Creative Explorations

About the Creative Explorations Program

Creative Explorations for Older Adults are opportunities for Niagara residents aged 55 and up to learn about and create art together at the Willow Arts Community Studio. These activities are open to older adults who want to learn about various art forms, try new creative skills, and make their own artworks with the support of professional artists.

All Creative Explorations activities are offered free of charge with materials and supplies provided at no cost. No previous artistic experience is required to participate.

The Willow Arts Community Studio is located in downtown St. Catharines at 366 St. Paul Street, within the building operated by Silver Spire United Church. For directions and parking information, please visit our Contact page (link opens in new tab).

Our Arts Education Courses are six weeks of classes on a specific art practice (e.g. painting, poetry, performance, sculpture) lead by professional artists. These weekly sessions focus on learning and practicing techniques and skills so you can express your creativity in new ways.

Participation in courses is a six-week commitment that requires registering in advance.

Click Here for Information about Current Courses

Our weekly Discover sessions are an opportunity to learn about interesting topics in the arts. There will be lectures, demonstrations, and discussions about a new idea each week. These drop-in sessions are a time to explore new ideas and take part in artistic conversations.

These sessions are intergenerational opportunities for learning and discussion, and are open to all Niagara residents ages 55+ and Willow members of all ages.

Click Here for Upcoming Discover Dates & Topics

Make your own art during our weekly drop-in Create sessions. The Willow Studio will be open to all Niagara residents ages 55 and up who are interested in making art. Each week, there will be an artist in the studio demonstrating a different art-making skill.

These sessions are also a time for self-directed creation, collaboration, connection, experimentation, and sharing resources. Bring a creative idea of your own to work on and gain inspiration by sharing space and discussing possibilities with your peers. Art supplies are available in the studio.

Click Here for Upcoming Create Dates & Topics

About the Willow Arts Community

The Willow has been providing multidisciplinary artistic programming and creative opportunities for our membership, people living with mental illness and/or substance use, since 2016. With this new program, we are opening our studio to all of Niagara’s older adults to share the benefits of creative self-expression with the wider community.

The Creative Explorations program is supported by the New Horizons for Seniors program.

Arts Education Courses are weekly classes which are held on weekday afternoons. Courses run for six weeks and classes are typically 1.5 to 2 hour sessions.

Courses are a six-week commitment and require registering in advance. Please email Kate at office@thewillowcommunity.com (PREFERRED) or call 905-328-9277 to express interest in participating in one or both courses. We will confirm your registration(s) by email. This process may take several days.

There are a limited number of places in each course, so there are often waiting lists for Willow programs. You may be placed on a wait list and contacted if a place opens up in that course.

Mythic Hands Sculpting
with Suzie Dwor
Tuesdays 1PM – 3PM
May 12 – June 16
Visual Arts

Create a one-of-a-kind 3D sculptural character using your own hand and arm as the starting point. In this hands-on mixed-media workshop you’ll cast your hand/arm in plaster gauze, sculpt imaginative character details, and finish with embellishment using paint, wire, fabric, feathers, and found objects. Participants will learn plaster casting and sculpting, safe molding techniques, color mixing and painting methods, and strategies for using mixed-media elements to bring your character to life.

This course is for both beginners and experienced makers who want playful, expressive results and professional techniques in a supportive studio environment. All supplies will be provided.

Mythic Hands Sculpting is open to all Niagara residents and Willow members ages 55 and up.

Mask Making and Performing
with Glenys McQueen-Fuentes
Fridays 1PM – 3PM
May 15 – June 19
Multi-Arts

In this course, participants will explore the always surprising world of masks: both the personal and collective experience. Participants will make their own masks and learn to bring them to life through exploring self, surroundings, shapes, textures, gestures, actions, and eventually words. Over the six weeks, as participants explore their own and others’ masks, they will experience the masks transforming into friends and community. Depending on the group’s wishes, this course will lead to a gallery of masks or a performance – or both.

No visual or performing arts experience is required to participate in this course, and all supplies will be provided.

Mask Making and Performing is an intergenerational course open to all Niagara residents ages 55+ and Willow members of all ages.

The Spring 2026 Discover program will take place on Wednesday afternoons from 3pm to 4:30pm.

Discover sessions are drop-in intergenerational activities open to all Niagara residents ages 55+ and Willow members of all ages. You do not need to register or commit to every session, please come on by!

Spring 2026 Discover dates and topics:

May 27: Arabic Poetry and Song with Amer Arnaout

June 3: The History and Ritual of Kolam with Rajshree Jena

June 10:

June 17:

The Spring 2026 Create program will take place on Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 3pm. Each week, a practicing artist will lead an art-making activity for 30 to 45 minutes starting at 1pm.

These are drop-in sessions for Niagara residents and Willow members ages 55 and up. You do not need to register or commit to every session, please come on by!

Spring 2026 Create dates and topics:

May 28: Movement for Creative Freedom with Angeline Judge

June 4: Kolam Drawing for Mindfulness with Rajshree Jena

June 11: Charcoal Techniques with Cathy Brady

June 18: