Ailsa Craig Arts Centre upcoming events

Acrylic Painting Masterclass with Bonnie Richardson (Saturday, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Many painters describe acrylics as the most versatile painting medium to work with. This reflects that acrylics are opaque, dry quickly, come in a multitude of colours, are water soluable, and can work with a multitude of surfaces and mediums. In short, acrylics offer a ton of fun opportunities for an artist to explore!

Join Bonnie Richardson in this 3 week master class on acrylics. Beginner and experienced painters will discover new information and be inspired.

Week One - Landscapes

Week Two - Still Life (possibly florals)

Week Three - Abstract Painting

Bonnie Writes:

"Come to have fun or be challenged. This is your class. All levels welcome, especially those with eye disabilities. What we will cover: Colour mixing and colour theory. How to plan a painting and make it interesting. Value exercises and how to make a painting glow. Value Blindness? I've got you covered."

Dates: Saturday April 18, 25 and May 1

Cost: $90 Members $100 Non Members

Bonnie Richardson Bio:

Biography for Ailsa Craig.pdf

Students to Supply:

3 primary colours in Red, Blue, Yellow.

Titanium White and Mars Black OR a basic acrylic starter kit.

Student Quality Canvases

Spray bottle for water.

Containers for water.

Roll of paper towels.

Paint gloves.

White Gesso. This is canvas primer. It would be preferable that canvases are primed before class.

Some palette knives and acrylic paint brushes of various sizes.

Pen and paper for notes.

Student quality paints, brushes, knives and canvases are available at Bijan's Art Studio London.

May YACAC (Youth + Ailsa Craig Arts Centre)-12-16 years (Wednesday, May 06, 2026)

Wed, 06 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Book now for the May 6, 2026 Session

YACAC (Youth + Ailsa Craig Arts Centre) is a arts based program sponsored by the East Williams Optimists and the ACAC.

The cost to participate is simply a donation to the Ailsa Craig Food Bank.

Please note if you have a child 8-11 years of age, please look for and register for the Junior YACAC session.

If your child is unable to attend, please notify the ACAC so supplies are adjusted or another child may participate. Should you fail to notify YACAC of your child's absence on two occasions, your child will not be eligible to attend.

Registration is open to North Middlesex residents only

YACAC is made available to the community due to the generosity of the East Williams Optimists Club and the Ailsa Craig Arts Centre.

Speaking Engagement with Shaun Antle (Saturday, May 09, 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

May JR YACAC (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

May Coffee and Crochet with Sheree Sarachman (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)

Tue, 26 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

A New Group at the ACAC will welcome all crocheters who like to gather and create together.

Coffee and Crochet

To be held on the 4th Tuesday of the Month

May 26, 2026

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Everyone welcome

April’s group is cancelled as the ACAC hosts a volunteer appreciation event. We love our volunteers!

Sheree Sarachman is an avid crocheter and volunteer at the ACAC. If you enjoy crocheting, Sheree invites you to join her for a coffee and a chat while working away on individual projects. This is a fabulous chance to get to know your neighbours while doing something you love to do.

By donation

Plein Air in the park with Bonnie Richardson -Revised (Saturday, May 30, 2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Revised to one day session

So many people had an interest in the plein air workshop but were not able to attend both dates, so it was decided to reduce the workshop to one day.

"Plein air painting is the practice of painting outdoors, directly from life to capture fleeting natural light, shadows, and the atmosphere of a scene. Popularized by the Impressionists in the 19th century due to portable paint tubes, this technique focuses on speed—often alla prima (all at once)—and direct observation. "

Why not join fellow watercolour enthusiasts and our teacher Bonnie Richardson, to start to explore the joy of this engaging past time. Students will leave this class understanding: How to prepare and approach working outside in watercolour. How to paint loose. How to enter the environment so students can be conduits of the painting process by letting go of expectations.

Students will need to bring: a travel watercolour kit or tubes with primary colours, brushes of various sizes, a pallet, a water container, paper towels, a stool, watercolour paper taped to a cutting board or matt board (ensure it is a convenient size for you to manage, suggested 140 lb. watercolour paper). A hat, sunscreen and drinking water. Students may also like to bring a sketch pad and pencils. There will be a lunch break so please bring a packed lunch. We never know where we may end up!

We will meet at the Ailsa Craig Arts Centre by 9:45 am and then travel to Lions Park, which is in Ailsa Craig. This offers us a covered venue should there be rain.

Date: May 30th from 10:00 am - 12:00 PM

Cost: $30 per Member and $40 for Non Member

Flights of Fancy: A Mixed Media Bird Workshop (Thursday, June 04, 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Unlock your creativity in this vibrant, hands-on 2 ½ hour workshop!

Whether you're a seasoned artist or a total beginner, come explore the tactile world of mixed media as we layer, paint, and collage our way to a unique avian masterpiece.

