Courses for Children and Youth

Winter courses on sale now! 

The AGO offers courses and workshops in a fun and supportive environment encouraging young artists (ages 2-18) the freedom to explore their potential, build confidence, and develop artmaking and critical thinking skills. Students have the unique opportunity to learn from Artist Instructors, who are dedicated educators and practicing studio artists. Our approach to art instruction is student led and focuses on traditional and contemporary artmaking techniques and concepts. This learning is supported by strong connections to artwork in the AGO Collection and special exhibitions.

Coming this winter:

For Families
Try a Side-by-Side course in which you and your child explore and make together. 

For Children
We have painting, life drawing, drawing explorations and cartooning to deepen your child's observational and creative skills among an intimate group of peers.

For Youth 
Life Drawing is an essential technical and observational skill recommended for any foundational studio programs and for those interested in pursuing careers in the creative arts. 

Check out more of our family fun programming at the AGO.

Making Together

child painting with adult

Side by Side ONLINE

Ages 4–6 with an Adult

Saturdays 10:00am - 11:00am
February 6th - March 6th 
(Skipping over Feb 13th)

Instructor: TBA

Members $160.00 / General Public $190.00 (4 weeks)

Have fun getting creative, learning about the AGO collection, and making art alongside your young artist. In this online course, children with an adult caregiver will explore exciting artmaking techniques and learn how to reinvent art materials while working on individual and shared projects.

This class is programmed for 1 adult and 1 child to take together.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST

Ideally, each child and adult have a set of their own materials to work side by side:

  • Scissors
  • Glue stick and/or white glue with brush
  • Pencil crayons
  • Markers
  • Black Sharpie (any black permanent marker)
  • Oil pastels (a set or at least 5 colours. You can use wax crayons, but they do not work quite as well for the collagraph project)
  • Paper: (listed per person)
    • 2–4 recycled cereal cardboard boxes, various sizes
    • 8–12 sheets white paper, approximately 8” x 10”
    • 12–24 sheets of construction paper around 9” x 12” – assorted colours
    • 1 large long white cardstock sheet 10” x 30”
    • (Alternatively you can tape smaller pieces of paper together) Bristol board OR for example Cougar Coverstock (1 sheet can be cut lengthwise to share): https://store.abovegroundartsupplies.com/products/cougar-cover-200m-20x…
  • Pipe cleaners: 12-24 assorted
  • Toothpicks: approximately 6–10
  • Plasticine assorted colours + extra white for a winter scene. Around a golf ball-size each colour for each person. (2 sides of recycled boxes to be used as cardboard surface approximately 5” x 7”)
  • A bag or box to keep your artwork
  • Painter's tape: ¾” wide or similar (masking tape can work too, but may damage the paper)
  • Craft materials: paper straws, some string, coffee sleeves (corrugated inside), buttons, feathers, puzzle pieces,ribbon, string, yarn, etc.

Terms and Conditions of Participation in Online and Courses.

Classes are subject to cancellation three days before the start of the course

REGISTER NOW

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Children's printmaking activity

Painting Together: Exploring Abstract Art Online

Ages 6 - 10 with an Adult

Saturday February 6th 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturday February 20th 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturday February 27th 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturday March 6th 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Instructor: Jessie Jakumeit

Members $35 / General Public $50 (1 day)

Join us for a one-day online family workshop where children with an adult caregiver will explore artists and artworks in the AGO Collection and get inspired to create together.

Terms and Conditions of Participation in Online Courses.

This class is programmed for 1 adult and 1 child to take together.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST

Ideally, each child and adult have a set of their own materials to work side by side:

  • Paint: Acrylic is ideal, 120 ml (but tempera or watercolour will work too): Red, blue, yellow, magenta, black and white
  • Brushes: one each: large (approximately 1” flat) and small-medium (any round tip that goes into a point)
  • Paper: 2 sheets 8” x 10" or larger: (for exercises and practice) that can hold a bit of paint: mixed media, screen printing, or watercolour cold or hot press paper
  • Canvas panel or stretched canvas: one 12” x 16” or similar (cardboard can also be used)
  • Container for rinsing brushes
  • Rags or paper towel
  • Suitable place to work and place wet paintings
  • Apron

