Academy Archives - Centauri Arts

Unbreakable: A Creative Journey

Ages 12-18, In our Toronto Studio: Friday, 5pm–6.30pm Semester 1 (14 weeks) starts Fri 26 Sept Semester 2 (14 weeks) starts January Full Year: Sept 2025-May 2026 Instructor: Jane Aster Roe In this dynamic mixed arts workshop, you’ll find a safe space for self expression as you write, paint, craft, journal and build community through the arts. It isn’t easy being a teenager today, but creativity can promote well-being and relieve stress. We’ll support one another with kind words and laughter as we learn the power of meditation and mindfulness. Join us and discover how unleashing our inner artist can relieve anxiety, promotive positive thinking and give us the strength to be the best version of ourselves. In this fun-filled workshop you’ll do more [...]

May 13th, 2025|Acting Classes, Fine Art Classes, Writing Classes|

Creative Writing: Across the Finishing Line!

Ages 12-18, In our Bloor West Village Studio: Wednesdays, 7.00 pm - 8.30pm Semester 1 (14 weeks) starting Saturday 20 September Semester 2 (14 weeks) begins late January (students can enroll for semester 1, or 2, or the full year) Instructor: TBA Most of our creative writing programs focus on generating multiple pieces: short prompts that emerge from techniques we explore together. This class is different! Over the course of the semester, you will write and polish three complete pieces, including an entire short story. Each week we will get inspired with a freewrite, discuss a writing technique… then time will be set aside for writers to further develop their own pieces – either ones generated in our workshops, or begun elsewhere. With the [...]

May 13th, 2025|Writing Classes|

2025 West Toronto Arts Camp Guide

2025 Arts Camps in West Toronto, Summer 2025! Looking for summer arts camps in West Toronto? Here is our guide of Centauri Arts Summer programs! Intensive, week-long day summer camp programs for ages 9-15 and 11-17 throughout July and August, virtually and in our Toronto arts studio in Bloor West Village, close to Etobicoke, Swansea, High Park and the Junction. We are close to both Jane and Runnymede subway stations. Summer Programs run for four hours each day, and all courses are led by experienced arts professionals. Immerse yourself in the arts this summer! While we call these ‘day camps’, they focus only on the arts – and they are designed for middle and high school students. You choose your activity! Our summer programs [...]

April 8th, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

Arts Enrichment and Camps for Children and Teens in Toronto!

Now spring is upon us, it's time to think about summer arts enrichment for your children and teens. Arts Camps in Toronto Summer is a special time in the life of children and teenagers. It's often the only time of the year when they can focus intensively on one interest, developing a new skill or exploring an existing interest. We understand this at Centauri Arts and so each summer we offer specialized summer arts camps for ages 9-18. Our campers can choose from creative writing, animation, digital art, fine art, photography, acting and film-making. Why Choose Arts Enrichment this Summer? This is a tough time for the arts in our schools. We hear again and again that children and teens no longer have the [...]

April 3rd, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

Book Recommendations for Teenagers

Our Semester 2 arts classes are now underway, and in our first Creative Writing Class we asked our teens to recommend a great book they had read recently. I am sharing their list here. Some of these books (like Sophie’s World) are classics really, while others are young adult novels. One writer recommended a book they read as a young child that stayed with them, and there are a couple of dense and challenging reads on this list as well. Hopefully this list will be useful to anyone hoping to inspire a teenager to read, or introduce an avid reader to new authors. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake The Silent Patient by Alex Michaellides Friends for Life by Andrew Norriss Mortal Instruments by [...]

February 19th, 2025|Academy, books|

Announcing Julie Hartley’s New Novel: The Promise She Made.

Julie Hartley is co-director of Centauri Arts, and in addition to leading our creative writing workshops, camps and retreats she is also a successful author, writing historical fiction for Bookouture UK. While her books are marketed for adults, all content is suited to young adult readers too. We are thrilled to announce that her latest novel is out now in print and as an e-book. The Promise She Made It’s September 1940, and with the Blitz underway 18-year-old Ruby is determined to protect her little sister from the bombs – after all, she promised as much to their mother, just before she died. So, Ruby books passage for them both on the SS City of Benares, to safety in Canada. However, her plan backfires [...]

February 16th, 2025|Academy, books|

2025 Summer Art Camps in Bloor West Village, Toronto

Registration Now Open for 2025 Summer Art Courses! Intensive, week-long fine art and digital art camp programs for kids and teens ages 9-17. Camps run throughout July and August, virtually and in our Toronto arts studio in Bloor West Village, close to Etobicoke, Swansea, High Park and the Junction. We are close to both Jane and Runnymede subway stations. Summer art programs run for four hours each day, and all courses are led by experienced arts professionals. Immerse yourself in fine art this summer! While we call these ‘day camps’, they focus only on the arts – and they are designed for middle and high school students. Our summer programs run for 4 hours a day, in 2 blocks: 10am [...]

February 16th, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

2025 Summer Writing Camps in Bloor West Village, Toronto

Registration Now Open for 2025 Summer Writing Courses! Intensive, week-long writing camp programs for kids and teens ages 9-17 throughout July and August, virtually and in our Toronto arts studio in Bloor West Village, close to Etobicoke, Swansea, High Park and the Junction. We are close to both Jane and Runnymede subway stations. Summer writing prgrams run for four hours each day, and all courses are led by experienced arts professionals. Immerse yourself in the creative writing this summer! While we call these ‘day camps’, they focus only on the arts – and they are designed for middle and high school students. Our summer programs run for 4 hours a day, in 2 blocks: 10am to 2.30pm and 3pm to [...]

February 14th, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

2025 Day Camps in Bloor West Village, Toronto

Registration Now Open for 2025 Half Day Camps This Summer! Intensive, week-long day camp programs for ages 9-17 throughout July and August, virtually and in our Toronto arts studio in Bloor West Village, close to Etobicoke, Swansea, High Park and the Junction. We are close to both Jane and Runnymede subway stations. Summer Programs run for four hours each day, and all courses are led by experienced arts professionals. Immerse yourself in the arts this summer! While we call these ‘day camps’, they focus only on the arts – and they are designed for middle and high school students. You choose your activity! Our summer programs run for 4 hours a day, in 2 blocks: 10am to 2.30pm and 3pm to 7.30pm. We’re offering [...]

February 3rd, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|

2025 arts classes start January 27th at Centauri Arts, Bloor West Studio.

After-school and weekend classes for kids and teens in Creative Writing, Acting, Film-Making and Fine Art start January 2025 in our Bloor West Village studio in Toronto and online! Creative Writing Classes for kids and teens Creative Writing Salons In our Bloor West Village Studio: Saturdays, 11.15am-12.45pm for ages 12-17: Tuesdays 5.00pm-6.30pm Ages 9-13 or Virtually, on Zoom: Wednesday, 7pm-8.30pm (ET) Our Creative Writing Classes bring together young people who love to write, and experienced writers who have the skills to teach, nurture and inspire. Beginner and experienced writers are welcome! Young writers explore plot, character, setting, structure and editing as they build community, discover their writer’s voice and experiment with form and style. Projects are varied and include poetry, play writing, screenwriting, fantasy [...]

January 7th, 2025|Academy, Bloor West Village|