Using everything from vintage book papers to acrylic glazes, you’ll learn how to build texture and personality into your very own feathered friend. No experience necessary.

Mixed Media is playful and adoptable. All basic materials provided—just bring your imagination, perhaps a friend and, a few personal scraps to make it fly!

Instructor: Cynthia Nowak

Date: June 4th, 2026 6:30 pm - 9:00pm

Cost: Members $50 Non Members: $60

+ a $5.00 kit fee payable to the teacher on the night of the class.

Materials Provided by Cynthia: Gloss Gel: (Golden Soft Gel Gloss). Acrylic Paint - Red, blue, yellow, black, white. Stencils. Black micro roller pens. Posca Acrylic Paint pens. Pastels. Canvas 8 x 8”, pre-gessoed. Cardstock. Pallet/Parchment/Rice/Tracing Paper. Brushes.

What supplies do you need to bring to class?

Variety of Collage Papers: Minimum 10 sheets that can include: old letters, vintage book pages, old sheet music, old sketch book papers. Blank sketch book papers or used/new photo copy paper. For this project these papers should be matte and not glossy in order to adhere easily.

Texture Tools: found household objects (e.g., bubble wrap, round lids of various sizes) for impressions. Scissors: suitable for cutting small bits of paper. An Old Credit Card (or scraper) to create markings. Rubber gloves. Apron or Old T-shirt to protect your clothes—things will get messy!

Master the Glow: "Swan Reflecting" Coloured Pencil Workshop (Sunday, June 14, 2026)

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Master the Glow: "Swan Reflecting"

Coloured Pencil Workshop

Capture the serene elegance of a swan in ripples.

Join artist Pam Caley for an afternoon of creativity and technique.

This beautiful swan is done with coloured pencils. It was designed and will be taught by original artist and teacher, Pam Caley:

Sunday June 14 from 1:00-4:00 pm.

This beginner-friendly session focuses on:

Layering vibrant pigments
Creating realistic water reflections
Achieving a soft, painterly finish

With over 20 years of expertise across oils, acrylics, and pastels, Pam is a master of decorative art. She is a Willow Wolfe Certified Instructor and a Certified Mary Owens Teacher, known for her patient, step-by-step guidance.

Pam will guide us through step by step instructions to complete this masterpiece.

The project is suitable for beginner level coloured pencil students and is done on an 8 1/2“ x 11" sheet of Canson Mi-Teintes paper. When completed it can be matted and framed or mounted on a card.

This workshop cost includes the Canson Mi-Tentes paper, as well as the image tracing of the swan for each student

Cost: $40 Members $45 Non Members

Masterpieces in the Making: 2026 Summer Camp (Monday, July 06, 2026)

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Masterpieces in the Making:

ACAC 2026 Summer Camp Art Exploration

Nature Edition

Where every leaf, stone, and sunset becomes a masterpiece. Welcome to Art Exploration: Nature Edition! Specifically designed for young artists aged 8-12, this vibrant week fosters creativity and confidence in a supportive, high-energy environment. From the tiny details of a ladybug to the grand scale of a forest landscape, we’ll use the great outdoors as our studio and our guide.

What to Expect

Multimedia Masterpieces: Experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and collage.
Plein Air Painting: Head outside to capture the light and scenery just like the pros.
Outdoor Adventures: Daily movement breaks, nature hikes, and sketching sessions to keep the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Friendship & Fun: A splash of paint and a lot of laughter make for an unforgettable summer experience.
Major projects to include: Decorated Artist's Apron, Clay window hanging, Print Making papers, Collage papers, Grid Collage designs, En Plein Air Watercolour painting, Collage animal, landscape, self-portraits

Timing and Location

July 6-10 2026

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ailsa Craig Arts Centre -160 D Main St, Ailsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0

We will also utilize the local parks to let off steam and to support the art activities.

Children to Supply

Comfortable clothing and shoes

A hat

Sunscreen

A bottle of water

Two peanut and nut-free snacks each day

A peanut and nut-free lunch each day

Although we will be decorating smocks to protect clothing during art-making activities, art materials can still stain or damage clothing.

Please label your child’s belongings.

Cynthia Nowak - Camp Director's Bio

Cynthia Nowak is a multimedia artist and retired educator with a degree in fine arts and art history. Passionate about expressive colour, she works across various media, including paint, ink, pastel, and collage. Cynthia has extensive teaching experience leading youth art clubs and specializes in collage and assemblage to help young artists find their creative voice in a supportive environment.

Cynthia will be accompanied by a volunteer from the ACAC each day.

