Art Strollers

By: Toronto4Kids

When Veronika Roux-Vlachova - art enthusiast and mother - launched Art Strollers in August 2008, it was a means to introduce art into her children's lives. But it Art Strollers would not be just any art program - and it was certainly not arts & crafts... It would be the kind of art program that had a greater focus on art history, art movements and contemporary art. No such programs were available to children.

She also wanted to share these programs with other moms, so Art Strollers was created as a place where mothers could make art with their children, learn about art and tour various exhibits and museums in the city.

She initially launched her programs with free gallery tours predominantly in the Distillery District. In January 2009, the company partnered with the AGO and the ROM, among others, to expand programs and include museum tours, workshops and creative mornings where mothers could paint and draw. These are held in a real gallery setting and each week, participants discover a new art movement or artist. No other company does that for mothers and babies.

The program is ideal for moms to get out of the house and discover the Toronto art scene. Browsing through galleries is always more enjoyable with others, especially with a group of babies and toddlers in tow. Says Roux-Vlachova: "Moms don't need an art degree to appreciate and make art. Art is something that everyone can enjoy and learn about it with their children and other mothers."

What's unique about Art Strollers is that it's entirely art centric and offers events to fuel both the child's and the parents mind. "I often hear mothers saying that they did not paint or draw since they became pregnant and some had art experience dating back to high school and university years. We help mothers (and fathers to!) take out their paintbrushes and create something with their children. In addition to the creative process we offer wonderful opportunities to visit various art venues in Toronto."

Art Stollers' objective is to offer artistic cultural events for families at a reasonable price. "Our aim is to ensure that parents can join our events weekly without breaking the bank. We strive to find the best exhibits and venues for all."

In addition to offering great art related events, Art Strollers supports many charitable causes in the city. They recently participated in the King Edward PS Silent Auction where the mothers created paintings to be auctioned off, in addition to mending a painting table during the auction. They also donated gift certificates for the Imagine a Cure event happening at the end of May. This is just the start of various causes Art Strollers will be contributing to and they are always looking to giving back to the community. "We have some very talented mothers/artists and want to put those skills to use!"

For a more information and Art Strollers' upcoming Summer programs, visit www.artstrollers.com.