Fine Arts Studio – Frequently Asked Questions
You asked and we listened! On this page, you will find the answers to all of the frequently asked questions. Learn more about Richmond Hill Art School’s cancellation policy, directions to the studio, accessibility, additional fees, and much more.
Don’t see the answer you were looking for? We are happy to hear what you have to say so don’t hesitate to contact us with your important questions!
We understand that it is difficult to commit to a program not knowing how it will unfold. Richmond Hill Art School offers a free trial art class for students interested in taking art classes. This 1 hour class doubles as an assessment so that our teachers can assign potential students to the appropriate class if interested. Dates and times are regularly updated online on our homepage. To sign up, just fill in the simple form!
Richmond Hill Art School offers art education to both children and adults, starting from age 4. We not only teach adult art classes, but have teachers that specialize in adult art education. Listed below are a few different options for adults considering art classes:
Weekly Classes
For those looking to really develop your skills as an artist, we offer weekly adult classes throughout the year. You will learn proper technique, colour theory, how to experiment with different mediums, and how to think as an artist. Projects are tailored to each individual and their goals. Classes led by professional artists with years of experience. Check out our schedule here.
Special Workshops
Once a month, we host special workshops that focus on one particular medium or technique. These workshops are perfect for people wanting to practice and improve on a certain skill, or would like to dedicate time to their passion. Workshops usually run for a few hours and can focus on anything from Plen Air, to oil painting, to using acrylics, and everything in between.Click here for our upcoming workshops!
Social Painting Nights
For those looking to trying something new, we recommend joining our monthly Social Painting Nights. Social Painting is a great way to paint in a more relaxed setting with a glass of wine in hand, while enjoying the company of friends and family. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike. We offer 3 different painting options for every theme, you choose what you like, and we provide a handmade outline of your preference. It makes painting stress-free and allows you to be creative and have fun doing it! Here are some photosof a past event taken by SNAPd Richmond Hill. Click here for more information about our upcoming events!
Richmond Hill Art School offers a fine arts camp not only in the Summer, but also on Winter and Spring breaks. We are also introducing camp on PA Days to give kids the opportunity to be creative on their day off of school (and parents some time for themselves!) We wanted our camp to be recreational and education, so we do more than arts and crafts. Kids create beautiful art, learn techniques and art history, and have fun while doing it! Camp is offered either full day or half day, where full day campers work on a minimum of 3 art pieces, have time for physical education, and watch movie clips.
For more information on camp and future dates, click here. Check out our blog to learn about the 5 Reasons to Choose an Art Camp!
Our art class student teacher ratio at Richmond Hill Art School is quite low. We allow a maximum of 10 students in a class, lead by 1 teacher and a teaching assistant especially for younger children SK-Gr.2. This ensures that students are getting the attention that they need to progress in their art successfully.
We have a pretty great cancellation policy at Richmond Hill Art School. We offer a free trial class in order for new students to get a taste of what we do here at the school. We have a variety of art classes to choose from. Once registered, you have 4 weeks to decide if the program is the right fit for you. If you do choose to leave within the four weeks, we will offer you a full refund of the unused portion minus a $20 administration fee. No questions asked. No refunds are allowed after 4 weeks. Only requests with a medical certificate or proof of relocation will be considered.
Art classes are surprisingly inexpensive compared to other after school activities. There are no uniforms that you grow out of every year, or expensive costumes that must be bought for every show, no competition fees or new sport equipment etc. Yes, art lessons do cost money but we at Richmond Hill Art School try to keep these extra fees low. In addition to your art class tuition, you should expect to pay for a few miscellaneous expenses:
| Extra Expenses | Amount |
|---|---|
| Personal Art Supplies | $60-$80 |
| Studio Supplies: paint, paper, canvases, brushes, palettes | $100 per school year |
| Annual Student Art Expo | $50 |
While our prices are already very competitive, we do offer several discounts for our Children’s Art Classes:
- Take more than one class a week and your second class is 30% off.
