Windsound Learning Society (Mary Norton)

ArtSpace is an open studio at Boyle Street Community Services, (http://boylestreet.org) a community resource agency on the north edge of downtown Edmonton. ArtSpace grew out of a "pop up" ArtSpace studio that has been held one evening a week during the Winter Warming program at BSCS. (Winter Warming means that the BSCS Drop In is open in the evening so people living with homelessness have a place to stay until the Shelters open.) The "pop up" has been a project of Windsound Learning Society (http://www.windsoundlearning.ca/) and has been "staffed" by volunteers from WLS, World Arts Organization, St. Stephen's College and City University (Masters in Counselling). 

The Windsound Learning Society volunteer who coordinated the evening ArtSpace approached the Deputy Director of BSCS about possibilities for an extended Open Studio (thinking down the road). Soon after, Art Therapists and BSCS staff met and the DD said "Why don't we use the space.....  When can you start?"  The DD also successfully applied for funds that can go towards supplies. The volunteer coordinator at BSCS has  been instrumental in supporting the ArtSpace unfolding, and various programs at BSCS have donated arts/crafts supplies. 

ArtSpace is held four afternoons a week in an open area in BSCS. ArtSpace is "staffed"  by four volunteers, including an Art Therapist, an Art Therapy practicum student, an Expressive Arts student intern, and an artist. We set up tables and chairs, open up the supply cabinets, and invite people to make art. Some people come regulalry, some who walk by give it a go. Some stop by to talk about their art and sometimes show us what they've done.

Conversations are underway about organizing practicum placements for the fall. It would be great to access funding to pay a coordinator / facilitators. P