Arts Unleashed
376 Kingston Rd. Unit 7 L1V 6K4 Pickering, ON, Canada

NEW 3+ Saturday Designers classes! We are so excited to be prepping our sunny back studio to have young artists joining us on Saturday mornings. Beginning March 13th and running until June, this weekly class will offer an exciting Arts experience with mixed medium creation activities. Small groups.... No shared materials. 100% Kid-created! 9:15 *10:45 (will open once 9:15 is full) $22+HST / child 10% sibling discount available https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

Imagination is a powerful tool. This year has been a roller coaster ride for sure, but the energy in the studio has been filled with joy. Our imaginations have taken us all over the world, into space, through magical forests, and into Dragon Kingdoms. Our imaginations have gifted us a wonderful escape.... Imagination is a Super Power! Giving your child space to imagine, create, and explore freely is the greatest gift. We’re honored to be part of this wonderful process every week at the studio.

Hurray for Ben! We have new ‘sneezels’ thanks to Ben. These table top plexi easels allow children to sit facing each other, feeling more connected while staying safe. Ben has been with us since starting as a camp volunteer in 2017 and becoming a staff member in 2019. He now works behind the scenes building easels and generally being amazing. ... Thank you!

April Break Camp Morning and afternoon camp is sold out! If you were hoping for a space, join our waitlist. We’ll add more spaces if restrictions ease.... We love camp!

Dragon Eggs Saturday Designers took home a special creation this week. Hope they don’t hatch - those would be some BIG pets to care for! We used recycled containers for nests and mixed grasses too. ... Love the results!

HOME New 3+ Designers classes today and these littles were creating big things. We even had a dinosaur join us!... We still have space at 9:15 if your little artist wants to create with us. Perfect for children 3-6. Small group. BIG experience! https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

INCREDIBLE! Dragon Wings! Our first creation activity of the Designers series has young artists creating long beyond the hour on Zoom and the results are phenomenal! This activity comes from Little Ginger Studio in Sydney Australia. Can’t wait to see the rest of the wings as our week goes on.... First Online Designers class today. Curbside pick up and zoom in at 4:30!

ONLINE Designers Artists are exploring a FANTASY theme this session. Pick up materials curbside bi-weekly and ZOOM in for 100% kid-created Art classes. Costumes, props, sets, and backdrops; this class will unleash your child’s imagination for hours after they log off! ... https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

Worried about screen time? Find out why our play-based Improv programs are the closest you can get to an in-studio experience... online! https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2020 proved that imagination is our greatest Superpower. Thank you to everyone who brought joy and laughter to the studio and supported us through a year of immense change. Looking forward to new adventures in 2021!... **Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to this music.

A simple snow flake activity to bring some colour to your windows!

Imagination is a Superpower! Back to class - ONLINE and in-studio (once the lockdown is over). Designers will explore a Fantasy theme this session, creating sets, props, and costume pieces in our unique Performing Arts based program. Online families pick up Kits curbside and Zoom in for class. ... Have a dramatic child? Our play-based Improv gets your child moving and laughing online or in-studio. Join us for Winter 2021! https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

ZOOM! That’s the new ‘BOOM!’ Two classes and a party to start the season! Imagination truly is a Super Power! Being in studio would be wonderful, but let the creativity continue in any way we can.... Thank you to everyone who has taken the leap online with AU. It means so much

Labour of Love Behind the scenes of each party, camp or class is a lengthy preparation process that is full of love and attention to detail! We cut A LOT of cardboard! ... Each set piece or backdrop is individually measured and cut with young people in mind. We’re always thinking about how to improve the design to ensure our artists can create something easily from home. When you order Kits from us, real people are taking time to measure, cut, fold, and prepare interactive activities that will allow every child’s imagination to shine!

Art at home! I love the stained glass window activity and the first paint activity looks messy, but with such cool results. Some ideas for your week at home.

Designers Our first classes of the 2021 session kicked off with an exciting Fantasy creation activity. Dragon Wings! This activity was inspired by Little Ginger Studio and allows artists to really spread their wings and fly! With layers and layers of textured scales, there’s room to continue creating all week between Zoom classes. ... These are the kind of activities we love - no 2 designs will end up the same and everyone will have a costume piece to use for imaginary play. More classes starting this week! https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

WHAT did we find? Anyone? Please post your guesses. Note that while I was acting in the studio, 9 others were acting from home and the voice you hear is the person who was ‘late’. After sending him into a breakout room, we made up a 3 part reason why he was late for work. Then we brought him back and acted out our story while he tried to guess. This was my Academy Award winning performance ... The games we played in person are STILL possible, even online!

CAMP! Half day Arts camp to give your child a blast of confidence, creativity & imagination! Movement, drama, painting, building, and messy fun. Our camps are always 100% kid-created.... Small groups. BIG experience! Register now - space is limited. https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/camp

Nature Art No school? Get outside, collect, and create! For my family the most successful outings are always to the beach and it’s there year round. It changes with each season, but it’s beautiful all the way through. If you’re near water, head out for a walk and find: Beach glass... Driftwood Rocks When you get home have hot chocolate and create something beautiful. Below are a few ideas to get you started, but even jamming a bunch of driftwood in a vase can bring a fresh energy to your space!

