Educational Programs

Welcome to the Varley Art Gallery of Markham Education Programs. Our mandate is to provide a positive gallery experience and a quality visual art education. We have broadened our programs to offer a wide range of subject matter and art activities to suit all ages. The new programs are directly related to the Ontario Visual Art Curriculum and present teachers with solutions to completing the required area of study.

Varley's Education Programs offer you the choice of either In-House Studio Programs or our newly expanded Outreach Program. Both education programs are specially designed to encourage creativity and self-expression in your students' young minds.

School programs are offered Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Times may be adjusted upon request to accommodate your class. For Outreach Programs, we fit your class around your classroom schedule.

The Varley Art Gallery is located on Historic Main Street, Unionville, in the Town of Markham and features work by regional and national artists with a special focus on the art of Frederick Horsman Varley (1881-1969), a founding member of the Group of Seven and one of the most celebrated portrait artists in Canada. Teachers are welcome at the Gallery free of charge, so drop in as often as you like and enjoy our frequently changing exhibitions.

For more information, please call the School Programs Coordinator at 905-477-9511 ext. 234 or email varleyeducation@markham.ca  It is advised to provide at least 2 weeks advance notice to your desired program date, when making a booking.

The In-House Education Program is held here at the Gallery and is offered from Monday to Friday. All fees include taxes and mateials.

Download list of In-House School Programs 

Half Day Programs (2 hours)
A typical visit consists of a one hour interactive gallery tour with our professional guide, followed by a one hour hands-on studio component, encouraging creativity and imagination within the guidelines of the Ontario Curriculum.

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $7.00 per student

Full Day Programs (3 hours + 1 hour lunch break)
A one hour comprehensive tour and hands-on studio activity is complemented by one of the following choices:

• An additional one hour studio exploring either landscape, portraiture or 3-dimensional artworks drawing on the current exhibitions for inspiration.

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 per student

The Varley Gallery's Outreach Programs have been specifically designed with the elementary educator in mind. It is curriculum-based, grade appropriate with links to history, geography and social studies. Onsideration has been given to thematic areas of study for different grades, such as Medieval Art, Ancient Civilizations and Aboriginal Art.

There is a strong component of Canadian artists and history, balanced with drawing and three-dimentional art projects.Choose from over 20 different themes and concepts which will inspire and excite your students.

The program brings a professional art instructor to your classroom providing 80 minutes of art instruction and hands-on activities with resource material provided.

Art supplies such as paper, paint, brushes are the responsibility of the school, but the Gallery can supply “re-useable” supplies such as printmaking tools, palettes and boards upon request. Please check the supply list provided to ensure you have what is needed on the day’s the Artist visits.

Fees: $8.50 per student for a one-time 80 minute visit from our Program Instructor

Special Rate: $125.00 for 80 minute class (up to 26 students)

This special price is for a booking of at least 2 or more classes per day with a minimum of 4 in all. As an added bonus, classes that book 8 sessions are invited for a complimentary guided tour of the Varley Gallery, complete with Gallery art games and activities.

ARTISTS AND IDEAS

1. Current Exhibition
A discussion and activity based on the current gallery exhibition brought to your class.  An opportunity to discuss and create work based on contemporary art. 

2.  Fred Varley
Personify Varley, an original Group of Seven member and founder of our Gallery.  You’ll create a landscape with a foreground, middle ground and background in watercolours and resist.

3. Portraits
Explore the idea of the portrait and how artists choose to depict people.  You’ll learn the formal way to draw a face. You’ll create self-portraits in oil pastels and, using mirrors, will play with the relationship between colour and emotion.

4. The Group of Seven
Trees.  Rocks.  Water.  Skies.  Our future Canadian artists will be inspired and excited by the colourful stories bout The Group of Seven.  Who were they?  Meet the members and recreate a Group of Seven landscape!  You’ll create collage and multimedia landscapes.   It’s not about what you paint, but how you paint. 

5.  Emily Carr
Emily Carr brought her painting talents and her love of nature together.  Get into the flow with Emily.  Hear about her life and passion for art.  Learn from her paintings and create a picture that is full of movement and energy. 

MAKING ART
1.     Abstract Art:
What is it?  How do you do it?  Don’t be scared; rely on colour, line, shape, texture to create a dynamic composition, all the while having fun.

2.     Plasticene Sculpture
If you love animals, then you’ll have fun bringing them to life here.  Soon, you’ll see the animals come marching in.  You’ll create a collaborative mural of Noah’s Ark in coloured clay à la Barbara Reid.

 3. Clay
Using air dray clay, learn the basics of clay sculpture, thumb and coil pots, hand built vessels, amulets…and paint them when they are dry.

4. Perspective Drawing
It’s all on how you look at it.  Step by step, you’ll learn the basics of creating perspective and form – a useful skill to have!

5. Drawing What’s Not there!
Practice right-brain exercises, blind contour drawing and use of negative space to create a still life drawing.

6. Basic Drawing
A look at how artists use expressive lines and ways to create various types of lines with different tools and media.

7. Abstract Monoprints
Using colour, line and shape, printing inks and plates, build a fabulous abstract design in a step by step process to produce an interesting result that you would not believe possible!

Exclusive art supplier:

http://www.abovegroundartsupplies.com/ 

NEW! Special Education Classes (80 minutes, once a week, for 8 weeks)
This program is directed at self contained class rooms, and it could run at the gallery or as an outreach program. This program allows the students an opportunity to broaden their horizons and experience all different sorts of media and subjects while working with professional artists.

Time: 80 minutes
Cost: $68.00 per student for 8 weeks

Download list of Special Education Classes ( 98k/2p)
 

Teachers are always welcome at the Gallery. We give you free admission too! During the school year we offer various in-house services and workshops in conjunction with your school board.

Very well integrated with the expectations of the Ontario School Curriculum. I really liked the fact that students were able to look and comment on each other's work.

Teacher, Grade 2, Wiclay P.S.
(Art Express School Program)

There was a nice interchange between visual art and hands-on art making! Great!

Teacher, Grade 4, North Toronto Christian Academy
(Hands Around the World, Outreach Printmaking School Program)

Students enjoyed the group work in the Gallery, analyzing a painting, and the hands-on studio activity. Thank you! You covered an incredible amount in two hours. An excellent programme!

Teacher, Grade 2, St. Matthew C.S.
(Specialized Arts Elective Workshops)

A great experience, beautiful Gallery, we will visit again!

Teacher, Pre-school, Manor Montessori,
(Painting the Magic of Colour School Program)

This was a great enhancement to our study of Medieval Europe ! Children enjoyed the book making and painting the Illuminated letters!

Teacher, Grade 4, St. Matthew C.S.
(Specialized Illuminated Letters Art Program)

Please, book your tour at least 14 days in advance. A booking request form and a 50% deposit is required in order to confirm your booking. For more information or to book a tour, please call the School Program Coordinator,  at 905-477-9511 ext. 234 or email varleyeducation@markham.ca

Payment Information

• All cheques are to be made payable to "The Town of Markham
• A 20% deposit is required at time of booking. The balance is due upon completion of the program.
• Cancellations must be received in writing, minimum 15 full workingdays before the scheduled program date.
• Deposits are non-refundable if cancellation notice is not provided as per above.
• Any requested changes must be made minimum five working days prior to scheduled program date.

Prices are subject to change without notification.