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Barrie art club members enjoy....

The club is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are very fortunate to have our own studio/gallery to meet at.  We are entirely run by volunteers, so our activities rely on volunteer commitment and availability. Members please refer to the Online Calendar for schedule details.

Programs

DROP-INS (free/$, members' walk-in)

  • Spend time with a circle of people doing art
  • 10am-12:30pm, 12:30pm-3pm, some evenings 6pm-9pm
  • 'Impromptu' drop ins take place when one of our hosts randomly open the club for open studio time, outside of regular club hours.

Open Studio Drop-ins (free)

  • Free to members
  • Unstructured studio time: Bring your supplies, ideas and or works in progress to create in the medium of your choice.
  • Learn from each other, seek out a friendly critique, receive and offer encouragement, exchange ideas...

themed DROP-INS (FREE/occasional shared cost)

  • Topics vary. Themed Drop-Ins are driven by the interest of our members who step forward to host them.   
  • Each group chooses how often they meet:  once a month, twice a month, once a week.
  • No need to sign up in advance, just join in.
  • Typically free, but a group sometimes chooses to share in the cost of supplies or a resource like a life model.
  • Abstracts, Still Life, Art Journaling and Mixed Media, Portraiture, Life Drawing, Watercolours, Soft Pastel, Painting...

PLEIN AIR MEET-UP/drop-in (FREE)

  • Join our Plein Air Meet-up group -- a special flavour of Drop-In that takes place away from the club -- "in the open air".
  •  Rendezvous with the group at various spots, or carpool to get there, then draw and paint outside to capture animals, buildings, boats, or the beauty of nature.
  • Meet at the club during the winter months to work from your reference photos, or finish in the studio what you started outside.

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WORKSHOPS ($, registration required)

  • Professional artist-instructors teach workshops for beginners to experienced artists.  
  • As a volunteer-organized non-profit effort, workshop fees are kept as low as possible for our members.
  •  One-day "Weekend Workshops ($WEW): typically two Saturday's per month. Members enjoy a discount.  
  •  "Weekday Workshops" ($WDW): range from single 3 hours sessions, to 4 sessions over a period of 4 weeks, that run on either Mondays or Thursdays in the mornings, afternoons or evenings.  Workshop fees are incredibly low.

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ART TALKS (free,  members' walk-in)

  • Enjoy a free evening demo / presentation once a month. 
  • The featured guest inspires, demonstrates an art form, technique, shares product info...
  • A variety of topics of interest to artists
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THEMES TO INSPIRE & challenge (free)

  • Rise to the challenge, and be encouraged to create a painting, drawing, collage, etc. on a different theme each month.
  • Then add your work to the themed exhibit on the Members’ Gallery Wall. Your work must have the proper hooks and wiring for hanging. Each month the chosen People's Choice pieces (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Place) are displayed at the club.

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Community

WEBSITE

  • Never miss a club happening! Check the At a Glance page for a summary, or view the calendar for details.
  • Keep track of upcoming themes for our monthly members show.
  • Pay for your membership and workshop registrations online via Paypal or with a credit card.
  • See our handy directory of members. You control what personal info you share. The directory features a personal photo gallery for you to share your art. 
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Social Events

  • Spend time with others who value art at our show openings each month
  • Enjoy the company of fellow members at our annual Christmas social

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The HURONia Festival of arts and crafts at Kempenfest

The Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts (HVAC) is jointly run by the Barrie Art Club and the Kiwanis Club of Barrie.  This festival constitutes arts and fine crafts component of  Kempenfest.  The vision of HVAC is to create an opportunity for juried artists and artisans to sell their quality creations.  

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Supporting The Arts Localy

Part of the Barrie Art Club's vision is to support art in the community beyond just our members. 

  • Local artists are hired to teach in our workshops program
  • The BAC brings art to the community of Barrie by supporting the Barrie Spring Art Tour, and by running the Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts at Kempenfest each year
  • We have participated in community art events like the mural project, and the twin city project
  • The BAC issues grants to students attending Georgian College's Fine Arts Program
  • We have financially supported community art programs including The Van Go Program at the MacLaren Art Centre which brings professional artists into the school to deliver visual art experiences to elementary students
  • We donate/loan member art to enhance public spaces like the Royal Victoria Hospital, and the Barrie City Hall municipal offices

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Volunteering

Express your love of art by supporting the Barrie Art Club with your time.  We are a non-profit, volunteer organization and are run entirely by our volunteer members. Members work together towards the ongoing success of The Barrie Art Club.  Volunteers give their time as they are able, a few hours a week, bi-weekly, monthly, or at occasional or annual events.

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Resources

ARTISTS NETWORK

Among fellow members, people have found:  

  • help with a troublesome art technique
  • a recommendation for a workshop
  • a connection for a teaching engagement
  • art supplies free/cheap from fellow members
  • a studio partner, a friend, an art show buddy
  • an honest critique, ideas for the direction of a piece, the encouragement to take artistic risks
  • support in returning to art-making after years away ... 

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OPPORTUNITIES TO EXHIBIT (most free)

BAC Monthly Featured Artists (free, sign-up)
  • Be one of two members each month who show a collection of their works.  Items may be priced for sale.
BAC Members Show (free, drop off art on "Hanging Day")
  • Each month, join member artists of all levels of experience, share your work on a theme in our collective Members' Show.  Items may be priced for sale.  
The People's Choice Awards:  The Edge Gallery (free, by members' vote)
  • Each month members and visitors are invited to vote for their favourite 3 pieces of art in the Members' Show. First to fourth place selections are exhibited at the Club on the honour wall. The 1st choice artist may submit a collection of their work to be exhibited at (new location to be announced soon).
The Simcoe County Museum (free, sign-up)
  • Our members' art graces the walls of The Simcoe County Museum.  The themed exhibit changes quarterly with all items for sale. 
The Barrie City Hall Rotunda (free, sign-up, one piece / member)
  • Hang your art in the Rotunda Show.  Once a year members can register and exhibit their work in the Rotunda at City Hall for a one month period. (No fee)
The Barrie Spring Art Tour ($, application)
  • BAC participates in the Spring Art Tour each year. Members apply to be a part of the annual exhibition. There is a fee for registration in this tour.
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Our Lending Library

The Barrie Art Club has an excellent library of materials that references a medley of art mediums, artists, and art genres.  Many books are donated by members, and the club refreshes the collection with book and DVD purchases, and magazine subscriptions.

personal ONLINE GALLERY

Create a gallery of your own works of art on our website. Include a brief bio or artist's statement to share your inspiration and process.  Publish your gallery to other members, or keep it for private showing/viewing.  This online show of art can be used to impress friends, help you track your own progress, to show samples of work to potential clients...

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coming soon: artists-for-Hire Directory

Do you accept commissions, teach private or group art lessons? Advertise to the public. Upgrade your membership and be a part of a searchable public directory (by name, by service offered, by medium). Link to your website, share your gallery, advertise your upcoming workshops.

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Perks

Discounts

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Studio/facility Rental

Due to an increase in the number of club activities and programs, our facility is NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR RENT.

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