School Workshops

Bring your class to the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton for an art workshop. Our school workshops will expand critical and creative thinking and are tailored to meet curriculum requirements at each grade level.

Book a school workshop

We welcome elementary school classes, community groups, and organizations.

If you are interested in booking a school workshop please fill out the School Workshop Reservation Form.

Once you complete the School Workshop Reservation Form a representative from the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton will contact you to confirm your booking request, attendance number, and any accessibility needs.

Workshop fees

Our school workshop fees include participant registration and all necessary materials and art supplies. Adults attend our workshop free of charge. Our recommendation ratio of adults to students is 1:10. 

Please note each workshop must have a minimum of 18 students. 

An invoice will be sent to you with payment information. Once the invoice is generated no changes can be made to the reservation. Full payment is payable prior to the workshop. FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton has the right to refuse admission if invoice has not been paid in full prior to the workshop.

Transportation isn’t included and must be arranged by the school.

S.T.E.A.M. workshops

We provide workshops that focus on curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) classes. Review our S.T.E.A.M. workshops and find one that fits your class.

Geometry in Art

This workshop explores the creative possibilities of geometry through pattern, repetition, and design. Drawing inspiration from traditional rangoli and other global decorative practices, students will investigate how shapes, symmetry, and repeated forms can be used to build intricate and visually engaging compositions. Using a variety of mixed media materials, participants experiment with layering, colour, and pattern to create their own geometric artwork. Through hands-on exploration, students develop an understanding of repetition, balance, and spatial organization while creating vibrant, patterned designs.

Clay Motivated by Living Things - premium workshop

Students will deepen their connection to the local environment as they explore plants, animals, and natural forms found in our region. Inspired by birds, flowers, leaves, and other living things, participants will design and create their own clay piece while building skills in observation, texture, shape, and personal expression.

Exploring the world workshop

Our exploring the world workshops introduce students to a variety of cultures global communities and geographic regions. Read through our course descriptions and find one that fits your class and curriculum.

Group of Seven Acrylic Painting

Students will explore the bold landscapes of the Group of Seven through guided discussion and hands-on acrylic painting. Participants will examine how Canadian artists used strong lines, expressive brushwork, colour, and composition to capture the natural world. Using acrylic paint, students will create their own landscape inspired by forests, lakes, rocky shorelines, dramatic skies, and the rugged beauty of the Canadian environment while developing skills in layering, colour mixing, texture, and personal interpretation.

Ted Harrison Watercolour and Collage

Reflecting the work of iconic Canadian artist Ted Harrison, this workshop invites students to explore bold colour, simplified shapes, and expressive northern landscapes. Students examine Harrison’s use of high-contrast colour values and powerful shapes in his work.  By combining bright hues and experimenting with layering, contrast, and stylized forms students will create their own vibrant landscapes. This workshop helps to develop an understanding of how colour value and contrast can transform a composition.

Early Civilizations- premium workshop

Students will explore early civilizations through hands-on artmaking inspired by the ways people recorded ideas, shared stories, and represented the world around them. Participants will look at historical objects, symbols, patterns, and visual traditions as starting points for their own creative work. Using a variety of media, students will create artwork that reflects themes of culture, communication, history, and discovery while developing skills in texture, design, composition, and personal expression.

Ancient Architecture Inspired Clay - premium workshop

In the Ancient Architecture Inspired Clay workshop students will consider how architecture reflected the social organization and cultural practices of early societies. They will create a clay form inspired by ancient building history from around the globe. Students will be making a bas-relief style sculpture inspired by a structure from an ancient civilization. Students will look at different architectural elements specific to a civilization and incorporate them into the sculpture. At the time of booking, please select one society to focus on: Mayan, Greek, Medieval, or Chinese.

Communication and media literacy workshops

Our communication and media literacy workshops look at how art is represented in the media and the influence it has on broader cultures. Review our course descriptions and find a workshop that fits your class and curriculum requirements.

Printmaking - premium workshop

Students will be introduced to printmaking as a creative art form and will focus on one hands-on age-appropriate technique, such as stamping, texture-making, collagraph, or relief printing. Inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol, participants will investigate how repeated images, bold colour, pattern, and composition can be used to create expressive works of art. Using accessible materials, students will design and produce their own unique prints while developing creativity and personal expression.

James Rizzi Oil Resist Drawings

Inspired by Pop artist James Rizzi’s light-hearted portrayal of his Brooklyn New York neighbourhood of tall buildings and busy streets students will create their own colourful, humorous cityscape drawings using oil pastels and tempera paint. Through this oil-resist technique, they will explore how oil and water-based media interact while reflecting on the world around them.