COCHRANE— The Cochrane Integrated Arts Society is launching a series of classes to bring art to interested community members' homes.
Starting in May the Arts Society will be offering virtual art classes, said Cochrane Integrated Arts Society president Jane Kaczmer.
The selection of online art classes was made possible through a $2,500 grant from the Cochrane Community Fund.
“Our mandate is to connect and bring people together, find different ways to celebrate, different ways to learn things about art,” Kaczmer said. "We’re doing a number of things to try and bring the community together.”
The classes begin in May and a selection of youth and adult courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and narrative writing will be available. Youth courses run 4 to 5 p.m. and adult courses run from 7 to 8 p.m. weekly for four-, six- or eight-week periods.
Class sizes are limited, Kaczmer said, and she encouraged those interested in participating to sign up as soon as possible. The class sizes were limited to ensure students and teachers will be able to have a great interactive experience.
The pilot program will run for six months, she said, adding the hope is to see it grow so Cochrane Integrated Arts Society can begin offering a greater diversity of classes.
Former Town of Cochrane Arts and Culture programmer Jola Muran will serve as one of the teachers. She brings with her experience hosting and developing online classes for the public.
“She has the experience and we’re very much drawing on her experience,” Kaczmer said.
The Arts Society is always looking for other instructors, especially those who have experience teaching online.
A major factor in making the classes possible was the artists of Route 22 Art Gallery started an independent non-profit separate from the Cochrane Integrated Arts Society. After the transition, the Arts Society was looking for ways to connect with the community online to expand access to the arts in Cochrane.
The goal is to continue expanding and offering the classes available, Kaczmer said, and turn the website into an arts hub for the community.
The Cochrane Integrated Arts Society has partnered with Cochrane Family and Community Support Services to ensure accessibility for classes through the Access Card Program, Kaczmer said. The Access Card is used by Support Services to ensure low-income and living wage Cochranites have access to programs like the classes offered by the Cochrane Integrated Arts Society.
Those who qualify for the card can confidentially share their information with Cochrane Integrated Arts Society organizers to receive a discount on the art class price.
The discount rate is set by the Cochrane Integrated Arts Society, and any Access Card information provided will not be shared with students or instructors.
“To me it’s win-win-win. It means people who would otherwise never would have done it, maybe now can afford it,” Kaczmer said.
Cochrane Integrated Arts Society will serve as the foundation for arts infrastructure in Cochrane, she said, and they are planning for the future to support and enhance arts in the community. The Society is already busy at work planning for the 2021 Cochrane Culture Days in the fall.
For more information on the art classes and the Cochrane Integrated Arts Society visit cochraneartsociety.com.
