The Status of Women Council of the NWT’s new art program may be a one-time thing.
Related: SENIOR WOMEN AND YOUNG MOTHERS TO BOND WITH NEW ART PROGRAM
While the funding comes from New Horizon’s for Seniors, the funding itself is currently just for this coming winter. This puts the potential of an annual event up in the air.
Despite the risk of it being a one-off, there will be 3 sessions for people to attend. Each session will run for 5 weeks and will focus on sharing the knowledge that young mothers can gain from senior women.
Samantha Thomas, Executive Director for the Status of Women Council, says that a major focus for the program was being financially friendly.
“It can be hard being a young mother,” says Thomas. “Finding childcare, transportation and just the tools necessary to be expressive through art, it can be expensive. We wanted to ensure that these women wouldn’t have to worry about those things.”
As implied, the program will offer free childcare, transportation and art supplies.
Thomas says that the location of the program is still being looked after.
“The main issue is finding a place that is able to offer the room needed. We’ll find somewhere though.”
The first session begins September 19th. The final session finishes February 13th.
In March, there will be a public showing of the art that has been produced and the opportunity to talk to the women who have participated in the program. Thomas says that she hopes the participants will be brave enough to share their work.
“We’re hoping the women will be able to walk people through their art; show them what they were thinking and feeling when they made it.”
Women can sign up at the Status of Women Council website www.statusofwomen.nt.ca, or call at 867- 920-6177.
