Artscene Flipping through history as Oakville Art Society turns 50 by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 43 | Thursday, November 12, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" A n arts organization celebrating 50 years is no small accomplishment, according to the Oakville Arts Society's (OAS) Brenda Smith. "It's fantastic. It's great. It recognizes what hundreds of volunteers have done over those 50 years," said Smith, OAS board director and past-president. "It says the community supports us and recognizes the need and they enjoy the opportunity to locally take classes, meet other people, other artists, and take pride in their community too. "It's understood that the arts is something that draws people in... It adds another dimension to the community," she continued. The privately-funded, non-profit, volunteer-run organization has come a long way since its beginnings in 1965 as a seven-member group offering art classes from an abandoned cottage in Coronation Park. Within the last 10 years, the OAS has averaged between 150-190 members annually and now owns its current home at 560 Bronte Rd. -- offering classes and workshops to thousands of people in Oakville, including children and adults. The driving force behind the OAS is largely considered to be Esther Demeny, who taught art out of her Oakville home. "She decided that Oakville needed a place where people could go and take art lessons and where artists could get together and meet," said Smith, who noted the OAS grew very quickly in its first few years. In fact, by 1970, its membership had grown to more than 300, forcing it to move into an adjacent, centuryold farmhouse before finally settling down at its Bronte Road headquarters. "I think if you look at the province of Ontario, you're not going to find too many art organizations that are Oakville Art Society (OAS) board treasurer and painter Jayne Cangemi looks through old scrap books of memorabilia at the organization's location at Gairloch Gardens on Tuesday morning. The OAS is celebrating 50 years and putting on its Starry Night Gala fundraiser Friday, Nov. 20 for its Community Outreach Arts Program. | photo by Nikki Wesley Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) more than 50 years old, and you're probably not going to find one that's 50 years old, owns its own building and does not depend on any government funds for its operations," said Smith. "We're completely independent and that's a big burden to carry, but it also gives us complete independence to do what you want to do." One of those things is putting on its Community Outreach Arts Program (COAP). Currently, the free arts program (launched by an Ontario Tril- lium grant) is a partnership between OAS and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Halton Women's Shelter, the Nelson Youth Centres, SOAAR (Successful Options for Adults with Autism Re-envisioned), Kerr Street Ministries and the Newcomers Association of Halton. "These are people who normally wouldn't have access to these kinds of programs... it's great to have this opportunity," said Smith. see OAS on p.44 See The BeST of The holiday oliday y SeaSon Sea SeaS "Join us for A Christmas Story and Home Alone Free with donation of food or toys after the Santa Claus Parade November 21st!" Sign up for Cin-e-Mail and get a free popcorn! Get our showtimes and promos: cinemail.film.ca 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas The Peanuts Movie (G) November 6th Spectre (PG) November 6th Mockingjay Part 2 (PG) The Good Dinosaur (G) November 20th November 27th