7 Great Art Classes for Kids in Ottawa
The cold winter days may be short on sunlight, but they are long on opportunity for kids to engage in some new activities. If your child is in between gymnastic classes, or they just aren’t interested in indoor soccer during the winter months, or maybe they are demonstrating an increased interest in creating art, it may be time to check out one of these art classes this winter. With studios and classes across Ottawa, your kids will be excited to throw on their smock, swing their paintbrushes and express themselves all winter long.
Nepean Visual Arts Centre
The City of Ottawa’s Nepean Visual Arts Centre in Nepean welcomes children, teens (and adults) into their unique art workshops and classes. If your child has a knack for drawing and painting, they’ll likely enjoy the NVAC’s mixed media classes. There’s even a cartoon and comics drawing class for kids aged 9-12 that will bring to life their own comic characters. Teachers are talented artists themselves and have much to pass along to the kids.
Ottawa School of Art
With two campuses in Ottawa (downtown and in Orleans) the Ottawa School of Art classes will excelerate your child’s love of art no matter their skill level. These programs are an excellent way for kids to continue to develop their art experience. These unique classes for children and teens include cartooning, painting, and art and architecture.
Monart
The Monart School in Ottawa is located on St. Laurent Blvd and offers classes year round. We love the opportunity for even our younger children, aged 3 and 4, to begin learning about art. The Step Ahead class will introduce them to visual elements, sensory play and crafting. The Getting Ready class for ages 4-7 will begin to use watercolours and pastels to create art. Older students can learn to draw or further develop their portfolio for additional studies.
Young Rembrandts
Young Rembrandts programs are offered across the city and welcome registration, but they can also offer after school classes through your own school (bookmark this site for your next school council meeting if this is of interest to you!) Classes vary from elementary drawing to cartoon drawing.
Tracy’s art studio
If you live in or around Stittsville, Tracy’s Art Studio offers classes and workshops (including PD Day workshops) for children. We love that classes are offered weekly for an extended period of time (rather than a limited 6 or 8 weeks) because kids can build on their skills week to week and greatly see their own improvement. At the end of the term in June, there’s even a class art show where they can proudly show off their portfolio.
Beehive studio
From children age 2 all the way up to kids in Grade 10, Beehive Studio offers weekly art classes that will engage the creative side in your child. The Mini Makers art program for our littlest children is likely to be messy and of course, a lot of fun, while older kids may want to try their hands at mixed media or abstract acrylic pouring art. Classes are located in the Wellington West area.
National gallery
Not only can you take the kids to experience, explore and learn about art at the National Gallery of Canada, but you can also let them get hands on in the Artissimo Studio as they create their own art. Each month there’s a new theme to be explored and the theme is linked to art work within the National Gallery. Families are invited to drop in on weekends to participate in the program between 10 am and 4 pm. Materials and smocks are provided. The mini workshop is included in your Museum admission too!
