Location and Accessibility

Location

Willow Arts Community (The Willow) is located in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario at 366 St. Paul Street, within buildings operated by Silver Spire United Church.

Our studio and office are on the shared traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Neutral Peoples and many other Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. We offer our sincere gratitude and respect to the original and continued stewards of this land. We also acknowledge Indigenous, Black, People of Colour and 2SLGBTQQAI+ People that have been marginalized for centuries and more – and our collective responsibility to take action for a better world free from oppression, discrimination, and racism.

Accessibility

There are ramps to enter the building from the St. Paul Street and Head Street entrances and a lift to access all floors. There are two accessible washroom in the building, plus a few genderless washrooms.

About Silver Spire United Church

We acknowledge that entering buildings associated with religious organizations is not comfortable for all people. The Willow Arts Community spaces in the building are separated from the spaces used for religious purposes. Our tenancy in the Spire building is based in the Silver Spire community’s commitment to similar values to those of the Willow Arts Community.

Silver Spire affirms diversity by including and celebrating people of every age, race, belief, culture, ability, income level, family configuration, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. It is their desire to be a welcoming and affirming sacred space for all. Silver Spire is home to Willow Arts Community, Carousel Players (theatre organization for youth) as well as various recovery programs in the evenings. Silver Spire hosts a shower program and laundry for folks living close to the streets, as well as providing meals and a community pantry. It is a dynamic and busy building where the arts and social justice meet.

Directions

The Willow Arts Community’s address is 366 St Paul Street, but we recommend coming to the rear administration door of the Silver Spire building, which is can be accessed from Head Street.

Travelling by car: there is free parking in the small Silver Spire parking lot behind the building at the corner of Bond St and Head St. There is street parking on the surrounding streets. Street parking is paid from 9am to 6pm on weekdays (by ticket machine or app) and free after 6pm and on weekends.

Travelling by transit: the Willow studio is located three blocks from the St Catharines Transit Hub.

• From the Transit Hub, travel along Academy or Carlise to St Paul St.
• Cross St Paul to the south sidewalk, then turn left.
• At Bond Street, turn right (at Out of the Past) and travel one block to the corner of Head St.
• Turn left at Head Street.

From Head Street or the Silver Spire parking lot, you will see a large red brick building with a banner for Willow Arts Community. Come up the ramp or stairs under that banner and follow the path to the single glass door under an overhanging roof.

Entering the Building: The doors of the building are typically locked after 2pm on weekdays and at all times on weekends. The building is quite large and the way to the studio is complicated, so please text or call 905-328-9277 when you arrive and a staff person or volunteer will come down to meet you.