Looking for an exciting way to escape the snow and slush? Warm up to creativity this winter at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. We offer a wide range of arts education programs for creatives of all ages, interests, and skill levels.

For the aspiring artist in your family, we’re happy to announce the return of some of our most popular youth programs, including Art & Robots and After School Anime. Taught by veteran RCA instructor Brock Gratz, these perennial favorites give kids and teens a unique chance to explore their creative sides. After School Anime introduces students to the exciting world of anime and manga, familiarizing them with techniques and methods drawn straight from the industry. Art & Robots, meanwhile, gives students a chance to explore the more artistic side of robotics. In this hands-on workshop, students customize a simple, remote-controlled robot and test its limits with a series of creative challenges. Bridging science, technology, art, and engineering, Art & Robots is perfect for curious kids aged 8–12.

But if you're looking to branch out, the RCA is also excited to introduce several new youth workshops this winter, including Introduction to Photography and Zines for Teens. Led by instructor Melissa Sorokolit, these classes will give students a chance to get acquainted with the foundations of digital photography, and to explore the amazing history and artistry of zine-making. Says Sorokolit, “Zines are like the rebels of the art world…They allow the artist to explore their art form through as many different mediums as they'd like while thinking outside the box of a singular page or canvas. Zines are the definition of art outside the box.”

If it sounds like the kids are having all the fun this year, then we have you covered! We've got plenty of opportunities for the grown-ups, as well. For those looking to elevate their painting practice, we're excited to launch our brand new Opus Curates workshop series. This series aims to inspire and grow the Okanagan arts community through classes taught by instructors affiliated with Opus Art Supplies. The series gets underway January 27 with a new Encaustic and Pigment Stick workshop led by artist Megan MacDonald, and continues March 22, when artist Jolene Mackie leads a class focused on incorporating gold leaf into oil painting.

Also brand new for 2022 is our Stand-Up Comedy workshop, led by celebrated Kelowna comedian Kate Belton. While this class will certainly get you ready to land a perfect punchline, Kate says it’s also about more than that: “Aside from the basics of how to craft and deliver a joke, by participating in this course people can gain a sense of confidence they may not have known they were capable of having. Stand-up comedy is such a vulnerable craft as you're alone on the stage and the audience provides immediate feedback. It can be scary to think about for someone who has never tried it before, but the rush of getting your first laugh on stage is so worth it."

“At the end of the day, Kate says, “everybody just wants some laughter and lightness in their lives, and the purpose of this course is to help each other find that. Whether or not they ever get up on stage to tell these jokes is up to the participants, but they can be assured that in this course they'll be surrounded by encouraging peers.”

So whether you're looking to delve into the finer points of encaustic or start your journey toward becoming Canada's next comedy icon, the RCA is the place for you this winter. Stop in, warm up, and get creative for 2022.