You sure showed us!

We spread the word and you delivered beyond anything we could have ever imagined. It is your wonderful support which allows these art organizations to keep on making art. Thank you for your generosity as each dollar donated was matched by Opus.

In total we raised over $35,950.00

We would like to share with you a little about what each organization has done with the money raised over the holidays at each of the Opus locations:

School Programs at the Vancouver Art Gallery: The Vancouver Art Gallery extends our heartfelt thanks for the extraordinary efforts of the staff at Opus Granville Island. During an uncertain economic time, it is inspiring to learn that so many people share our commitment to arts education, and are willing to make a contribution to the Gallery’s School Programs. Opus employees managed to raise over $3,000 in support of the Gallery’s programs in the month of December – an outstanding accomplishment!

These funds will enable the Gallery to continue to meet its objective to provide a positive, supportive and educational environment to underprivileged children in our community. To achieve this goal, the Gallery has partnered with schools and community groups across Metro Vancouver, providing those groups that may not otherwise be able to visit the Gallery with complimentary or discounted rates on School Programs.

School Programs engage students in critical thinking skills and foster an appreciation for works of art. These programs include exhibition tours and hands-on workshops led by Gallery educators. Opus will directly support the administration of workshops with a credit for the Gallery to purchase art supplies. Currently, School Groups are touring the Visions of British Columbia: A Landscape Manual exhibition. During the workshop, students are asked to think about their home as inspiration for making works of art, considering the many ways that a single place can be depicted. Using a variety of materials including Opus paints, oil pastels and watercolour pencils, students paint and draw their creations using a collage technique with images cut from magazines and postcards. Each student creates an artwork that reveals their unique perspective on what makes British Columbia beautiful.

The financial support provided by Opus will enable the Gallery to purchase the supplies necessary to continue this workshop, as well as new workshops inspired by the exhibitions Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man and Visceral Bodies. It is with the generous support of donors like Opus Granville Island that the Gallery is able to ensure underprivileged schools have access to important arts education, and we are very grateful to have been chosen for the Opus fundraising campaign this year.

For further information regarding this program, and current exhibitions, please visit http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/events_and_programs/school_education.html

The Art Studios’ Workshops: The Art Studios’ Membership is thrilled to be recipients of Opus’ Annual Christmas Donation Drive. All our members live with a mental health diagnosis and often feel marginalized by mainstream society. This donation gives us tremendous encouragement while strengthening our connection to the community. We are very grateful to everyone who contributed, as well as to Opus for matching the donations.

The Membership is using the money and Opus Gift Card to purchase painting, pottery and printmaking supplies to supplement our studio programs. These supplies help us to continue on the journey to mental health recovery and enable us to create meaningful works of art. In turn, we display this artwork throughout Vancouver via our Travelling Art Show, which promotes our artists and reduces public stigma towards mental illness.

For further information regarding the Art Studios, please visit their website at: http://www.vch.ca/EN/find_services/find_services/?&program_id=1188

The Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria (CACGV) Programming: The Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria (CACGV) applauds Opus Victoria. Earlier in the 2009 year, the CACGV was devastated by the loss of its provincial government grants (amounting to 60% of its annual operating budget), and has been struggling to maintain staff and programs. OPUS staff member Susie Raxlen had suggested the CACGV to OPUS Manager Marsha Arbour as a possible recipient of their 2009 Christmas fundraising drive.

On Tuesday January 26th 2010 – with CAC President Colin MacLock, Arts Administrator Alexis Celona and OPUS staff member Trevor Gieske present – Marsha Arbour handed the cheque to CACGV Executive Director Paul Scrivener. The funds raised through the Opus Christmas Drive are helping to maintain the gallery so it can continue to deliver vital community programs and services, such as our Visual Arts and Arts in Education programs and our Communications Network.

The CACGV is holding its annual, regional LOOK Victoria 2010 Show, held in and sponsored by the Bay Centre. Opus prizes and awards will be given out at the show for emerging and practicing artists. This popular event brings in 5,000 to 6,000 visitors to view and purchase art works by over 200 regional artists.

The CACGV puts a high priority on arts in education, and primarily collaborates with school districts 61 and 63, coordinating exhibits such as Second to None, In the Middle, and The Youth Group of Seven. We create opportunities and strive to reach out to those without resources, First Nations and culturally diverse children, to youth at risk and those with disabilities. We are always inclusive of gender, religion, income and sexual orientation. At the CACGV gallery, youth are able to experience the joys of a complete exhibition including: Opening Nights open to the public, entertainment such as music, readings, and Guest Artists.