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Childrens' Courses

Kids life drawing

Life Drawing ONLINE

Ages 8–10

Sundays 2:00pm - 3:30pm
February 7th - March 7th (4 weeks)
(Skipping over Feb 14th)

Ages 11–13

Sundays 1pm - 2:30pm
January 10th - 31st (4 weeks)

Instructor: Olia Mishchenko 

Members $160 General Public $190 (4 weeks)

Using the AGO Collection as inspiration, children and youth are introduced to the fundamental skills and techniques of drawing. In this online course, students will work with different poses and perspectives on life drawing to explore different drawing techniques and materials.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST

  • Sketchbook 11” by 14” or similar, (approximately 30 sheets: lots of white drawing paper for the 4 dates)
  • Optional: 1 larger sheet approximately 12” x 18” neutral-toned paper, i.e.; Kraft, pastel paper in greys, browns. For example: https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm?Category=CANSON_COLORLINE_ART_PAPE…
  • HB or 2B pencil  
  • 4B or 6B graphite pencil
  • Black Conté stick, White Conté stick
  • Ultra fine point Sharpie marker or another fine, felt tip marker in black
  • Chalk pastels,  3–12 colours (pencil crayons can be substituted)
  • White eraser
  • Paper towel, tissue, Q-tip or a stomp

Terms and Conditions of Participation in Online Courses.

REGISTER NOW

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child in cartooning class

Cartooning ONLINE

Ages 8–13

Saturdays 1:00pm - 2:30pm
February 6th - March 6th
(Skipping Feb 13th)

Instructor: Dave Lapp

Members $160 General Public $190 (4 weeks)

Students learn the art of drawing, storyboarding and character development, working on projects that can include storyboards, flip books, trading cards and collaborative comic book anthologies. Have fun while exploring this unique and playful art form in this online course.

Students to supply their own materials.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST
- 2H Or HB penci
- White eraser
- Paper: 8 1/2" by 11" copy paper OR a sketchbook of similar size (30-100 sheets, depends how much you like to draw!)
- Markers, inks, OR pencil crayons (colour for your drawings)
- 1-2 black pens: Pilot Fineliner black marker or permanent very fine tip black marker
- Ruler, or straight edge

Terms and Conditions of Participation in Online Courses.

REGISTER NOW

Learn More

Art Education Policies

Policies

Please read the following policies when you prepare your registration to AGO Education courses and camps.

  • Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis and is limited to space restrictions.
  • Advance registration is recommended for all programs.
  • Registration is confirmed only upon receipt of payment.
  • All registration is subject to availability.
  • All programs, prices and instructors are subject to change without notice.
  • The AGO has the right to remove students from classes. (remove if they are disruptive).

Withdrawals and Refunds

Courses

  • Refunds are available in full 5 days before the start of the first class, minus a $15 administration fee.
  • For all courses a withdrawal is allowed before the start of the second class, minus a $50 administration fee.
  • Withdrawals after the start of the second class are non-refundable.
  • One day workshops are non-refundable. 
  • Absence does not constitute a withdrawal.
  • Courses are not transferable.
  • Withdrawal requests must be done by email through the Contact Centre at contactus@ago.ca.

Cancellation of Classes

  • To ensure that we are able to run your preferred classes, we recommend that you enroll at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the program.
  • In the event of course cancellation, registrants will be notified 3 days prior to the scheduled commencement of the course and a full refund will be given.

Accessibility

The AGO is committed to providing a welcoming and accessible destination and workplace. We embrace the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity to serve our visitors, staff and volunteers, and our community at large.

Read about our Commitment to Accessibility, our Customer Service Policies for visitors with disabilities, and our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.

Please let us know how we may assist you.

Scents

In consideration of those in the Gallery School who may have allergies and chemical sensitivities, please refrain from wearing cologne, perfume or other scented products.

Photography, Motion Picture, and Video Consent

Your registration ticket constitutes acknowledgement of willingness to appear in promotional photographs, motion pictures and videos taken in public areas of the Gallery and releases the Art Gallery of Ontario from liability resulting from use of such photographs, motion pictures or videos

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