory.
For more information about this exhibition, please click here.

Natural Dyes & Eco-Print Workshop
2020-10-24 10:00 - 2020-10-25 16:00
Saturday and Sunday October 24 & 25, 2020 | 10AM – 4PM
Join Gosia Eco Designs’, Margaret Marcy for this unique weekend workshop exploring the magic of natural dyes and eco printing! Create a natural fiber botanical wrap/scarf using Margaret’s Eco Printing technique with flowers and leaves. Finished wrap will be approx. 70”x22”.

Get to know local plants for printing
Learn the process for mordanting protein and cellulose fabrics
Eco print with dyes and mordant blankets
Discover different methods of bundling and steaming process

You will leave the class having learned the basics of Eco Printing and with the know-how to continue printing at home!

$250 (plus HST). Ages 16+
**We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.
Note* $50 kit fee is payable to the instructor at the beginning of class. Included in this package; silk scarf, cotton fabric, fabric swatches, plant materials, natural dyes, mordants, twine, paper towel.
Student supply list: apron, rubber gloves
About the Instructor
Artist Margaret Marcy has spent her working life amidst fashion companies. After 30 + years in the industry, Margaret finally decided that it was time for a change. She longed to pursue her creative passions, rather than continue to create things solely for profit. Gosia Eco Designs is a marriage between Margaret’s passions; Mother Nature and fashion. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand. It takes many hours to complete a single design. She uses only high quality 100% natural fabrics and dyes derived from plants and natural metals. Margaret does not believe in using any harmful chemicals during her creative process. As such, her pieces are sustainable and eco-friendly.
www.gosiaecodesigns.com

Oil & Cold Wax Workshop with Laurie Skantzos
2020-10-17 11:00 - 2020-10-18 16:00
This 2-day weekend workshop will appeal to painters of any level, who wish to deepen or rekindle their relationship to their inner muse. Over two days, you will venture deeper into your painting process and develop your personal expression in a safe, non-judgmental and playful space. Demonstrations using oil and cold wax, along with a variety of implements, will give you extra tools to assist you in your exploration.
We will be layering, scraping back, using solvent reductions, adding pastels, stamps, stencils, and much more. Experimenting with a variety of tools such as brayers, clay modeling tools and “squeegies”, we will create beautifully rich surfaces.

Note: A $25 kit fee is payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class.
Ages 16+
$225 per person, plus HST
Max 12 participants, spread into two workshop spaces.
**We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.
Student Supply List:
Oil paints, variety of colours (water soluble is fine), palette knives, rigid surfaces such as cradled panel or plywood (with 2 coats of gesso), Arches oil paper (1 or 2 full sheets or a pad), Creative Catalyst Wedge (straight edge, beige sold at Wyndham Art Supplies or Curry’s) AND OR Messer Meister Bowl Scraper from Amazon, masking tape, paper towel, wax paper, paleete for mixing.
Optional: oil or pigment sticks (R & F are the best), Pan Pastels, soft rubber brayer, and any other materials you would like to experiment with.
About the Instructor:
Laurie’s contemporary, process driven painting is largely inspired by the interactions of colour, form and application. Two-dimensional shapes that appear in her paintings have recently morphed into three dimensions, becoming sculptural, painted “objects”.
Laurie studied fine art at the University of Waterloo and her work is displayed in galleries throughout Ontario. She regularly participates in shows such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and International Affordable Art Fairs with Spence Gallery. Laurie’s work is included in private and public collections across North America, Europe and Asia. She works from her studio in Guelph Ontario.
Laurie teaches sessions at the Guelph School of Art, Elora Centre for the Arts, and a week long intensive during the summer at the Wellington County Museum. She also offers classes from her studio. The focus is on building a visual vocabulary of tools and techniques while further establishing each participant’s unique voice.
www.laurieskantzos.com

Fantasy Creatures! Saturday Workshop
2020-10-10 13:00 - 16:00
sold out
Ages 8-16
$35
Explore various watercolour and inking techniques to create your own unique fantasy creature with artist Katherine Olenic. Build your imagination and drawing skills by learning how to blend colour using inking techniques to bring your fantasy imagination to the page!
Katherine will demonstrate various styles from fantasy, cartoon, to realistic to help your kiddo design their own fantasy creations!
A great starter class for anyone who wants to have fun with watercolour, inking and their imagination.
Maximum 8 kids. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Katherine Olenic has a Degree in Animation and Digital Production from Durham College. After graduation Katherine worked in the film industry for companies such as Disney (Star Wars The Awakens), Warner Brothers (Terminator Genisys) and Black Stone Studios (Little Letter Kenny). Katherine has completed illustrations for many children’s books and comic books. Katherine also teaches drawing and animation at Maggiolly in Orangeville and the Homer Watson House and Gallery in Kitchener.
www.katherine-olenic.com
www.instagram.com/artby_katherineolenic/