In addition to the administrative costs of programming that Opus funds will help cover, the in-kind contributions will provide much needed supplies to youth artists lacking resources. The CACGV’s Arts in Education program provides invaluable assistance and exposure to youths seeking a future within the arts. Opus funds will help provide more visibility, support and recognition to amateur and established artists and art groups.

For further information about the CACGV, visit their website at http://www.cacgv.ca/

Kelowna and District Society for Community Livings New Building Project:

The Kelowna and District Society for Community Living (KDSCL) is a not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities to over 150 people with developmental disabilities to find and maintain gainful employment, find and maintain volunteer work, live affordably in our community, and participate in social, recreation, leisure, education and fitness activities. KDSCL supports and advocates the acceptance and belonging of all people. To find out more about the our services and our society’s history please see the attached brochures and/or visit our website at www.kdscl.bc.ca

HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
In early 2003 the KDSCL Building Replacement Project was initiated. The project has faced many hurdles for numerous reasons. KDSCL does not own the land therefore a lease and housing agreement needed to be completed which would satisfy both the City and our lender. We required numerous variances due to the blueprint of the existing building. There were City of Kelowna staff changes which required frequent updates and plan alterations. We have now satisfied all the City of Kelowna’s requirements and received approval to proceed.

WHY WE NEED A NEW BUILDING?

• To provide safe, affordable and accessible housing to people with few other options.
• To offer more services and activity space to the people we serve; people with developmental disabilities seeking employment, volunteer work and/or assistance with life skills.
• The building is old, too small, beyond repair and/or expansion.
• There are individuals with developmental disabilities in our community waiting for services.

HOW WE PLAN TO USE THE NEW BUILDING AND WHO WILL BE SERVED
The new building will be used for the same purpose as the current building, activity, learning and service space, offices and meeting rooms with the potential to expand the number of people we support. In addition, 11 residential rental units will be built increasing the number of affordable living units available in our community.

KDSCL welcomes and encourages other community not-for-profit groups to use our space during off hours. With additional space, groups will be able to use our meeting rooms during normal work hours with the potential to expand community usage to others.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
We are asking you to consider sharing your talents, expertise and your heart and consider joining our building project replacement committee and assist us to raise the 1.5 million dollars needed to build! Or make a donation at www.kdscl.bc.ca For further information contact, Miki Hanna at 250-763-4484 or email funddeveloper@kdscl.bc.ca

Artists For Kids: We have long supported Opus and encouraged colleagues to do likewise because of the quality products and friendly knowledgeable service we receive but, above all for the company’s continued commitment to art teachers and their work with young artists in BC.

Words cannot express however, my surprise at learning the Lonsdale Store in North Vancouver was seeking donations to support Artists for Kids work in the North Shore community. Having a partner like Opus and their employee team pitching the community to support art education for children really was a wonderful endorsement to our mission to give young people necessary tools to participate in our very visual modern society. When I received the news that the community had contributed $3,300 and that Opus would match the amount in product support, I really was blown away. Wow!!!

After 20 years of advocating in the community and building a program to support young artists, people get it; they understand how valuable quality art programs are for children – and that really is heartening to say the least.

While this generous contribution is a terrific morale booster to myself and our entire team, it will go a long way to provide much needed art supplies to our After School Art programs, our work with artistically talented youth and the newly created AfK Academy program for senior secondary students. We will also use the cash contribution to provide a wealth of bursary support to further enable children from needy families to participate in our fee programs. We had also been contemplating acquiring 30 Opus exhibition frames to showcase a traveling exhibition of work developed in our annual Fashion Photography program for North Shore schools. We will now be able to fulfill that desire, building increased pride and confidence with our students. Thank You !!

With this charitable initiative, Opus will open a wealth of creative doors to young artists. In the holiday season's “spirit of generosity”; this will make a difference you can both see and feel. Thank you Opus for being there for all of us. This recognition of our work and generous gift for our students will be etched in our memories for many years to come.

For further information on these programs, visit www.artists4kids.com

DAREarts Vancouver: “DAREarts is the most influential program of my life.” Rebecca, 14

DAREarts changes Canadian children’s lives through arts programs that ‘dare’ them to develop values, self esteem and leadership skills to realize their full potential.

