‘We were meant to be here’: Kamloops Art Party formally opens in new location

“The staff and I were committed to making sure it worked,” Schmidt said. “We transitioned to online, take home art kits, anything we could to keep the company running. By the end of the summer, we were so filled up in that studio space we knew we had to expand quick. We ended up absorbing a ceramic studio at the same time. We walked into this new location and immediately felt the shivers. We were meant to be here and right away we signed the lease and started hauling in all our art supplies.”

Throughout grand opening day, Schmidt said Kamloops Art Party was near full capacity consistently.

“There were a few times we actually had to have a couple of people wait so people could clear out before they went in,” she said. We had a ton of different art stations set up. People were able to see live demonstrations… get a tour of our whole art center. It was perfect. The support we got from the community, the entire staff coming together, and a bunch of our students coming to help volunteer, act as tour guides, and helping share their love for the studio as well.”

Kamloops Art Party has held classes and even charitable art auctions prior to entering their new building, although Schmidt believes the extra space will allow them to provide more art options for the community. Including paint pouring, wreath making, oil painting, water colour painting and ceramics. She hopes everyone who enters the new building feels happy and fulfilled on the way out.

“Art is so important for mental health,” she said. “Art is therapy for a reason. It feels so good to create, especially when the world has been so chaotic for the last few years.”

by Aaron Schulze

‘We were meant to be here’: Kamloops Art Party formally opens in new location

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