Make Your Own Beeswax Wraps
2020-10-01 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday October 1, 2020 | 7 – 9 PM
Start your earth-friendly journey and spend a couple of hours to make your own beeswax food wraps and reduce one-time plastic use! Kick the single-use disposable habit with homemade beeswax wraps – a great alternative to plastic wrap. You can use them to cover food and keep it fresh; veggies, cheeses, sandwiches, baked goods and snacks. They’re reusable dozens and dozens of times and can easily be refreshed at home if the wax starts to wear.
Intended for anyone who wishes to embrace more positive ways to live on this earth, in this workshop you’ll design your own fabric to use in the making of your beeswax food wraps and beeswax snack bags. The conversation will flow as we discuss other habits to help increase our waste awareness. Take home your finished wraps at the end of the workshop and start putting them to use right away!
$50 (plus HST)
Maximum 8 participants. Ages 14+
ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Susan Gentilcore of All Things Preserved is a zero-waste lifestyle advocate and coach. She offers sustainability workshops and creates upcycled, reusable household products to replace everyday disposable items, particularly single-use papers and plastics. Susan loves connecting with people who share her passion for becoming a better steward of the earth.
www.allthingspreserved.ca

Supportive Arts Program | OTF Grant Boost
2020-09-29 10:00 - 2020-12-17 12:30
New Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant will boost our Supportive Arts program for adults 18+ with learning (dis)abilities
We are so thankful to the OTF who’s grant will help us grow this community program over the next 3 years! Our goal with this program is the enrich the lives of our community participants through arts-based learning opportunities and compelling artistic experiences.

Due to COVID restrictions and the compromised immune systems of some of our participants, they are not able to engage in road trips and come visit our facility at the Elora Centre for the Arts for phase one of this program. The good news is, if they can’t come to us (for now) – we will go to them! We take our art instructors, staff and art supplies ‘on the road’ to Guelph and run the program twice a week at the Live & Learn day-facility!

Creativity – Self Discovery – Art & Mindfulness
Twice a week, an ECFTA Arts Instructor will lead a themed art project for the group, followed by a body movement & mindfulness session that ties into the theme. We look forward to sharing the photos from each week with our community so you can enjoy and appreciate the difference creativity can make in the lives of participants.
To find out more, and view photos of our program please click here!

SOLD OUT! Indian Food Fundraiser for Elora Centre for the Arts
2020-09-28 08:00 - 2020-10-23 12:00
SOLD OUT! | Delivery is on Friday October 23
Unfortunately we had a limited number of meals we could prepare, so we sold out quickly! We had such an overwhelming and positive response that we will do this again in the future! Stay tuned!
If you would still like to support this fundraiser, please consider making a donation to the Elora Centre for the Arts page on the Canada Helps website. Thank you to our amazing community!

Delivery times: At check-out, you will be asked to request your delivery drop off time. We will contact you by email to confirm your delivery time on Oct. 23 (between 5:00 – 7:00 PM).
Delivery locations: Our amazing team of volunteers from Edge Realty Group will be delivering to your doorstep in the following local areas (no extra charge): Elora, Fergus and Salem. Porch delivery, contact-free. All volunteer delivery drivers will wear masks and practice safety protocols.
Limited quantities: The maximum number of meals we will be preparing is 200. We will sell out quickly – we encourage people to get their orders in as soon as possible, and apologize if you missed out this time.
Menu – Each meal includes:
Aloo Gobi (Potatoes and cauliflower)
Chana Masala (Spiced chickpea curry)
Tandoori Chicken Kebab
Raita (yogurt with cucumber)
Basmati rice with cumin seeds
Naan
Mango dessert from The Wild Tart
Vegetarian option:
Substitute Tandoori Paneer Tikka for chicken kebab

Food will be prepared by Deepti Celetti and a team of volunteers in the industrial kitchen at the CW Food Bank in Fergus.
We are so very thankful for our community sponsors who jumped on board to be a part of this fresh and delicious fundraiser:

