Stay warm this winter with these fun-filled family workshops.
The frosty months of January and February are just around the corner, and if you’re looking for exciting and creative indoor activities, the Nepean Visual Arts Centre has some terrific ideas for all ages.
“Once January and February hit, everyone needs something to take them out of the cold,” says Sarah Hoy, arts program specialist with the city’s Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services.
“Those cold days make it a great time to try something new or revisit an old passion – workshops are great to get a taste for what is out there.”
And the NVAC offers everything from pottery to drawing to spark your creative imagination.
Artistically inclined six- to nine-year-olds can explore painting on a large scale in the Big Scale Abstract Art workshop, where it’s all
about artistic freedom, use of colour and space.
Older children aged nine to 12 can free up their imagination with a Cartooning and Comics workshop, where they’ll learn how to animate characters and create comic strips that come to life.
Meanwhile, parents and teens aged 11 to 14 can learn how to use a potter’s wheel in the popular pottery workshop. “It’s a great bonding opportunity for families.” This workshop, however, is strictly one child per adult.
With the immense popularity of the TV show The Walking Dead, who wouldn’t want to learn how to walk like a zombie? Film director Brett and his zombie coach will provide walking and growling zombie instructions guaranteed to scare anyone at the Nepean Creative Arts Centre.
Then there’s the Camera-less Animation workshop, strictly for adults. It’s ideal for beginners or accomplished artists. Drawings are painted or scratched onto 16mm film stock, then projected for beautiful results.
And if there’s a budding filmmaker in the family, the Super 8mm and B&W Film Making is perfect. Youth will learn how to develop a story, shoot, and then process the film. The fee includes all film and processing costs.
If you or your child are looking for an artistic outlet, check out the workshops offered by the Nepean Visual Arts Centre and Nepean Creative Arts Centre. And if you’re looking for that special Christmas gift, why not a gift certificate for an art workshop?
“We have amazing studios for all art forms, fully equipped with everything students need and top instructors,” says Hoy. Gift certificates can also be used at cultural and recreation facilities.
For workshop information, visit www.ottawa.ca, and to learn more about the Nepean Creative Arts Centre: www.ottawa.ca/en/residents/arts-heritage-and-culture/arts-centres/nepean-creative-arts-centre.