Adult Art Classes
Are you a member of the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council? Click here to become a member and take advantage of everything your membership offers: a tax receipt for your membership purchase, ability to register for our programs and to book co-working or studio space, and supporting our mission to connect community through the arts. You can also sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on all things NVCAC.
We would love your input and we're always looking for workshop teachers! Which art classes for adults would you like to see? Which art classes for adults would you like to teach? Please get in touch with us at programs@nicolavalleyarts.com and let us know.
If you're an instructor and would like to send us a course proposal, please use this form.
Looking for Adult Art Parties? Find them here.
Creative Play - Free Drop-In Art Sessions
Join us twice a month for Creative Play, a free drop-in art session, no registration required! This is a great opportunity to get to know what the Arts Council has to offer, try something new (with our supplies!) or bring a project you are working on.
Meet us at the Artist Studio in the Nicola Valley Arts Centre, every second Tuesday of the month and fourth Thursday of the month, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. No registration required!
Adults only, please.
Find all the dates in our Event Calendar or on our Facebook page.
See you at the Arts Centre!
Healing Connection Classes and Events
Healing Connections is a program of the Arts Council and a community for Merritt and the Nicola Valley to connect over the topic of pain and illness. For all who suffer from it, are part of the support system for someone who does, or simply want to connect with community and resources. While donations are always welcome, all Healing Connections events and art classes are free to attend. A membership for the NVCAC is required ($20 per year) and we have limited grant funding available if this is a barrier.
Please reach out to NVCAC director Kerstin Auer (media@nicolavalleyarts.com) for more information or assistance.
Funding for Healing Connections Art Classes has been provided by the BC Interior Community Foundation as part of their Community Prosperity Program.
Grief Movement
There isn’t just one way to approach the grieving process. Everyone experiences grief differently, so everyone copes with grief differently, and that’s okay. It can make it a little harder to figure out how to care for yourself when you’re grieving, but it also means that there are a lot of options out there for how to cope with and ease your grief.
Each journey is unique, and no matter our type of grief we often hold our pain within our own bodies. With grief movement we can learn to explore our bodies releasing some of the pain we are experiencing. Consider Grief Movement to be another tool of support.
Marcia Cooper is a Certified Grief Movement Guide, and will be providing 4 sessions that incorporate mindfulness, meditation, and movement to help individuals cope with their grief. All sessions will be done on chairs.
When: Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm
June 18 and 25, July 2 and 9
Free to attend, a NVCAC membership ($20/year) is required.
Where: City of Merritt Cadet Hall, 1755 Coldwater Avenue
Mini Garden Terrariums
Join the Arts Council team at the Nicola Valley Community Garden (behind the hospital, access from Reid Avenue) for a joyful Healing Connections art class. We will be building Miniature Garden Terrariums! We have glass vessels of different sizes and shapes and lot of miniature supplies to build your dream garden complete with moss, mushrooms, and more.
When: Saturday, July 12, 2025 10 am to 12 pm
Free to attend, a NVCAC membership ($20/year) is required.
Where: Nicola Valley Community Garden, Reid Avenue (behind the hospital)
Barn Quilt Painting Workshop
We are thrilled to offer this workshop in collaboration with Robyn's Nest Quilting, Crafting & Sew Much More.
When: Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Cadet Hall, 1755 Coldwater Avenue in Merritt
Cost: $155 per person (Please bring your own lunch.)
Instructor: Jane Morgan
Discover the Art of Barn Quilt Painting!
Join us for a hands-on experience where you'll create your very own 24” x 24” barn quilt, perfect for displaying indoors or outdoors. Our expert instructor, Jane, will have everything prepped and ready, including a high-quality ACM sign board that's sanded, primed, and gridded for your convenience.
What's Included:
- All essential supplies: pencil, ruler, delicate Frogtape, utility knife, brushes, and paint
- Expert instruction to guide you every step of the way
- Choice of over 60 block designs—don't forget to add your choice to your cart see link above.
- A choice of four paint colors from a palette of over 60 vibrant shades