10 Simple Steps Towards a Zero Waste Home!
2020-09-24 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday September 24, 2020 | 7 – 8:30PM
Join Susan Gentilcore of All Things Preserved for an evening of earth-friendly learning and making!
We all want to make changes to reduce waste in our lives, but sometimes we just don’t know where to begin. This fun, interactive and hands-on event is a great place to start. We’ll discuss 10 easy, low or no-cost changes we can all make in our daily lives to reduce waste, save money and help the environment. The focus will be on creative ways to replace single-use paper and plastic household products for the whole family. End the night by taking part in a make-and-take zero waste activity, and take home some up-cycled sustainable product samples.
All ages welcome!
$25 plus HST, includes a make-and-take project
Maximum 8 participants. ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. Work stations are 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Susan Gentilcore of All Things Preserved is a zero-waste lifestyle advocate and coach. She offers sustainability workshops and creates upcycled, reusable household products to replace everyday disposable items, particularly single-use papers and plastics. Susan loves connecting with people who share her passion for becoming a better steward of the earth.
www.allthingspreserved.ca

Painting in the Dark! Plein Air at Night with Eileen MacArthur
2020-09-19 20:00 - 22:30
How about this for a Saturday night? This is plein air in the dark!
We will be working outside with watercolour and brush pen, but with the added twist of seeing the landscape and our palettes, limited by the lack of light. We won’t really know what the paintings looks like until the end of the evening, when we head back inside and take a look in the light of the classroom.
Artists are required to bring their own sketchbooks. A $10 kit fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.
Please meet at the Elora Centre for the Arts to sign in and then we will head out at dusk. Participants will be required to maintain social distancing and sign a waiver form. For more information about our safety policies in place, please click here.
Led by artist Eileen MacArthur
Ages 16+
$40 per person, plus HST
Max 8 participants.

About the Instructor: Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.eileenmacarthur.com
www.arthurschoolofart.com

Plein Air Kids! Painting Outside with Watercolours
2020-09-19 12:00 - 15:00
SOLD OUT! This class is all about painting in the great outdoors! We will begin inside in the classroom with a short lesson covering the fundamentals of working outside including how to choose a subject, composition and how to paint some simple textures. Then we head outside, rain or shine, to the yard at the Art Centre, set up our easels and create a watercolour painting en plein air!
Led by artist and ECFTA Arts Educator Eileen MacArthur.
Please come dressed for the weather.
Ages 6-12
$40
Max 9 participants. **We have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols within our building and in our workshop spaces. This is an outdoor workshop, participants will be set up 6 feet apart. For more information about our workshop safety procedures, please click here.

About the Instructor:
Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.arthurschoolofart.com
www.eileenmacarthur.com

Gallery Show & Sale | Elora Fergus Studio Tour 2020
2020-09-17 11:00 - 2020-10-11 16:00
September 17 – October 11, 2020 | Gallery & Artisan Shop open Thursday – Sundays (check times)
The Elora Fergus Studio Tour will look different this year! The annual Studio Tour Show & Sale WILL TAKE PLACE in the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts and feature a sample of each Studio Tour artist’s work. The Show & Sale in the gallery will run from September 17 – October 11, 2020. This also marks the re-opening of the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts – we look forward to seeing you!
To find out more about the participating artists in the Show & Sale at ECFTA, please click here.
Free Admission. All art is for sale and can be taken at time of purchase. Gallery Hours: Thurs & Fri 11AM-5PM and Sat & Sun 12 -5PM
Social distancing health protocols are in effect inside the gallery and artisan shop. For details please click here.
Please note that, although the traditional Studio Tour (visiting artists in their studios) has been cancelled this year, there are 10 Studio Tour artists participating in ‘Elora Fergus Art in the Open’ where you can visit their property “in the open” over two weekends. To find out more, please visit the Art in the Open facebook page.

Classroom and Workshops at ECFTA during Covid-19
2020-09-17 - 2020-11-30
Our workshop class sizes have been reduced to ensure that work stations for workshop participants can be 2 metres apart. Where class size is more than 8, we have overflow teaching space in our gallery. The safety and peace of mind for our participants, visitors and staff are our priority. We believe that creativity can be very valuable in this time of recovery, and we invite you to visit our gallery, artisan shop or sign up for a workshop. For more information about our safety protocols and procedures, please click here.

