About Us
Land Acknowledgment
We wish to acknowledge the land on which the Children’s Art Studio Inc operates on in Toronto and our responsibility through our work to steward it well. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the (New) Credit. Today, this meeting place is still home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples from across Turtle Island, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work on this land.
Philosophy
The Children’s Art Studio Inc. is committed to building positive self-awareness, innovative thinking, and the original expression of children. In our studio, we believe in cultivating the intrinsic creativity of every child. We highly regard the importance of providing all children with the opportunities to engage in imaginative art making, beyond the rote manufacturing of reproductions of predictable works of art, and instead, teach students to understand art making.
Our professional teaching artists, renowned TDSB visiting artists, and dedicated volunteers teach every child how to steer their own creative direction through innovative experimentation in painting, mixed media, sculpture, and printing. We are confidant that your child’s journey to self-esteem and creativity will commence with us at the Children’s Art Studio Inc.
Mission
As an integral part of Ontario’s visual arts community located in Toronto, Hamilton, and the Niagara Region, the Children’s Art Studio Inc. advocates and proliferates for the innate creativity of a child. Founded in 2009, we provide a safe, energetic, and imaginative environment for all children to engage in inspired art making processes. At the Children’s Art Studio Inc., we are committed to building positive self-awareness, innovative thinking, and original expression in every child.
Our specialized children’s arts programming is designed for your child’s explorative engagement with a plethora of techniques and visual media that center on originality. We foster your child’s inventive mind through our open-ended pedagogy with experimentation in painting, collage, sculpture, and printmaking. In our community-rooted studio, we understand and believe in the importance of engaging children in visual art making as a conduit for building confidence, pride, and self-esteem through constructive expression.
Programming
As artist-educators, we offer a variety of children’s visual art programming that we methodically design and implement for artists age three to twelve. We maintain a deep understanding of the power of the art experience and use this belief to guide our student-oriented curricula. Our programming goes beyond rote learning through monotonous masterpiece reproductions. At our studio, we focus on originality and the development of visual literacy in our contemporary Canadian culture and society.
Lynn
Founder & Lead Educator
Lynn is an artist and educator with over three decades of experience. She is dedicated to fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration through art education and community engagement. She currently leads the Children's Art Studio Inc (CAS) and the Peter MacKendrick Community Gallery (PMC) at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. Lynn is committed to providing inclusive and engaging art experiences for all. CAS was founded by Lynn in 2009 to provide accessible art programs for children and youth. The studio touches the lives of over 500 families each year. CAS extends its reach and impact beyond its walls through school visits and partnerships with organizations such as Sick Kids Hospital, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Public Library. At PMC, Lynn curates project-based art events that showcase the diverse talents of Toronto's artists and collectives. The gallery is a platform for fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and innovation. Lynn's artistic journey is deeply rooted in sculpture and installation. Her Knitted Memory series explores memory, identity, and belonging themes, earning her awards and placement in prominent art collections. Currently, she is exploring new dimensions of creativity as part of the duo Jackson & Dickson, venturing into sound, video, and installation art. Lynn is deeply committed to community service. She serves as Vice Chair of the Neilson Park Community Centre, is a director serving on ANPHI Affordable and ANPHI Non-Profit Homes, and volunteers at The Stop Farmers Market, managing the weekly tenant art booth.
Agatha
JR Educator & Camp Leader
Agatha joined the Children's Art Studio through her high school co-op placement program and has since become a permanent JR Art Educator. She is an amazing part of our team, passionate about animation and character development. Agatha excels in technical drawing and provides basic drawing lessons tailored to students of all ages.
We know
everything
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Join us for a vibrant journey of creativity a nd expression in a nurturing environment.