Masterpieces in the Making: 2026 Summer Camp (Tuesday, July 07, 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Masterpieces in the Making:

ACAC 2026 Summer Camp Art Exploration

Nature Edition

What to Expect

Multimedia Masterpieces: Experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and collage.
Plein Air Painting: Head outside to capture the light and scenery just like the pros.
Outdoor Adventures: Daily movement breaks, nature hikes, and sketching sessions to keep the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Friendship & Fun: A splash of paint and a lot of laughter make for an unforgettable summer experience.
Major projects to include: Decorated Artist's Apron, Clay window hanging, Print Making papers, Collage papers, Grid Collage designs, En Plein Air Watercolour painting, Collage animal, landscape, self-portraits

Timing and Location

July 6-10 2026

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ailsa Craig Arts Centre -160 D Main St, Ailsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0

We will also utilize the local parks to let off steam and to support the art activities.

Children to Supply

Comfortable clothing and shoes

A hat

Sunscreen

A bottle of water

Two peanut and nut-free snacks each day

A peanut and nut-free lunch each day

Although we will be decorating smocks to protect clothing during art-making activities, art materials can still stain or damage clothing.

Please label your child’s belongings.

Cynthia Nowak - Camp Director's Bio

Cynthia will be accompanied by a volunteer from the ACAC each day.

Masterpieces in the Making: 2026 Summer Camp (Wednesday, July 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Masterpieces in the Making:

ACAC 2026 Summer Camp Art Exploration

Nature Edition

What to Expect

Multimedia Masterpieces: Experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and collage.
Plein Air Painting: Head outside to capture the light and scenery just like the pros.
Outdoor Adventures: Daily movement breaks, nature hikes, and sketching sessions to keep the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Friendship & Fun: A splash of paint and a lot of laughter make for an unforgettable summer experience.
Major projects to include: Decorated Artist's Apron, Clay window hanging, Print Making papers, Collage papers, Grid Collage designs, En Plein Air Watercolour painting, Collage animal, landscape, self-portraits

Timing and Location

July 6-10 2026

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ailsa Craig Arts Centre -160 D Main St, Ailsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0

We will also utilize the local parks to let off steam and to support the art activities.

Children to Supply

Comfortable clothing and shoes

A hat

Sunscreen

A bottle of water

Two peanut and nut-free snacks each day

A peanut and nut-free lunch each day

Although we will be decorating smocks to protect clothing during art-making activities, art materials can still stain or damage clothing.

Please label your child’s belongings.

Cynthia Nowak - Camp Director's Bio

Cynthia will be accompanied by a volunteer from the ACAC each day.

Masterpieces in the Making: 2026 Summer Camp (Thursday, July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Masterpieces in the Making:

ACAC 2026 Summer Camp Art Exploration

Nature Edition

What to Expect

Multimedia Masterpieces: Experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and collage.
Plein Air Painting: Head outside to capture the light and scenery just like the pros.
Outdoor Adventures: Daily movement breaks, nature hikes, and sketching sessions to keep the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Friendship & Fun: A splash of paint and a lot of laughter make for an unforgettable summer experience.
Major projects to include: Decorated Artist's Apron, Clay window hanging, Print Making papers, Collage papers, Grid Collage designs, En Plein Air Watercolour painting, Collage animal, landscape, self-portraits

Timing and Location

July 6-10 2026

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ailsa Craig Arts Centre -160 D Main St, Ailsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0

We will also utilize the local parks to let off steam and to support the art activities.

Children to Supply

Comfortable clothing and shoes

A hat

Sunscreen

A bottle of water

Two peanut and nut-free snacks each day

A peanut and nut-free lunch each day

Although we will be decorating smocks to protect clothing during art-making activities, art materials can still stain or damage clothing.

Please label your child’s belongings.

Cynthia Nowak - Camp Director's Bio

Cynthia will be accompanied by a volunteer from the ACAC each day.

Masterpieces in the Making: 2026 Summer Camp (Friday, July 10, 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Masterpieces in the Making:

ACAC 2026 Summer Camp Art Exploration

Nature Edition

What to Expect

Multimedia Masterpieces: Experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, and collage.
Plein Air Painting: Head outside to capture the light and scenery just like the pros.
Outdoor Adventures: Daily movement breaks, nature hikes, and sketching sessions to keep the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Friendship & Fun: A splash of paint and a lot of laughter make for an unforgettable summer experience.
Major projects to include: Decorated Artist's Apron, Clay window hanging, Print Making papers, Collage papers, Grid Collage designs, En Plein Air Watercolour painting, Collage animal, landscape, self-portraits

Timing and Location

July 6-10 2026

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ailsa Craig Arts Centre -160 D Main St, Ailsa Craig, ON N0M 1A0

We will also utilize the local parks to let off steam and to support the art activities.

Children to Supply

Comfortable clothing and shoes

A hat

Sunscreen

A bottle of water

Two peanut and nut-free snacks each day

A peanut and nut-free lunch each day

Although we will be decorating smocks to protect clothing during art-making activities, art materials can still stain or damage clothing.

Please label your child’s belongings.

Cynthia Nowak - Camp Director's Bio

Cynthia will be accompanied by a volunteer from the ACAC each day.