Ride the Welly Loop - Guided Route
2020-09-13 09:00 - 10:00
The Welly Loop is a bike route through Elora and Fergus that takes about 1 hour to complete. You are invited to come give it a try! Enjoy a guided ride of The Loop on Sunday September 13th at 9AM – sharp!
Meet in the parking lot of the Elora Centre for the Arts. Everyone is welcome. No sign-up required, socially distanced. This week we are riding in support of Portage.
Green Lanes is a Centre Wellington advocacy group that pushes good urban design through individual ,small group, and large group actions so that we can live in a more equitable, healthy, and happier place.

Elora Plein Air Festival 2020 (cancelled)
2020-05-14 00:00 - 2020-05-17 00:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
May 14 – 17, 2020
Where: Fergus, Elora and surrounding countryside
This is a wonderful weekend to visit and explore the Elora and Fergus area! Artists will be set up throughout the area to capture the charming heritage buildings, historic neighbourhoods, the dramatic river or gorge vistas, rolling hillsides and picturesque farms of our uniquely beautiful region!
The grand finale show and sale will be Sunday May 17th from 1PM-5PM in the gallery at the Elora Centre for the Arts. Everyone is welcome to view the collective works from the weekend event. All pieces are available for sale.
Admission is free.
For more information about the Elora Plein Air Festival 2020 please visit the Elora Plein Air Festival website.

PD Day April: The Day of Nothing! (cancelled)
2020-04-24 09:00 - 16:00
This has been cancelled, refunds will be issued.
Let’s explore the idea of NOTHING! Zero, blank, nil. What does nothing look like? A void, boredom, a black hole? Is it like “putting blue into your head”? The word “nothing” is real, but does “nothing” really exist?
Nothing can be a starting point, it can be a beginning…a blank canvas! Enjoy a day of rotating activities and projects, combined with fresh air outside! (a ton of EVERYTHING, really)
Led by artists and ECFTA Arts Educators Eileen MacArthur and Natalie McDonald.
Ages 4 -11 (in two different groups)
$56 per session
Max 24 kids
About the Instructors:
Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.arthurschoolofart.com
www.eileenmacarthur.com

Natalie McDonald is an artist currently living and working in Fergus, Ontario. She studied at SDVA Georgian College in Barrie, ON and NSCAD University in Halifax, NS to complete her BFA degree, and more recently the University of Calgary for her MFA degree. Currently McDonald is an Instructor at the Dundas Valley School of Art and Education Coordinator for the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.
As a representational painter and mixed media artist, Natalie creates work focused on the concept of time, memory and transformation. Often inspired by her own past experiences she creates experiences that parallel others memories and creates a space for remembrance and contemplation.
www.nataliemcdonaldartist.com

Neighbourwoods Spring 2020 Tree Talk: The High Lake Effect on Trees (cancelled)
2020-03-31 19:30 - 21:00
Due to the province’s direction on containment of the coronavirus, unfortunately the Spring Tree Talk has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule this event to a later date. Please watch the website and the Neighbourwoods newsletter for updates.
_____
Speaker: WARREN HOSELTON, presented by Neighbourwoods
Where: Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville St, Elora
Cost: Free for members, $5 non-members
The presentation will examine the effects of High Lakes levels around the Lake Ontario basin from the eyes of a certified arborist stationed on Toronto Island. The presentation looks at the slow and deadly causes and effects on trees resulting from too much water lingering far too long. The Lake levels on Lake Ontario are complicated on many levels but the canary in the coal mine happens to be thousands of trees.
About the speaker: Warren Hoselton (Humber College Landscape Technology / Arboriculture Grad and ISA Certified Arborist) is the Park Supervisor on Toronto Island, overseeing a unique park setting of 230 hectares. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Tree Fund since 2007. He is the educational outreach lead (and 18-year rider) on the annual Tour des Trees fund-raising tour that features his highly animated “Professor Pricklethorn” tree presentations across North America. He has won several awards and has authored 3 workbooks for children to learn more about the benefits of urban trees. Hoselton misses no opportunity to celebrate the urban tree and its critical role aligned with our well being.
Neighbourwoods thanks our 2019-20 Tree Talk Sponsor, the Elora-Salem Horticultural Society.

Youth & Addiction Recovery: The Healing Power of Art and Creative Expression
2020-03-29 00:00 - 2020-05-10 00:00
CURRENTLY ON HOLD DUE TO COVID-19. In partnership with Portage Ontario Residential Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre for youth, Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) offers arts-based programming in our classroom (includes 12 sessions). Through individual and group-based art projects, students will have the opportunity to learn art techniques and practice the creative freedom of accepting mistakes, problem-solving and sharing using their projects as the catalyst. The program will culminate in a public mural installation as well as work shown in a youth exhibition, and will include student reflections of their artistic journey.
The first pilot session of this program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation.

