08/24/2026
The Arts Access Project will introduce arts practice to participants who live with support from New Directions and staff, provide training, experience and professional development for artists with this demographic, September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.
Arts Inclusion has worked with Crescent Arts Centre to create unique and long-standing programs dedicated to enriching the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Participants develop capacity in dance, musical theatre, creative drama, improv, and visual arts. These artistic experiences enhance quality of life, foster independence, nurture hidden abilities, build skills, enhance communication and social networks.
Arts Inclusion creates programs, not based in Art Therapy, but focused on making arts practice accessible to all and service workers, siblings or caregivers get to join in.
Through the use of colour, sound or movement, everyone can find ways to communicate and connect.
This Arts Access Project will provide training and practice for professional artists to facilitate art-making for adults with intellectual disabilities. Our approach will remain flexible as we consider different art forms that interest participants. We will meet with service agency supervisors and staff to clarify agency and participant needs and to understand where arts outreach could be beneficial to their clients. We will also meet with artists to explore how to adapt their approaches to teaching. The artists will do Adult Services Orientations before the programs start.
Arts Access will develop an evaluation plan with our partners that will document, assess and make recommendations to establish artist participation in the service sector. The goal of the project is to spark innovative artwork, educate the public to the value of the arts for this population, augment communication skills, increase accessibility, reduce loneliness and create an environment that supports relationships.
Email us at [email protected] or visit www.artsinclusion.com to learn more or register for the free lunch info session.
The Arts Access Project is funded by the Canada Council of the Arts.