Creating Space

Creating Space: Youth Arts Programs at Caetani Centre

Creating Space is a series of accessible, inclusive workshops and open studio time for youth at the Caetani Centre, once home to lauded artist, mentor and teacher Sveva Caetani.

Creating Space has been designed with equity-deserving and historically under-represented youth in mind, and is open to all. The program provides a safe and inclusive environment for youth to explore, create and innovate through various artistic mediums. 

Each workshop and open studio will be facilitated by a professional artist specializing in a variety of art mediums. Youth will gain insight and support from these artists who have each experienced and overcome barriers and discrimination in their personal and professional lives.

Workshops & Studios

Interested youth can register for one or more of the half-day Introductory Workshops. After the initial half-day session, there will be weekly Open Studio time for six weeks from 3:45-5:15 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

See schedule below for program descriptions and dates.

  • What does your inner world look like? 

    What does it feel like? 

    What shape would it take if you could hold it in your hands?

    Through hands-on material exploration and construction, participants will explore their inner visual worlds while building them into physical space as surreal 3D objects. We will repurpose found objects and building materials, textiles, paints, natural materials as well as synthetic materials. Throughout the making process, participants will be invited to engage in dialogue about various aspects of life, with the goal of getting to know each other and our worlds a little better. 

    Introductory Workshop Sat, Nov 2. Open Studios Thursdays Nov 7, 14, 21, 28, Dec 5, 12, 3:45-5:15 pm

  • In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the syilx relationship with the land and their communities. In each studio drop-in, participants will have hands-on experiences with a different traditional syilx skill. In order to explore these skills, we will utilize important materials harvested locally by hand from the land. We will use natural resources such as sp’its’n (Hemp dogbane), cat tails, tule reeds, beeswax as well as a variety of medicines and berries. Join us for a unique opportunity to better understand the indigenous history of the area and how we can support ongoing relationships that are respectful of the land we live on and the people who were here from the beginning.

    Introductory Workshop, Sat, Nov 9.

    Open Studios Tuesdays Nov 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 10, 17, 3:45-5:15 pm

  • Everyone has a story: dive into a transformative creative journey where you explore voice and vision.

    You'll embark on a series of self-reflective writing prompts to uncover your unique values and personal narrative.

    Discover how to merge your written expression with mixed-media art as you explore innovative ways to present your story. You'll be inspired by diverse examples and techniques that blend creative writing with tactile visual art.

    Introductory Workshop Sat, Jan 18. Open Studios Tuesdays Jan 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25, 3:45-5:15 pm

  • Join us for a transformative journey of self-expression through art! In Painting Our Roots, youth will explore their personal stories, and connection to the land through a series of reflective painting sessions.

    Participants will identify values and narratives central to their identity, then bring them to life through painting on tule paper, a traditional Syilx medium. Over the course of six open studio sessions, youth will develop their works for a participant-led exhibition.

    With guidance from Syilx artist Sienna Belanger-Lee, you’ll create a stunning piece of art that reflects your journey. No previous painting experience required—just your unique vision!

    Introductory Workshop Sat, Jan 11. Open Studios Thursdays Jan 23, 30, Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, 3:45-5:15 pm

  • Participants will be guided by mentors on how to design, curate, install, and promote an exhibition.

    Art world skills such as how to write an artist's bio and statement, how to select work for exhibition, and how to promote one's artwork will be explored, culminating in a participant-led Creating Space Exhibition.

    Introductory Workshop Mar 8, 2025. Open Studios Tuesdays Mar 11, 18, (Spring Break), Ap 1, 8, 3:45-5:15 pm

Each artistic mediums begins with a half-day introductory workshop, followed by six weeks of drop-in studio time, and will run from November 2024 to April 2025.

Refreshments will be provided at the start of and during each workshop and open studio time.

Drop-in studio time will be open 1.5 hours each week, for six weeks, with facilitators always available to provide mentorship and guidance to youth throughout the development of their projects. Additional studio time may be available to participants, if requested.

Upon completion of the art projects, the artist-facilitators will guide youth in the preparation and curation of their finished artwork for exhibition. Youth will be mentored on how to write an artist bio and artist statement, how to choose work for exhibition, and the fundamentals of art curation and installation.

Youth will be invited to display their finished works in an exhibition that they themselves curate and install. An opening reception, held at the Caetani Gallery, will launch the exhibition and will include readings and presentations by youth participants. The exhibition will then be open to the public for the month of April 2025.

Participation in each aspect of Creating Space will be voluntary, with an emphasis on creating safe, open and inclusive spaces, and on the processes of exploration, reflection, and discovery.

Meet The Facilitators:

  • Salinger Snarf (he/they), Self-Construct - Textile Arts

    Salinger Snarf is a graduate of the Emily Carr School of Art & Design. They have worked as a community-engaged artist, a youth worker, tattoo artist, and operator of the Furhouse Textiles Workshop in downtown Vernon. Salinger’s goal as a community-engaged artist is to continue building relationships through a partnership with the Caetani Centre to create immersive, unique, and accessible programs.

  • Odessa Clough (she/they), Indigenous Syilx Design

    Odessa Clough is a designer, carpenter, gardener and artist who works with computer-assisted drafting programs, building information modeling, and landscape design with Indigenous building technologies. A n’syilxcen language learner and caretaker of the land, they appreciate culturally safe environments. Odessa holds a 1st year Apprenticeship in Carpentry (Okanagan College), and a Diploma in Interior Design (Visual College of Art and Design, Vancouver). Their recent work as a gardener at k’nmalka senqalten (Kalamalka Garden) provided mentorship from Marnie Gregoire, a squilxw knowledge carrier of syilx language and culture. They’ve experienced in land-based training with traditional syilx harvesting techniques and protocols of tmixw. 

  • Jaz Papadopulos (they/them), Paper Trails - Literary Arts

    Jaz Papadopoulos is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who is a writer, and works in video, performance, and installation. Originally from Treaty 1 territory, they currently reside on unceded Syilx lands, where they teach Creative Writing at Okanagan College. They hold an MFA from the University of British Columbia, and is an alumnus of the Lambda Literary and the Carae Open School.

  • Sienna Belanger (she/they), Painting Our Roots

    Sienna Belanger-Lee is a multimedia artist and full-time nsyilxcen language student. Residing in their maternal traditional territory, the Okanagan, more specifically residing at her ancestral home nsisúlaʔxʷ. Sienna is an artist, academic, horsewoman, upcoming syilx ethnobotanist, land steward, and a future ancestor who has experience in land and water restoration/rehabilitation from their years of working with the Sqilx'w Apna society. Sienna is currently finishing her fourth year in the Bachelor of Nsyilxcen Language Fluency program with UBC Okanagan. She plans to continue her passion in syilx language and ethnobotany creating land-based wellness language resources and syilx horse husbandry resources.