New arts program launches at Miriam Foundation this Fall

by Anita Szabadi-Gottesman

Set to launch in November is the Recreational and Therapeutic Arts Centre as part of the Gold Learning Centre at the Miriam Foundation. A newly dedicated, fully appointed 4,000 square foot space at the Miriam Foundation’s Ferrier St. location in the city’s west end will serve as the creative hub for the Centre. 

Part of the Centre’s offerings includes a new creative arts program. It will focus on several art forms, which will be rolled out in three phases throughout three semesters serving over 40 students. “We are so proud to highlight that the program is the first and only one providing an art-based educational and therapeutic curriculum for autistic and intellectually challenged adults in Montreal,” said the Centre’s program coordinator Ranya Saad, who is also a PhD candidate, art educator and mixed media artist.

The program will run for two-hour sessions of six students and one educator twice a week for a three-month semester. Instructors are educators specialized in education, art education or art therapy and have a minimum of two years’ experience working with autistic adults. 

The Fall session begins with visual arts including painting, mixed media and photography. November adds music and dance, and January introduces improvisational theatre, drama and digital story telling. 

Saad explained that the program is run as an inclusive space reaching out to the greater community. “Our overriding goal was to look towards the construction of a safe environment focused on a creative, inclusive space allowing for self-expression, social interaction and personal growth for our students,” she said.

The addition of the arts centre continues the mission of the not-for-profit Miriam Foundation to provide services to the autistic and intellectually challenged in Montreal. It was established in 1973. 

“My passion for the arts was the starting point as it was with Charles Bitton, and together with his family, we commenced the journey of fundraising for the Centre,” said Warren Greenstone, president and CEO, Miriam Foundation.

For more information: www.miriamfoundation.ca/en/innovation/creative-arts.html.