Academy Archives - Centauri Arts

2025 arts classes start January 27th at Centauri Arts, Bloor West Studio.

After-school and weekend classes for kids and teens in Creative Writing, Acting, Film-Making and Fine Art start January 2025 in our Bloor West Village studio in Toronto and online! Creative Writing Classes for kids and teens Creative Writing Salons In our Bloor West Village Studio: Saturdays, 11.15am-12.45pm for ages 12-17: Tuesdays 5.00pm-6.30pm Ages 9-13 or Virtually, on Zoom: Wednesday, 7pm-8.30pm (ET) Our Creative Writing Classes bring together young people who love to write, and experienced writers who have the skills to teach, nurture and inspire. Beginner and experienced writers are welcome! Young writers explore plot, character, setting, structure and editing as they build community, discover their writer’s voice and experiment with form and style. Projects are varied and include poetry, play writing, screenwriting, fantasy [...]

January 7th, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

The Business of Writing. March 29 2025

Hybrid – join us on Zoom or in our Bloor West Studio Saturday 29 March 2025. 2pm to 4.30pm EST Open to adult writers, and teen writers 16+ Join us for an intensive workshop on the business of getting published. Learn how to prepare a manuscript for publication, and explore the options open to you once your book is ready. We will look at sample query letters and learn how to make your letter to an agent or independent publisher stand out from the rest. We’ll compare print and digital publishing houses, self-publishing with traditional routes, indie with international, and examine the process you must go through if you want to see your book published by one of the ‘big five’. If you love [...]

January 3rd, 2025|Bloor West Village, workshops, Writing Advice, writing classes for adults|

The Joy of Words: An Adult Writing Salon

Saturdays 9.30am-11.00am, ages 18+ only, Hybrid: In our Bloor West Studio or Virtual 5 weeks, starting Saturday 1 February Leave the cares of the world behind and reconnect with your creative self! There’s something in this writing workshop for everyone – seasoned writers hoping to rediscover the joy of writing, curious beginners and anyone who feels they have a story to tell. We’ll gather over morning coffee to write, laugh and share. Each week we will meander through 2-3 creative writing prompts, mining our lives for story and exploring everything from poetry to memoir, fantasy to flash fiction, open letters to journalling. We’ll discuss techniques – but our main focus will be the pleasure of writing. ALL of us can be creative, finding joy [...]

January 3rd, 2025|writing classes for adults|

Reflecting on Our Creative Writing Retreat in Mexico

It is difficult to imagine a city more perfect for a creative writing retreat than Merida in Mexico. This was our fourth year running a writing retreat here, and it was spectacular. Our Creative Writing Workshops Each morning we began our writing workshops on a glorious, colourful terrace in our lovely boutique hotel, surrounded by flowers and greenery. As the sun rose over the walls ninety minutes or so into our writing workshops, we took a break and then moved indoors to the cool interior of this converted Hacienda. Our writing workshops always include creative prompts, a range of tips and techniques, plus an opportunity for writers to share their work for feedback. The writers in attendance this year declared the workshops a huge [...]

December 8th, 2024|Retreats, Writing Classes for Teens, writing holiday, writing retreats|

2025 Winter classes start in January at Centauri Arts.

Weekly after-school and weekend classes for kids and teens in Creative Writing, Acting, Film-Making and Fine Art start January 2025 in our Bloor West Village studio and online! Film Classes Film Production and Performance Ages 11-17, In our Bloor West Village Studio: Thursdays, 5pm – 6.30pm AND 7.00pm-8.00pm Learn – or review – the basics of film making: storyboarding, directing, camera operation, audio, lighting and production design. Each hands-on film course begins with a sequence of short film projects; by rising to challenges set by the instructor and critiquing the results, students further the skills they need to create their own short film. Discover how to tell a story visually, and how to create mood and tension through your manipulation of the film medium. [...]

December 5th, 2024|Academy, Bloor West Village|

Fabulous Fabric Arts

In our Bloor West Village Studio: Wednesdays 7.00pm to 8.30pm, Ages 11-17 Semester 2 (14 weeks) 29 January- 14 May Make original art with fabric in this exciting new program! Learn to knit, sew, embroider and weave… or if you have tried these before, take your skills to the next level. Explore natural dyes, up-cycle clothing and paint on fabric to create amazing, original designs. Reflect your personality in fashion illustrations and exciting wearable art. From collage to crochet, this program has it all! Create amazing art pieces and functional objects, collaborate with others and go solo, as you have fantastic fun with fabulous fabric arts! (Students in this program will be asked to bring a shirt or T shirt in their own size [...]

November 22nd, 2024|Fine Art Classes|

How to Raise an Introvert

For too long in our society, introverts have played second fiddle to the extroverts among us, and even in 2024, many people still see introversion as something to counteract. Is your child an introvert? If so, what does that mean? Read on to find out. What is an introvert? Being introverted is not the same thing as being shy! Introverts are often confident people. They can be terrific public speakers, and great leaders. So what is an introvert? Imagine two people attend a busy family event packed with people, where there is loud music and constant conversation; one of these people is an introvert and the other an extrovert. They may enjoy the party equally, and both engage with others throughout the event. However, the [...]

October 23rd, 2024|Academy, Parenting|

How to Raise a Reader – 7 Tips for Parents

How do you raise children who see the value in books? It’s harder than ever these days, with so much technology out there to distract. Reading is an immersive activity that requires attention over a significant period of time, allowing a person to spiral down into an imaginative world. There is enormous value in reading; young people who read have better vocabularies, do better in school, have empathy for the experiences of others and deepen their understanding of human nature and the world in which we live. Here are seven tips to help you raise a child who reads: 1. Celebrate stories! Read to your child from an earlier age – and do so every day, as part of your family routine. Talk about the [...]

October 7th, 2024|Academy, Parenting|

2024 Fall classes start this week at Centauri Arts.

Weekly after-school and weekend classes for kids and teens in Creative Writing, Acting, Film-Making and Fine Art start this week in our Bloor West Village studio! Film Classes Film Production and Performance Ages 11-17, In our Bloor West Village Studio: Thursdays, 5pm – 6.30pm AND 7.00pm-8.00pm Learn – or review – the basics of film making: storyboarding, directing, camera operation, audio, lighting and production design. Each hands-on film course begins with a sequence of short film projects; by rising to challenges set by the instructor and critiquing the results, students further the skills they need to create their own short film. Discover how to tell a story visually, and how to create mood and tension through your manipulation of the film medium. Rotate between [...]

September 23rd, 2024|Academy, Bloor West Village|