ArtHeart offers 470 scheduled art workshops after school, in the evenings, throughout the summer, on several weekends, year-round to over 250 children and youth and over 100 adults.

The Children and Youths Arts Program runs after-school (3:00-6 pm), in the summer (1:30-5:30 pm) from Wendsday and Thursday and on several weekends year-round, for ages 5-16. Daily attendance ranges from 25-45 people. Participants learn about everything from printmaking, computer graphics, crafts, woodworking, fine arts, ceramics, textiles and much more.

The Adults Arts Program is held 3 times a week: Tuesday 5:30 -8:30 pm, Wendsday 12:00 to 3:00pm and Thursday 12:00 to3:00pm year-round and has an attendance of up to 30 participants per workshop. Because our philosophy is: no starving artists, we offer meals and refreshments at each workshop. At ArtHeart, adult participants find a supportive and safe place in which to belong and benefit from the ample free artistic materials, studio and art instruction. This translates into many aspects of people's lives, such as finding and maintaining proper housing, employment, self-care, returning to school and an overall improvement in quality of life.

Program and Project Descriptions:


THE ART BOX PROJECT:
Our adults at ArtHeart need storage containers to store their independent materials. This enhances the quality of their artwork making and give them a sense of pride and ownership. Their work and materials will be more secure.

ART CONTESTS:
Throughout the year, ArtHeart participants enter their artwork in local and city-wide art contests. Many participants have won awards of distinction as well as monetary prizes.

ART EXHIBITS:
ArtHeart presents art exhibits over 8 times a year at venues across Toronto. The purpose is to take our children, youth, and adult participants through the process of creating, presenting, and marketing their art work so that they can benefit from the knowledge that other people enjoy their work, that there is a chance to earn money from the sales, and that their work is worthy of sharing with the public at large, which boosts morale.

CALENDAR AND GREETING CARDS PRODUCTION AND SALES:
Since 2001, ArtHeart has produced and sold annual calendars and greeting cards that feature our program participants' artwork.

COMPUTER LAB AND DIGITAL ARTS:
ArtHeart’s Computer Lab is very popular and a great resource for our participants of all ages,—who would otherwise have no, or very limited, access to computers. The Computer Lab consists of 8 relatively up-to-date donated computers, a scanner, printers, digital cameras, and digital movie camera. Professional instruction is provided by our Lab Coordinator and volunteers as well as by peer support. Participants learn Internet usage, web site design, basic to advanced computer skills, graphic arts as well as take part in special digital arts projects.

EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS:
ArtHeart provides participants with several cultural and recreational field trip opportunities throughout the year and weekly in the summertime. We take up to 20 children and youth at a time and visit places such as the ROM, the AGO, the Science Center, sketching at Riverdale Farm, Allan Gardens and more. Adult Program participants enjoy occasional outings to galleries in the city. As well as taking part in local community fairs and parades, we host in-house holiday parties.

ONLINE GALLERY PROJECT:
Set up an online gallery where our artists can show and sell their art online. On-line gallery and consistent photo documentation and archiving of works created at ArtHeart.

PRINTMAKING AND THE JET FUEL CHILDREN’S AND YOUTHS’ 13th ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT:
From January to October each year, since 1997, weekly printmaking lessons have been provided during the Children's and Youths' Arts Program for over 50 different participants. Several weekend printmaking workshops are also provided at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The artwork is showcased at the Jet Fuel Coffee Shop in Cabbagetown in October and culminates with a closing party and sale. The young artists make all profit from the sales. This year, about 90 acetate paintings, based on theme “fashion”, will be exhibited and for sale.

SPECIAL STUDIO WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES:
ArtHeart, in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), provides "scholarships" for our young participants to partake in art camps throughout the summer time, free-of-charge. ArtHeart provides TTC fare so that the participants are able to attend. Recently, ArtHeart made an exciting new official link with the AGO that generously extended a free membership to our organization which provides opportunities for our participants to attend all of their art exhibits throughout the year at anytime!