New Groups to Explore

From Arts in Guelph- March/April, 2003

For artists looking to get more involved with their crafts and community, it's reassuring to know that new local arts organizations are being created all the time. Here are recent additions worth checking out.

With their first meeting only one year ago, the Grand River Bead Society now boasts 50 members. Roxann Ozols and Marilyn Gardiner created the group as an opportunity to show and talk about members' beadwork and exchange ideas, materials, and information relating to beading. Members also teach or demonstrate a particular technique. According to Ozols, the group attracts beaders from Guelph as well as from Shelburne, Burlington, and Waterloo. The Grand River Bead Society meets the second Monday of every month. For additional information contact Roxann Ozols at beadaddict@sympatico.ca or Ingrid Bowers at beadnut2002@yahoo.ca.

For professional writers, the Guelph Chapter of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) is now ratified and looking for members. Since Fall 2002, the group has attracted an interesting cross-section of writers who publish their work in various media including screenplay authors, creators of fiction and non-fiction, poets and magazine writers.

PWAC offers the opportunity for regular networking with other writers, opportunities for professional development, and assists writers with contract negotiations. For the community, PWAC runs an on-line "find-a-writer" service that profiles all PWAC members. For more information, check out http://www.pwac.ca or call Karen Kirkconnell, Chair of the Guelph Chapter, at 836-5551.

If you have information about new arts groups in the area, let Guelph Arts Council know. Just call (519) 836-3280 or e-mail gac@sentex.net.