Programs

Intro to Creative Cooking

Mondays from 4 to 6 PM

Harness your creativity by learning how to transform ingredients into tasty dishes! In this program, participants will learn about the basics of culinary arts, including how to menu plan, grocery shop, and prepare food safely. Youth will have the opportunity to prepare dishes for both them and their community. Think soups, breads, dips, cookies and so much more!

In this program, youth can expect to work with sharp knives and hot temperatures.  

Performance Art

Tuesdays from 4 to 6 PM

Performance Art is a way to express yourself using movement, sound, words, or your environment! It blends elements of theater, dance, music, and visual art to tell stories, share emotions, or challenge ideas in creative ways.  

Join us this spring to learn how art comes to life! Each week, youth will visit different locations in downtown Dartmouth, using the space around them for inspiration. There will be fun warm-ups and experiments with movement, voice, text, props, and costumes. In this program, you'll get to create your own site-specific performance, with a chance to share your work in the final session—maybe even in a live performance for the MacPhee community! 

In this program participants will be moving their body and walking to different locations each week. 

 

Figurative Drawing

Wednesdays from 4 to 6 PM

Welcome to the world of Figurative Drawing, where youth will learn how to draw people and objects! In this program, youth will explore the basics of drawing the human form—capturing shapes, movement, and expression. Youth will have the opportunity to find their own style and techniques by experimenting with both realistic drawings and loose expressive sketches.

 

Breakdancing with Unity

Wednesdays from 5 to 6 PM

Learn how to break dance, pop and lock with Unity, a national non-profit organization that uses hip-hop art forms to help young people develop resilience and create healthier communities!

This program actively engages youth participants to support the development of protective factors, social skills, and a sense of belonging, and also improves online access and connectivity for African Nova Scotian (ANS)/Queer/Marginalized Youth and their households!

Youth registered in the breakdancing program will participate in weekly virtual and in-person hybrid hip-hop programming. They will also receive a free device (for keeps!) and either a cellular connection or a year of fully subsidized internet for their household. After registration, we will send you a survey to learn about your tech and internet needs.

Please note that this program is closed to ANS and members of underrepresented communities, including 2SLGBTQIA+ and disabled youth. It runs in the winter and spring terms. Participants must attend programs either virtually or in-person to maintain their free internet access and keep their devices at the end of the program!

 

Zine Making

Thursdays from 4 to 6 PM

Welcome to the wild world of zine-making!

Zines (also known as self-published mini magazines) are a popular art form. Zines can include images and text, and have been historically used to share stories, opinions and culture. Zines are a great way to publish your own art, poems, writing, musings, and anything else you want to express—without needing anyone else’s permission to do so. In this program, youth will learn how to make and produce zines about topics that matter to them and will also have the opportunity to share and sell their work at a pop-up market at the MacPhee Centre!    

 

Beatmaking with Unity

Thursdays from 5 to 6 PM

Find your rhythm and learn to make beats with Unity, a national non-profit organization that uses Hip-Hop art forms to help young people develop resilience and create healthier communities!

This program actively engages youth participants to support the development of protective factors, social skills, and a sense of belonging, and also improves online access and connectivity for African Nova Scotian (ANS)/Queer/Marginalized Youth and their households!

Youth registered in the beat-making program will participate in weekly virtual/in-person hybrid hip-hop programming. They will also receive a free device (for keeps!) and either a cellular connection or a year of fully subsidized internet for their household. After registration, we will send you a survey to learn about your tech/internet needs.

Please note that this program is closed to ANS and members of underrepresented communities, including 2SLGBTQIA+ and disabled youth. It runs in both the winter and spring terms. Participants must attend programs either virtually or in person to maintain their free internet access and keep their devices at the end of the program!

 

BIPOC: Dinner Club

Thursdays from 6 to 8 PM

This program offers BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) youth a space to explore cultural recipes, develop cooking skills, and build community. Participants will prepare nourishing meals, learn about the connection between food and well-being, and engage in fun leisure games that promote relaxation and bonding. Come cook up some fun with us this term!

 

GSA: Queer Arts

Fridays from 4 to 6 PM

MacPhee’s GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) carves out a space for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their allies to explore issues and topics related to gender, sexuality and sex. Meet us Fridays from 4 to 6 PM for a deep dive into queer artist movements, connection, and creative projects. Think protest art, poetry, zines, painting, collage, musical theatre and more!

 

Improv with Page 1 Theatre

Every-Other Friday from 4 to 6 PM

Looking to make new friends and have lots of fun? Improv is a great way to sharpen your funny bone, and learn to go with your gut. Join Becca, Keirran, Alex and Isaac from Page1 Theatre as we play games and create scenes based on loose scenarios. Sign up today, you don't need any previous experience, and join the fun!

This program runs every other week starting on January 17th. It lasts for 10 weeks, with the final day on April 25. For each specific program date, go to the registration page.