Craft the Future
Youth Craft Academy is a unique program designed for youth ages 12-17 who have an interest in making, or curiosity in materials. Participants will learn, play, and build in a variety of mediums including clay, wood, glass, metal, and fibre to create functional and decorative objects. The program is delivered by the Prince Edward County Arts Council with the financial support of Rue Pigalle and a growing family of donors. Please click HERE if you wish to help ensure that this program is accessible to all youth with an interest, or love of craft!
Youth Craft Academy is delivered by professional designers, makers, artists and other members of the craft sector. Courses will take place at the County Arts Lab, Unit 2E (upper level) of the Picton Armoury. Youth are encouraged, but not required, to participate in all four courses per year. Extracurricular activities are also planned for participants, such as studio/gallery/museum visits, mentorships, guest speaker presentations, college visits, and more.
Textiles with Bay Woodyard and Bear Epp
Thursdays 3:30-6PM
September 25 – October 30 2025
Ceramics with Carolanne Bédard-Reid and Rebecca Heasman
Thursdays 3:30-6PM
November 13 – December 18 2025
Glass with Kirei Samuel
Thursdays 3:30-6PM
February 5 – March 12 2026
YCA Field Trip to Toronto
Thursday March 19 2026
Wood with Katrina Tompkins, Christopher Bolton and Mentor Paul Epp
Thursdays 3:30-6PM
March 26 – May 21 2026
Looking for more information on the program? We hosted an online info session on Monday January 15th 2024, for anyone interested in hearing more about the curriculum for the wood session or the program in general. Katrina Tompkins and our Programs Director Stacey Sproule talk about the program, go over learning objectives, and answer any questions you might have! Watch the info session replay here.
In this session with Kirei Samuel students will learn all about the art of glass fusing from how to work with cold glass to making a design to understanding the process of firing the work in a kiln to fuse it together. Guidance on the elements and principles of art and design as well as methods for making interesting and engaging surface design will be covered. Students will make a variety of pieces including bowls, jewellery, and decorative objects. All materials will be provided. Previous participants are welcome to register again and continue to explore glass as a craft medium.
In this exciting new course, participants will collectively be building a 7′ wooden dinghy designed by New Brunswick based expert boatbuilder Harry Bryan! This 9 week course will take place at the County Arts Lab in the Picton Armoury, with occasional trips to a local woodshop.
Join YCA Program Lead Katrina Tompkins and Ceramics Instructor Carolanne Bédard-Reid on a field trip to OCAD University in Toronto! Participants will tour art & design studios, see university students in action and participate in a plastic fabrication workshop! Transportation, packed meals and snacks are included.
This year we are launching YCA snax in the new Arts & Crafts Library at County Arts! In response to feedback from parents seeking support through the transition from the end of school to the start of YCA programming, snax offers our participants time to connect with craft content over a healthy snack in our new library with the YCA Program Lead, Katrina Tompkins. All registered participants are welcome with no additional fees.
As craft is a discipline that requires specialized materials and tools, plus the all important ingredient of time (each class will run 2.5 instead of 1.5 hours), courses are more expensive than regular County Arts Lab programming. Program delivery cost is also higher as there will be 2 instructors present to facilitate a 3 to 1 teaching ratio (3 participants to 1 instructor). To ensure that the art of craft is accessible to all youth living in Prince Edward County and surrounding areas, a special partnership with Rue Pigalle and other donors allows us to offer a 75-90% discounted rate to ALL participants. No application is required. The discounted rate will automatically apply at the time of registration.
Why this generous discount? Rue Pigalle believes that as a practice and career, craft is a joyful and optimistic way to address the serious issues of sustainability, material literacy, skills transmission, community economy, and equality. Click here to listen to Rue Pigalle Founder Isabelle Fish speak about the program’s goals with host Catelyn Thornton on Artscene on 99.3FM.
If this discounted rate still remains a barrier, please reach out to YCA Program Lead Katrina Tompkins at katrina@countyarts.ca.
We are so grateful to our Youth Craft Academy Donors for making this program possible!
Interested in getting involved? Please click below to donate by credit card, or make a cheque payable to Prince Edward County Arts Council and mail to Unit 2E, 206 Main Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0. All donors will receive a charitable tax receipt and be publicly acknowledged (with permission) by both County Arts & Rue Pigalle. Prince Edward County Arts Council Charitable #123646499 RR0001
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