Foundation Program

About the Foundation Program

The Foundation Program is built on the principles of visual and contemporary arts that prioritizes sound technical skills with critical, creative expression.

Suitable for students ages 7-12, this program aims to reach big and dive deep to establish a solid foundation for an expressive artistic practice to flourish. It is a yearlong, twice weekly program that’s composed of one yearlong CORE discipline in combination with a rotation of inspiring EXPLORE courses. This structure is designed to establish solid technical and conceptual roots while exposing them to the exciting breadth of the visual and contemporary arts. Students will develop essential skills of self-expression, empathy and creative agency to become well rounded and confident human beings.

Both the Junior and Intermediate programs will benefit from expanded learning opportunities that are unique to the Foundation Program including formal exhibitions, celebratory receptions, interdisciplinary modules, and optional field trips.

Download the Foundation Program Information Package

The Foundation Program is supported by the Poseley Family

Program Structure

CORE DISCIPLINES

The CORE discipline is where students will develop their bedrock of important artistic skills. Based on a
comprehensive 31-week curriculum, students will learn fundamental artistic, technical, conceptual and
critical skills. Here they will develop close relationships to their Core Instructor and Assistant, as well as
to their cohort of peers, and build a sustainable deep-rooted artistic practice.

Visual Arts
The Visual Arts CORE discipline is designed for students who wish to explore the critical and aesthetic potential of image-making, and expand beyond a traditional visual arts practice to experiment with different tools, materials, and processes to develop a multidisciplinary, tactile and material-based foundation in Art & Design. Students will develop core skills in drawing, painting, mixed media, papier mâché and collage.

Media Arts
The Media Arts CORE discipline is designed for students who wish to explore both established and new technologies, and connect those digital creative practices to the essential elements of storytelling, world-building, and character design to develop a digital and media-literate foundation in Art & Design. Students will develop core skills across a variety of digital mediums including animation, photography and film to express themselves through both still and moving digital images.

EXPLORE COURSES

The EXPLORE courses are designed with the goal of exposing students to a wide-ranging breadth of contemporary creative possibilities with each EXPLORE course lasting between 6-8 weeks in length.

Through expanded workshops and a deep-dive project, students will be introduced to a new creative medium and be exposed to the wide world of contemporary art. Please see the program package for course descriptions.

Explore options include:

  • Clay Sculpture
  • Architecture
  • Printmaking
  • Creative Electronics
  • Digital Painting
  • Video & SFX
  • Pupperty
  • Character Design
  • Fashion Design

Bursaries

Finances should never prevent a child from participating in the arts. As a non-profit organization, Arts Umbrella is committed to making our programs accessible to as many children and youth in our communities as possible. The Arts Umbrella Bursary Fund allows hundreds of children to register in tuition-based programs at a reduced rate, based on your family’s financial need.

Applications for bursary funding are open to everyone. To view eligibility and submission details, please visit our Scholarships & Bursaries page. Your privacy matters to us. All applications are held in confidence.

Support Arts Umbrella

Donate

Volunteer

Sponsorship

Fundraising Events

Arts Umbrella donors, volunteers, and sponsors share the same belief: that arts education can transform a child’s life. Whether attending an event, making a monthly gift, or donating time, our supporters are vital to helping us inspire creativity for good through the arts.