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ArtHouse celebrates fifth anniversary in the community by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene 9 | Wednesday, July 2, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" What began as a program to help children experience the thrill of creative and artistic expression, regardless of their socio-economic status, has blossomed into a charitable organization offering cost-free arts programs to children aged seven to 12. Don Pangman, the founder and artistic director of Oakville-based ArtHouse told the Oakville Beaver how the community group has transformed and flourished well beyond what he had envisioned -- all thanks to the community that rallied behind it to support it in its initiatives. In celebration of ArtHouse's fifth anniversary, which was on June 19, the longtime Oakville resident reflected on the organization, its humble beginnings, its current success and what lies ahead. "Without the huge community support we would never have reached this milestone," he said, speaking about the individuals, service organizations, foundations, businesses and three levels of governments that have helped provided the financial resources to help ArtHouse sustain -- and increase its program capacity. The numbers speak for themselves with 60 children taking part in two of the programs ArtHouse offered in its initial year. This year, ArtHouse increased its reach in the community, delivering 38 programs to 581 children. Programs include the annual Camp ArtHouse, which is a theatre performance twoweek camp at Sheridan College's Trafalgar lies in that area. As always, he said the organization works with other community groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and the Halton Children's Aid Society to get referrals and continue to support families who simply can't afford to enrol their children into their visual arts, music, and theatre performance programs. He said about 87 per cent of those who take the programs are children who otherwise wouldn't have access to the arts. "ArtHouse has gone beyond what I ever imagined," said Pangman, adding that the organization wouldn't be where it is today without the "compassion of young people" and leadership of ArtHouse program administrator Gemma Hagerman. He added there's no shortage of community projects they're working on, including a community garden in the Maurice and Mar- Oakville-based ArtHouse is celebrating its fifth anniversary. ArtHouse Chair Tina Blatchford and ArtHouse Founder and Artistic Director Don Pangman showcase their celebration cake before marking the milestone with some program participants in Oakville last week (June 25). | photo courtesy of ArtHouse Without the huge community support we would never have reached this milestone. Don Pangman Road campus during the summer, and the junior chef's program at Whole Foods. Pangman said he believes he's part of something truly special. "There isn't anything like this," he said. "There are very few organizations that provide cost-free arts programs that really dig down to help young persons. It's not just about arts instruction, it's about bringing out the social skills and developing young people into responsible adults." Others, he adds, have also recognized the value of ArtHouse programs and the need for it the community. With more than 100 donors investing in ArtHouse, Pangman said it's expanding into the community more, with programs now being offered in Burlington like at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. It's been working with YMCA Oakville to define priority neighbourhoods where it can offer daycare and drop-in arts programs. ArtHouse is looking to move into Milton as well to help create opportunities for youth and their fami- ArtHouse founder and artistic director J O S H U A C R E E K E X H I B I T Joshua Creek Studio's 33rd Spring Show runs until July 6. It features non-toxic watercolour printmaking artists working with mixed media and collaging at the Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, 1086 Burnhamthorpe Rd. E. Left is artist Tricia Chatfield through a reflection of her painting. Right is artist Mary Rischke posing with her work. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @ halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) garet drives area and a new youth leadership development program for ArtHouse student alumni. Oakville teen Mackenzie Grant is one alumna that continues to return to ArtHouse programs each year because of her personal experience. The 12-year-old said she found a place where she could belong in ArtHouse's twoweek summer camp at Sheridan College when she was nine-years-old. Reflecting on how supportive and caring the teachers were and how a task like making friends was made easier, Grant said she became more confident, more assured as an individual working with others like herself to put on the production of Little Shop of Horrors. "I don't know how to explain the experience thoroughly, but I was so shy before I went there and I've seen this happen to other kids who are terrified speaking to another person and I broke out of my shell," she said. Not wanting to leave that kind of atmosphere, she's returned each year since, and is now volunteering with the summer program. "I'm volunteering to help other children feel the feelings I felt when I was with ArtHouse. It makes me feel really good to be in that community with them," said Grant. Pangman said it's those kinds of success stories that really capture the true spirit of ArtHouse programs. For more information, visit www.arthouseonline.org.