In partnership with Portage Ontario Residential Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre for youth, Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) has developed a creative and interactive program for students at Portage. Initially the program was on hold due to Covid-19 however we are back on track to launch our first 6-week session in January 2022. The program offers arts-based programming in our classroom and gallery (a 6-week program includes 12 sessions). Through individual and team-based art projects and activities, students will have the opportunity to learn art techniques and practice the creative freedom of making mistakes, problem-solving and sharing using their projects as the catalyst.
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.
The first pilot session of this program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation and The Guelph Community Foundation. Our goal is to source funding so that program can run for an entire school year, ongoing.