As outlined in the Centre Wellington 2019 Vital Signs report, there is a need for better mental health care and addiction recover, especially with the youth in our community. In this dynamic partnership, ECFTA and Portage will create projects that compliment a therapeutic community approach and allow for connections, conversations and growth. The artistic process provides an opportunity to make mistakes, problem solve and come up with a Plan B. It also helps focus on a task in a world of distraction, and allows students to engage with their community in a meaningful way that helps them feel connected.
Youth recovering from addiction have faced so many traumas in their lives, which have been further compounded by the societal stigma that comes when someone is deemed an addict. The result is a young person left feeling marginalized and isolated from their community. This project will welcome Portage residents with open arms, allowing them to develop and explore their creativity in a supported environment. It will also open up the discussion of mental health on a broader community level among exhibition attendees.
The first pilot session of this program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation. To find out how you can help support this, and future programs like this please click here.

March Break Camp: Art in the Great Indoors!
2020-03-16 09:00 - 2020-03-20 16:00
Cancelled. The Centre will be closed for the week of March Break
We understand the growing concern around the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)and as promised we are closely monitoring the evolving health reports from reputable sources. The health of our community, staff and volunteers are the utmost importance to us.
We are following the advice of local public health agencies and other leaders in our community as information unfolds rapidly. This morning our Executive committee made the tough decision to cancel our March Break program for this coming week. In making these difficult decisions, we hope to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, and, in turn, protect our vulnerable populations. Our hearts go out to all those impacted in Canada and across the world, and we will do our part in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We will resume normal programming as soon as local health officials indicate it is safe to do so. Thank you for your help and support of these difficult decisions. We will begin processing refunds over the next few weeks.
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March Break will be all about our Art in the Great Outdoors Exhibition. Campers will have an have an “outdoor” art experience in our virtual reality “wilderness camp site” gallery. Watch the constellations in our “dome” projection tent, join in a group mural making in the spirit of Tom Thompson on the gallery wall, and create Canadian-inspired artwork in the Casson classroom. Indoor and outdoor creative fun, including a winter campfire in the yard!
Led by artists and ECFTA Arts Educators Eileen MacArthur, Natalie McDonald and Judy Anderson.
Ages 4 -11
$250 for the week
Max. 20 campers

About the Instructors:
Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.arthurschoolofart.com
www.eileenmacarthur.com

Natalie McDonald is an artist currently living and working in Fergus, Ontario. She studied at SDVA Georgian College in Barrie, ON and NSCAD University in Halifax, NS to complete her BFA degree, and more recently the University of Calgary for her MFA degree. Currently McDonald is an Instructor at the Dundas Valley School of Art and Education Coordinator for the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.
As a representational painter and mixed media artist, Natalie creates work focused on the concept of time, memory and transformation. Often inspired by her own past experiences she creates experiences that parallel others memories and creates a space for remembrance and contemplation.
www.nataliemcdonaldartist.com

Judy Anderson is the lead Arts Educator at the Elora Centre for the Arts. With a love for shadowy story telling and the curious specters of childhood, Judy loves working collaboratively with children and has been bringing artful classes and camps to ECFTA Young Makers’ programs since 2017. Judy is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and the University of Guelph BFA program.

Thursday night PAINT! Snowscapes (new date) Thurs. Mar. 5
2020-03-05 18:00 - 21:00
RESCHEDULED DUE TO LAST WEEK’S STORM! Not your average paint night! This class will introduce students how to paint snow, inspired by Canadian landscape painters who have mastered representations of snow, such as Clarence Gagnon and the Group of Seven. We will also look at the work of contemporary artists Peter Doig and Kim Dorland. Students will learn about colour and value, and complete an acrylic painting on canvas. No experience necessary. All materials included. This workshop will take place in our main floor classroom.
Led by artist Eileen MacArthur.
Ages 16+
$45 per person, plus HST
Max 15 participants

About the Instructor:
Eileen MacArthur completed an MFA in painting at the University of Guelph in 2005 and a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the United States and China. In 2009 and 2011 she was a finalist in the Kingston Prize National Portrait Competition. Since 2012 she has exhibited at the Manifest Gallery and Creative Research Center in Cincinnati and her work was included in Manifest’s International Painting Annual 4 (INPA 4) and International Painting Annual 6 (INPA 6). Eileen operates the Arthur School of Art in Arthur, Ontario and offers art classes for artists of all ages!
www.eileenmacarthur.com
www.arthurschoolofart.com

