Sometimes, all that’s needed to nurture creativity is a little space.
That’s the idea behind the Creative Art Space. Once a week, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury makes one of its rooms at the BWG Leisure Centre available – with tables, chairs, and a promise of privacy – to creative people who need space in which to pursue their art or craft.
“You can be a writer, you can be a painter, you can knit,” said Stella Wadsworth. The cost is $4.25 for the afternoon, and “anybody can come.”
Wadsworth is one of the founders of the drop-in Creative Art Space. A talented artist herself, and organizer of the annual BWG Studio Art Tour, she brings brushes, paints, photographs and canvases to the space on a weekly basis. “It’s great.”
The creative space also moves, depending on what is available at the Leisure Centre. The drop-in program started in March, in an upstairs room, but during the summer months has taken over the child-minding room on the main floor – a light-filled space, with large tables and plenty of room for artists to spread out and work.
“It’s very supportive. People share opinions,” said Wadsworth. “Everybody’s welcome to come. You just bring your stuff.”
There’s light, fellowship, inspiration, space, freedom from distraction – and, laughed fellow artist Kathy Bury, “It’s better than painting in your basement.”
Creative Art Space is held Thursdays, in the BWG Leisure Centre’s child-minding room from 1 to 4 p.m. Check in at the front desk.
