Update regarding COVID-19: As of Monday, March 16, our office and facilities at 651 Dufferin Street have closed. Staff will continue to work remotely, and can be reached via email during business hours. For a list of staff contacts, click here. We continue to closely monitor Toronto Public Health (TPH) recommendations and will post updates on social media and on our website as they become available.
Workman Arts offers high caliber art courses in Media Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts delivered by Workman Arts members and other working arts professionals. Our programs support artists to reach their creative and professional goals through art training, professional development, and presentation opportunities and by providing support through peer-to-peer interaction and community. All courses are free to members.
The Workman Arts Training Program is supported by TD Bank Group
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
PLEASE CONTACT:
Jessica Jang
Education Manager
416-583-4339, Ext 3
jessica_jang@workmanarts.com
All classes are held remotely until further notice.
SPRING 2020 COURSE CATALOGUE
Bruised Years Choir
Jim LeFrancois
Start your week on a high-note with Jim LeFrancois and Rob Joy to tackle contemporary music selections. Monday rehearsals are the heart of what we do, but we also strut our stuff in performances and gigs! All levels of vocal proficiency welcome!
NO CLASS: May 18
Creative Cartoons
Ruby Urlocker
Learn how to create an autobiographical graphic novel– in other words, a graphic novel that focuses on an aspect of, or a general telling, of your life story. Combine writing and drawing to generate storytelling ideas, develop a narrative voice, and adopt techniques of illustrative language to convey emotions.
Printmaking from Home!
Nate Enkel
Discover various ways to create lino cut prints at home with minimal supplies! Classes will be presented through a live demo via Zoom. Learn techniques for carving with an exacto knife, use paints and ink from around the house, and kitchen utensils in place of a baron and a roller! There will be a focus on lino in combination with other forms of inventive printmaking methods.
Creative Consultation from Concept to Completion
Lisa Anita Wegner
A ten-week project consultation workshop designed to help you get your project out of your mind and out into the world. Bring your ideas and projects in any state of development, and get inspired as you interact with other artists in this unique workshop featuring a combination of fuel for the imagination and practical planning.
Lisa will guide you through concept pitches, planning, production, creation, and presentation. Learn about funding, resource sharing while maintaining the integrity of your project. Expect to receive one-on-one consultation after developing your plans.
Adaptive Filmmaking
James Buffin
Work with other participants and the instructor to make short films using the resources already available to you. Some of us have ideas, others have phones, tablets or webcams, and some can edit on their devices. Together we will come up with ideas for short films and ways that they can be made now.
Self Stories Theatre II
Lorene Stanwick
We all have stories to tell! In the winter session of Self Stories Theatre, the actor/writers have been mining and exploring their own lives and stories, writing pieces that are humorous, touching, and (mostly!) true. In this session, we will bring them to the virtual stage!
Running with Scissors
Coley Lowden
Examine the concept of collage outside the traditional sense. Through in-class exercises and independent projects, students will 'cut and paste' to investigate how combination in creation is worth more than the sum of its parts. Members will be able to share work, discuss process, and exchange feedback. All are welcome; projects are suitable for any artistic discipline.
Poetry, Process & Passion
Andrea Thompson
In this class, participants have the opportunity to explore the parameters of poetry and develop their own unique approach to writing through in-class prompts and work-shopping in a supportive environment. This course is student-centered and based on the idea that the best poetry you can produce will be a reflection of your unique method of self-expression.
Knots and Braids
Jason Burton
Explore the ancient craft of cord making, focusing on decorative applications of nautical knot-tying and braiding. We’ll make a bracelet and key fob together, then you can experiment with techniques and projects that interest you. Bring your patience and sense of humour; an interest in patterns and detailed work are great too! We’ll be relying on finger strength and dexterity.
Group sessions on Thursdays and an optional clinic on Mondays.
Introduction to Oil Painting At Home
Steven Lewis
Steven will guide you through exercises to help your independent painting practice through a series of videos and group chats. Be supported through the process of painting by sharing your challenges and successes. Explore basic design principles and discover the stages a painting goes through. Discuss best practices, safe handling and materials.
This course will be solvent free.
Character and Performance
Philip McKee
In “Character and Peformance”, participants will develop their skills as actors by working on performing characters from existing plays. Participants will select scenes from a range of plays and choose a character to work on, and rehearse this character along side scene partners. Participants will gain experience in voice work, staging, and movement.
Improv
KC Cooper, Chris Harron, Dorothy Laxton
Join this dynamic improvisational group for a weekly chance to react, respond and collaborate in the moment. Classes will be led by a rotating instructional team of long-time improv members.
Founder of Workman Arts' improv program, Kate Ashby, will provide master classes to supplement this improv course later in the spring.
Photography in the Time of COVID-19
Rick Miller
Improve your photography while living under the limitations of social distancing and self-isolation. Constraints have always been a creative challenge to artists. Now, more than ever, we need artists to help make sense of the world. Weekly assignments will have you using your camera to explore your home and neighbourhood with a new eye.
Yoga
Kate Gorman
All are welcome to a practice of, optional and adaptable, yogic postures and breathing techniques. Focusing on building inner guidance, as well as sharing of yogic tools and philosophies, as we relax, laugh and have fun.
This semester yoga is offered as a regular weekly course rather than a drop-in option.
Art from Experience: skills for writing culturally sensitive artist statements and grant proposals.
Kat Singer
Why is it important to be able to talk about how aspects of our identities shape the artwork we produce? This workshop demystifies concepts such as “cultural appropriation”, “tokenism”, and “social location”, and offers practical strategies for demonstrating cultural sensitivity in artist statements and grant proposals.
Wah Wah Reading Group
Jessica Jang
Wah Wah reading group is for Pan-Asian artists and cultural producers to discuss issues of art and mental health in an inclusive setting. Topics for readings will be selected based on collective interest. There will be one session in May and another in June. This event is designed to be casual, friendly, and non-academic; Asian-identified artists of all ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, and dis/abilities are welcome.
Dates for readings will be determined by participants.
Virtual Art Appreciation
Hanan Hazime
Join arts educator Hanan Hazime each week to virtually explore and appreciate a different work of art (play, film, performance piece, etc. ). Participants will be provided with prompts and given the opportunity to critically engage with the work as well as create art inspired by it.
