Wheatland Society of Arts

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

The Wheatland Society of Arts, which has recently moved to a new location, is in full swing with programming taking place nearly every day and plenty of open studio time for artists to gather and create art.
The society, which has been incorporated since 1986, still holds the same values and objectives as they did when they first opened: to encourage and promote visual arts; to sponsor, coordinate, and promote youth and adult visual arts education; to secure a studio with exhibit space; and, to cooperate with other arts groups.
“We want to fill this building with programming, but we also want people to be aware of everything,” said Brandy Hebbes, president of the Wheatland Society of Arts (WSA). “We are making it our job to know as much as we can possibly know about arts stuff that is going on in Strathmore. That way if they don’t come here, we can at least let them know where else they can go.”
Programs include a new Youth Art program for children and teens.
Several specialized classes and projects are held throughout the month for certain age groups, with prices ranging from free to $35 depending on the instructor. There is also a free teen night every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. where participants aged 11 and older can gather and create either a pre-planned project with the instructor or work on any project of their own.
In addition, several four-day arts mini camps will run over Easter break for youth to work on different art projects.
“We want to do weird and different stuff that’s a little on the edge, something to really engage these teens,” said Hebbes. “We want to find [art projects] that grab their interest. I want them to feel pride in their art, and to come here regularly and make this their own art club.”
Another new program is Accessibility Art which boasts art options tailored for people with disabilities. The free programming takes place every second Friday and runs two classes a day.
Young at Heart Art is a free art option for seniors. It runs on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. An instructor will guide seniors in creating a specific project, or on a project of their own.
Although free to take, a $5 donation for supplies is welcomed for participants in the Youth Art, Accessibility Art and Young at Heart Art programs.
Moms (or dads) and Tots art classes will start in March and will run on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for $15 a class.
A six-week home school art program is also available for home schooled children. The program will start in early March and will run on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. with guidance from an instructor. The class is $180 per student and they must be pre-registered.
Evening adult art classes are also available for $15 per class. Specific nights and classes are posted on the WSA website (wheatlandarts.ca).
There is also free open studio time for all ages on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The WSA also hopes to run several art classes at the same time, such as a kids and parents class. Children can work on one project in one room and their parents can work on a different project in the other room.
“We want to make visual arts opportunities available for everyone with no exclusions,” said Hebbes. “We want to make sure we have something for everybody.”
WSA members are able to rent the space to hold their own arts events and classes, and they will also host birthday parties for both kids and adults.
“We plan on partnering and collaborating with groups like the Youth Club, Strathmore Library and Hope Bridges so that we can have something for everyone,” said Hebbes.
The studio houses a small gallery where artists can display their work. The society is also in the process of talking with businesses who would be interested in housing art pieces made by local artists so that more of Strathmore’s art is made available for the public to view.
“Our three big things that we have going on are the classes, collaborations and the art gallery, and possible business art galleries,” said Hebbes. “This society is important so people can express themselves. There are pages and pages and pages written of the benefits of art. I want to tap into some of that stuff and I don’t even know what all that would be yet. But I want to really get into it and help people.”
The society is always looking for art supplies donations so that they can keep most of their weekly project classes free.