The Ottawa School of Art is encouraging children to become art collectors through a new initiative that allows them to buy works of art from the school’s gallery.
“The idea is that they can use their own money and they can purchase a piece to start their fine art collection or they can purchase a holiday gift for someone special,” said Kathy Brake, who is the gallery coordinator at the school.
The endeavour, called Kid’s Niche and intended for children under 12, is the latest addition to the school’s annual fundraising art sale which began Thursday night.
All pieces in the Kid’s Niche section of the sale range from $3 to $20. The art pieces include handmade Christmas ornaments, painted ceramic dishes and canvas paintings.
Brake said that the pieces are a mixture of donated works from local artists as well as donated pieces made by children who take classes at the school. The art made by these young students is identified with the label ‘Kids for Kids.’
The school’s administration officer Sheila Stark-Green said that not only is this an opportunity for children to buy and sell their art, but it encourages them to continue their artistic journey.
“We are trying to treat the children in the same professional manner and respect their art in the same way we would if they were adults,” she explained. “The Kid’s Niche was an idea that came from wanting to cultivate and nurture children in collecting and appreciating art.”
Stark-Green added that the initiative is an extension of what that the school already offers for kids, which include programs that run throughout the year.
“We have a large contingent of kids who take classes here and do our camps,” she said. “They’re not just learning the techniques, they’re learning the background. We felt this was an opportunity to help inspire them, to think about art as something they can acquire and continue to love.”
The Kids Niche is running alongside the annual art fundraiser that the school has put on for 39 years. The pieces in the general sale are all by members of the art school, and 65 per cent of the sale price goes back to the artist.
The other 35 per cent is retained by the school and is put towards bursary and outreach programs, Brake said.
Teresa Rozkiewicz, a third-year student at the art school and a volunteer at the sale, said that there seemed to be a lot of interest and excitement around the new initiative.
“People seem really enthusiastic about it. There were three pieces from the Kids Niche that were already sold this morning,” she said on Friday.
Brake emphasized that if the initiative is successful, the school will continue the idea next year and hopefully be able to move the Kids Niche display into its own room in the gallery.
The art sale runs until Dec. 10 at the J.W Stellick gallery, which is located inside the Ottawa School of Art at 35 George St.
