For many families in the Fraser Valley, the Sunday Family Arts program has become a staple in their children’s artistic education. The team at Prospera Credit Union recognizes the need for educational family fun within the community and have once again funded the popular Sunday Family Arts program through The Reach, showcasing their commitment to providing meaningful programs within the Abbotsford community.
This year marks the seventh year that Prospera has invested in the program, which takes place two Sunday’s a month. Sunday Family Arts gives participants of all ages the opportunity to try their hand at art projects that are inspired by current exhibitions. “This program is really about bringing families together to engage in the act of making. It’s an opportunity to be with the kids, and maybe to be a bit of a kid ourselves, which is something we don’t make enough time for in our busy lives.” says Laura Schneider, Executive Director at The Reach. “We are so fortunate to have the support of a community business partner who values the importance of the arts and is willing to respond so generously.”
“Great leaders are inspirational and capable of painting a picture to communicate their vision to others. In fact, the ability to think creatively and maintain an optimistic and open mind are important traits for highly effective leaders,” says Shawn Good, President and CEO of Prospera Credit Union. “Partnering with programs such as Sunday Family Arts that provide children with the opportunity to think creatively and build art that inspires others is strongly aligned with our desire to develop great leaders. We are deeply committed to strengthening the communities where our members live, work, and play, and believe that nurturing the creativity and confidence in the children of today will develop strong, confident leaders of tomorrow.”
The Sunday Family Arts program at The Reach provides kids and families with the time to bond in a creative environment where all learning styles are encouraged. Some of the upcoming programs include: Experimental Forms (Feb. 4), inspired by artist Erica Grimm’s collaborative installation, where participants will use fabric, paper and plastic to create a sculptural form based on ancient water-going forms. During Uncanny Theatricality (Feb. 18), we will bring together painting, drawing, and performance to create a larger than life poster that incorporates artist Mark Neufeld’s concepts of cinematic histories and settler narratives; with Pixelated Watercolours (March 4), let’s deconstruct landscapes into nothing more than pixels, based on exhibiting artist Christopher Friesen’s work Search by Image; and on March 18, bring the family to create Miniature Artifacts – mini clay sculptures that resemble objects in The Reach’s historical collections.
With Prospera’s generous support, families may register for these classes free of charge. Classes are offered two times a day, every other Sunday, and children are encouraged to bring as many family members as they would like (just don’t forget to register!). No artistic experience is necessary to join in on this afternoon of family fun.
The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford is located at 32388 Veterans Way. For more information on the Sunday Family Arts and other programming visit: www.thereach.ca.
Media Contact:
Ingrid Epp
604 864-8087 x123 iepp@thereach.ca