Uncials & Celtic Knots St. Patrick's Workshop with Wendy Hardy
2020-03-01 10:00 - 16:00
The Uncial hand is a very Celtic hand, with quite a bit of character and is fun to use. It is a very round alphabet with no capitals. Spend time with Wendy Hardy time learning the basics of Uncials and create your own Celtic knot variations. Then get your Irish on, using classic blessings and sayings to create unique pieces to frame or make into cards.
We will be lettering with the 3.8mm Pilot Parallel Pen or a dip pen with Speedball C2 nib and ink. Worksheets will be supplied for the lettering. This course includes instruction, demonstrations and a fun calligraphic project, with discussion around tools and best practices.
Note: A $5 material fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class.
Supply List: 3.8mm Pilot Parallel Pen (green cap) or dip pen, C2 nib & ink. You will also need a mechanical pencil, a fine line black marker (Copic or Micron size 03 preferred) or a Sharpie extra fine, graph paper for the Celtic knots & ruler.
Ages 18+
$70 per person, plus HST
Max 10 participants
Min. of 5 students required to offer this class.
About the Instructor:
Wendy Hardy is a Guelph based calligrapher and mixed media artist, whose love of lettering began in a high school art class. Having a BA in Literature from the University of Guelph, lettering was a natural progression as an artistic expression of Wendyts love of words. Since 1983, she has continued her calligraphic journey with local and international workshops and instructors. She has been involved with the Royal City Calligraphy Guild for 18 years, 6 of those as president. For several years, she owned and operated Eden Place Village Glass and Gift in Eden Mills, specializing in stained glass. Through her current business, My Personal Scribe, she takes commissions for certificates, poems, quotes and mailings that long for a personal touch. She is excited to help others discover the love of lettering. www.wendyhardy.com

Strike Day Art Camp - Friday February 28, 2020
2020-02-28 09:00 - 16:00
Dive in to creative exploration and outdoor fun on strike day! Join our ECFTA Arts Educators for freestyle art stations and a day of winter-inspired art making and outdoor fun!
$56 per day
9 AM – 4PM
Ages 4-12

Needle-Felted Sheep Workshop with Megan Cleland
2020-02-22 10:00 - 16:00
Create your own needle felted sheep portrait on an 8″x10″ felt base using wool and curly locks! Students will be given a choice of two sheep photo’s from which to work. Perfect for the beginner who wants to give needle felting a go!
All materials provided
Ages 12+
$85 per person, plus HST
Max 15 participants (Minimum of 6 students required to offer this class)

About the Instructor:
Megan is a self-taught artist with a passion for felting. In 2000 Megan and her husband purchased a farm in Australia that came with 400 fine wool merinos. She started explored felting, spinning, and weaving for the sheer enjoyment of being surrounded by incredible fibres.
Megan returned to Canada in 2008 and began to combine her love of portraiture and needle felting. The switch from amateur to professional has been a recent decision. The response to Megan’s work has driven that path. Painting with wool to create realistic portraits and landscapes has been a natural progression from watercolour and pastel with exciting results. It is more organic and has a warmth and texture that makes the viewer want to reach out and touch it.
Creating hats and other wearables from Felt has become an extension to Megan’s portraits. It gives her another avenue of using wool and fibre as a medium to create. www.inthelineoffibre.ca

Elora Acoustic Cafe presents Australia's Saije
2020-02-21 19:00 - 22:30
We are excited to launch our ‘music in the gallery’ series with Australia’s multi-instrumental folk duo SAIJE!!! They are stopping by Elora as part of their Canadian Tour – you don’t want to miss this!
Awarded the Folk Alliance Australia “Young Artist of the Year” Award 2019-20!
Dynamic guitar-lines and percussive breakdowns breathe life into their heartfelt stories. Their song writing typically encourages connection to self, to the earth and to each other – inviting you on a journey from the depths of ancient forests to bustling French markets, weaving threads of Celtic and French gypsy flavours into their songs along the way. Watch them here on YouTube or listen here on Spotify. Find out more about Saije on their Facebook page, Instagram page, or their website.
Tickets are minimum $10 donation at the door (no pre-sales).

Doors open at 7PM. Music begins at 7:45, with featured performance at 9PM.
Elora Centre for the Arts: 75 Melville Street, in the main gallery. This is a non-profit event. After expenses, proceeds go to our featured artist.
For more information about the Elora Acoustic Cafe please click here.
