United Way-backed Art City a big positive in core

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Winnipeg Free Press, Monday December 1, 2008
Reproduced with permission.

ART City is so much more than a place to paint, sculpt and draw for Annette Wings and her daughter, Michelle.

The West Broadway art studio is also a safe haven in a sometimes-troubled neighbourhood where they can spend quality time together, talk with friends, and express themselves with their handiwork.

Wings said they walked past the storefront two years ago, came in on a whim, and now come an average of three times a week.

"I liked what I saw in the window and the staff were welcoming. Everybody can come here, young or old. With some other places, once you reach a certain age, you can't go anymore," she said.

The United Way supported Art City with $30,000 in 2008, its first year of sustained funding.

"The money makes us sustainable so we can plan ahead," said Cam Forbes, Art City's executive director.

Forbes said its mandate is to provide high-quality art programming free of charge to people in the West Broadway neighbourhood. There's no need to sign up because all of its programs, after school during the week and on Saturday afternoons, are drop-in.

She said Art City typically has four guest artists per month, both professional and from the community, who put on workshops in disciplines such as soapstone carving, pottery and painting.

"There is so much variety. Our participants get to see what art is and how they can be artists. It helps them develop their own identity and it's a way to share who they are with the rest of the world and to believe in themselves and their ideas.

"Art is special because there aren't set rules. There isn't one right way and a wrong way to do things. It's problem-solving and it's imagination. It really helps people build their own ideas," she said.

Forbes said with about 20 budding artists dropping in per day, Art City receives between 5,000 and 6,000 visits annually. From January to June, more than 800 people took advantage of its services and Forbes estimated that number is now well over 1,000.

She said one of the goals of Art City, which was started a decade ago by local artist Wanda Koop, is to give both kids and adults something to do that keeps them off the streets and out of trouble.

"People with extra spending money will put their kids into private art lessons and private sports clubs. Their kids have access to activities to do. We want to make sure everyone has access to high-quality activities. Just because they can't afford the private classes, it doesn't mean the quality should go down," she said.

Michelle Wings said she's looking forward to putting on a needlepoint workshop with her mom.

"I'm somewhat better at art than her but she's getting better," she said with a smile.

Annette Wings said she enjoys the side benefits of working with her hands.

"It's therapeutic. It relieves stress," she said.

Art City's programming also goes on the road. Forbes said she and her staff will often visit schools or community groups that request their services.

To ensure their students are at their creative best, Art City also offers a healthy snack program.

"To fully participate, everybody needs to have their basic needs met," Forbes said, noting the studio also has a resource centre that points people with particular challenges -- such as paying the rent or recovering after a burglary -- in the right direction to find the right community organization to help them.

Art City is located in an old nightclub and is easily distinguishable from other businesses in the neighbourhood by the giant six-wheeled welded bicycle (created by one of its guest artists with help from the class) on top of the building.

"Everybody thinks we're a bike shop," Forbes said.