With the Olympics here, we are thrilled that OPUS has helped to bring DAREarts to Vancouver in 2010! DAREarts is a Canadian charity that uses the arts to empower at-risk children to become leaders. Since 1996, DAREarts has exposed over 100,000 children to diverse cultural experiences that they would not have had otherwise. In numerous cities and rural communities across Canada, this year have we been able to successfully launch the program in Vancouver. Our fundraising torch-bearer is OPUS, raising more than $3,500 in their Christmas campaign and matching that with arts supplies!

Chosen by their schools, children spend ‘DAREarts Days’ at local arts studios, galleries and museums with local arts professionals where they sing, dance act, draw, sculpt, read, design, cook and create. Empowered with self-confidence, the children return to their schools as leaders to teach their classmates and enable more children to learn.

Because of OPUS, this June, DAREarts will run an initial week-long program for 11 and 12 year olds living in the downtown east side. Involving local artists from numerous arts disciplines, the children will express their responses to the Vancouver Olympics 2010 while studying a Shakespearean play. Watch for a display of the children’s creativity using arts supplies generously donated by OPUS. The children will celebrate their achievements by attending a performance by “Bard on the Beach”. We hope that this will spark in the youngsters a passion for expressing themselves in positive ways while finding the self-esteem and discipline within themselves to make positive choices in their lives.

Thanks to OPUS leading the way, we hope that other corporations and individuals will also join the cause and create a spark in the lives of many more of our at-risk children who only need a push in the right direction.
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“My name is Gerry Brandon, and I have recently volunteered to become the Vancouver Coordinator for DAREarts here on the west coast. I only recently discovered DAREarts on a trip to Opus Framing & Art Supplies and felt that this was just the project for me. As a youth, I was an “artistically inclined native boy”¬† in a very sports oriented non-native community. Without a supportive group like DAREarts, I became the quintessential disaffected teenager. Like many teenagers lacking a creative outlet for their energy, I turned to alcohol and drugs and eventually spent time sleeping out on the streets. I did eventually realize the damage I was doing to myself and others, though it took a good shock to the system in order to do so. As a young adult, I returned to school on my own and studied business and logistics and, in short time, worked my way up to become a Corporate Planner with a manufacturing company in Ontario. Traveling on business and dining in fine restaurants, gave me an interest in the Culinary Arts, and I felt there may yet be an outlet for my “artistic tendencies”.¬†I then returned to school in Stratford Ontario and gained a degree in Culinary Arts. Since then, I have held the ‘Executive Chef’ position in some of the top restaurants and boutique hotels in the country. Now as I approach my 49th year, I would like to think it is not too late to help young people to see how much richer their lives are with the arts, and to realize their true potential.
There is an old Ojibwa saying “You become your purpose by doing what feels good and with good intention. Walk a good path and you will be guaranteed to find your life’s purpose.” I hope that I can count on your help to achieve great things for Vancouver’s at-risk children through DAREarts.

Please contact me at gbrandon@darearts.com or visit www.darearts.com

Langley Association for Community Living’s Bridge Art Program: BridgeArt would like to thank everyone who donated to the fundraiser through Opus over the Christmas season. We could never have imagined that we would have the opportunity to purchase all the items we would need to achieve our goals for the upcoming year.

The donations have made it possible to move ahead with our First Nations project (we are actually going to carve a totem pole), 3D sculptures, painted banners and of course, painting on canvas. The artists will also be working on and celebrating BridgeArt’s 10th anniversary. Our focus will be on people, places and community outreach. Another goal is to learn to paint on silk and to do other carving activities. BridgeArt is planning an open house/art exhibit in the fall of 2010 so we can display all of our completed works that were made possible through your generous donations.

Part of the funding will be directed towards purchasing much needed art supplies for ongoing art program projects. In addition, we hope to purchase equipment such as adjustable art/drafting tables which will provide the needed flexibility our artists with physical disabilities require.

With everyone’s support, we are now able to offer opportunities to the artists that they would never have had in the past. This has become such an exciting time for all of us. No words can describe how thankful we are for all the support Opus has given us and to all the individuals who gave donations at your store.

To read about this program, please visit http://www.langleyacl.com/index.php?page_id=18

~ Thank you from all of us at Opus!