- Sibling discount is 10%.
- Refer a friend at get an additional 5% off as long as they complete at least 1/3 of the program.
Our Art Studio Parking is free. While there is limited parking available in the back of the building – Entrance on Dunlop St. – we recommend using the various parking lots in the area. Just across the street from the studio is a very large lot belonging to the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. This is our go-to spot! There is also lots of street parking available and small lots along Yonge St. and Dunlop St. In short, you should not have a problem parking!
We love when people ask us to volunteer, we always appreciate the help and are honoured that people would like to work with us! Our volunteer opportunities can be divided into two main categories: Art Education and Events. Our volunteer opportunities in Art Education require a background in art, teaching experience an asset, and a passion for both. We welcome Teaching Assistants and Counsellours in Training (during Camp season). Our volunteer opportunities in Events simply require a passion for the arts and our community. We take part in various fairs and festivals throughout the year to promote art education and our school, as well as organize our own events, and an extra pair of hands go a long way.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Richmond Hill Art School, please contact us at info@richmondhillartschool.com with the subject “Volunteer Opportunities.”
Richmond Hill Art School’s art programs run from mid-September to mid-June, similar to the academic year. In fact, this is done purposely in order to work on and surpass the Ontario Art Curriculum. We divide our program into 3 trimesters: Fall, Winter, and Spring. There are, on average, 10 weeks in each trimester. The number of weeks depends on whether you are enrolled during the week or on a weekend. There are 34 week classes and 32 weekend classes in total – excluding holidays.
Art classes schedule can be found here. We also offer short art workshops tailored for specific medium or skill.
Richmond Hill Art School is easily accessible by public transit. We are very conveniently located right on the corner of Yonge St. and Dunlop St. between Major Mackenzie Drive and Elgin Mills Road. The VIVA and YRT (York Region Transit) bus stop are just steps away from the studio. If you choose to take the VIVA, the closest bus stop is Crosby Ave., just a block north of the studio. If you choose to take the YRT, the closest stop is Dunlop St. or Wright St. (right on the corner). Use the YRT Trip Planner to find the most convenient way to the studio. Input your destination as “10271 Yonge St. Richmond Hill, ON” and you’re on your way!
Richmond Hill Art School is fully wheelchair accessible and is designed to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We are in a building that has a wheel chair ramp leading up to the entrance, as well as an elevator to take you up to our studio on the second floor. All of our doors are extra wide (36″) to accomodate wheelchairs. Our restroom is also large enough to easily manoeuver a wheelchair and includes grab bars to facilitate the transition. We are centreally located on Yonge St., however, our entrance and wheelchair ramp is on Dupont St. making it very convenient for drop off and pick up.
We are often asked if we know of any great after school programs in Richmond Hill – whether it be music schools, dance schools, language programs, or gymnastics club that offer high quality education in our community. We are usually careful about giving advice, however, over time, a few local schools have stood out as excellent choices for our kids (teachers and parents alike).
We get it. Children get sick, you may have a family event, or a vacation in the works. We understand and we can accommodate. Richmond Hill Art School has a fair Missed Class Policy. As we do have multiple classes for each level, we do allow for a limited number of makeup classes. 2 makeup classes will be allowed per student per term (fall, winter, and spring) for a total of 6 makeup lessons per academic year. We believe that this should be sufficient enough to accommodate most situations while not putting the kids at a disadvantage.
Art Studio For Rent? Absolutely! We wouldn’t let this beautiful space go to waste. Richmond Hill Art School is the perfect place to host your next social, corporate, or art event. We have hosted Art Exhibitions, Product Launches, Bachelorette Parties, countless workshops and seminars, and we are ready to host more! This space is everything you would want and more: it is spacious, modern yet creative, surrounded by windows that bring in natural light, equipped with Edison lighting to set the mood, has it’s own bar, coatroom, and washroom, equipped with A/V, and is divided into two separate rooms depending on your needs. Visit our special events page for more information where you’ll find a link to a downloadable PDF with packages and prices.