We love camp! These mornings of movement, painting and creation are such a blessing each week. A taste of summer camp every single week! We have space this Thursday 9:00-12:00. We’ll be creating pop-up puppet theatres!... https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/camp

Last moment in the studio for 2020 and I find myself in a dog mask. This feels appropriate. Needing endless energy, leaping around excitedly for any in-person attention, and constantly trying to learn new tricks - sums up this year in business! This dog is taking a much needed break to take walks and sleep late. The studio will re-open to Online classes, camps, and parties on January 14th for P.A. Day Camp Kit pick up and regular classes begin the week of January 18th. ... Details are coming to all our families. See you all soon! Annika and the AU team

Online Party! Last Party Kits of 2020! Look at all the exciting pieces that get bagged up for our Creation Party Kits. This one is a Unicorn ‘Mini World’ kit. Now booking for January!... Pick up curbside and ZOOM in for the celebration. https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/parties

SCENE! Love our weeknight Improv sessions! These girls have been cranking out characters and laughter for years and I’m so grateful for Wednesday evenings with them.

CONTROL-RED On Monday, November 23rd Durham entered CONTROL-RED. What does this mean for Arts Unleashed? We will continue with current COVID protocols:... 1. No more than 10 people in the studio 2. Masks when unable to socially distance 3. Signs and Symptoms checklist 4. Temperatures & Handwashing on arrival 5. No shared materials or workspaces In the event that Durham is elevated to a lockdown and we are unable to finish classes we will package up the class kits for curbside pick up (Designers) and ZOOM in at our regularly scheduled class times. If you would like further information on the changes that will take place in Durham, click the link below. https://www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keepin

Back ONLINE! Morning and afternoon camp sessions with 16 campers creating city sets and animal puppets to roam their cities! Lockdown won’t stop the creativity and imagination. Pick up kits curbside and ZOOM in for parties, camps and classes!

We're weaving this week! Check out this amazing video from the MET and try out some weaving with a cardboard loom. We're busy cutting out another 20 looms for this week's classes. We even created a cardboard 'needle' to make weaving easier and eliminate the need for a real needle. Our online students did a great job! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWLIy-Um7_0

Holiday puppet show! Another happy family Art session and this time we ended with a puppet show! Loved seeing these cousins dive into a 100% kid-created show with their own characters and storyline. ... Kids have the BEST imaginations and their parents got creative too

Details! Love when little people load on the details. This artist was busy for over an hour today creating her incredible haunted house. How many windows can you count?

Monsters! Campers combined painted cardboard and assorted add-ons to create these crazy characters! We even added a handle on the back so they could ‘walk’ them around.... Halloween week continues

Outer Space Party! We had a party on Zoom AND in the studio! Our Birthday boy and his family got to create in the studio while his friends designed their space sets at home. Rocket ships, astronauts and stars! This party was out of this world!

Bubble Class! Halloween was the theme for today’s bubble class. A small group of family and friends creating together. Haunted houses and our first monsters, inspired by Mini Mad Things. Looking for a private session for your family and friends? Contact us to create safely.... https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/private

New pet! More chameleons headed home today. We used laminated templates to trace the shape, water colour paints and Q-tips for the design and then after cutting them out we used the cut off paper to create leaves. Everything was glued to a driftwood stick and our new pets were ready to take home.... We’ve loved learning about chameleons this week. The world is full of fascinating creatures - if you’re unsure what to do with your kids this week, pick a country and find out about the animals that live there!

Haunted! From sparkly, feathered houses to dark and gory ones - we had such a creative morning with our up-cycled Mini Haunted Houses!

Mini Designers Weekly messy process art for little people 2+ (or younger if you think they’re ready!) Each child has their own materials and we only take 4 littles / class with their parents. ... Want to make your own bubble class? Contact us for class times. https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

Two at last! This little artist turned 2 today! He’s been coming to our Mini Designers classes since he was 16 months old. Our youngest artist ever! Happy Birthday!...

Haunted House! Love this design from tonight’s 8+ Designers class. Made with ‘up-cycled’ materials. Never underestimate your recycling! We still have room if you’d like to join us Thursdays at 5:45.

Congratulations!! A big shout out to our very own Michelle who received the ‘Volunteer of Distinction’ award from the Durham District School Board. Michelle has been with Arts Unleashed since the beginning and a volunteer with DDSB for over 10 years. So proud of her and grateful to have such amazing staff and friends ... @gulbismichelle

Boo! As Halloween approaches the studio is filled with spooky creation and messy fun. We’re making recycled Mini Haunted Houses and Monsters. ... Grab some recycling and paint and create your own!

Party! This Toy Story set design took a crazy abstract turn. Looks like a tornado hit! This was our first in-person party since February. ... A small group in a big space.

We love Creating! Join us for weekly Designers classes. Tuesdays 4:30 (now open to all ages) or Thursdays at 5:45 (8+). Travel around the world with us, gaining inspiration from Festivals in 5 different countries. ... Everyone needs more ART in their lives. https://www.ArtsUnleashed.ca/classes

Laughter Improvisation is the cure for our current situation. Tonight in Teen Improv we laughed so hard that I forgot about everything negative. Connecting and laughing felt incredible and we all left the class on a high! Laughter and connection is what we NEED. Hope you’re finding ways to laugh these days.

Llama Piñata Twisted tissue paper and glue for these fluffy Llamas. We’re in Mexico Day 2 and creating cute simulated piñatas the simple way! Templates or 3D cardboard designs looked great with tissue paper squares twisted and stuck on.

We’re in France! Inspired by marionette dolls, we created puppets with removable masks that elasticize around their heads! These puppets are headed to Carnival in Nice.