This article was originally published on SteinbachOnline.com: https://steinbachonline.com/articles/steinbach-arts-council-expands-with-spring-programming- It is a busy time of year for the Steinbach Arts Council with Fiddler on the Roof kicking off, the Southeast Open Judged Exhibit right around the corner, and of course, all of the programming that runs throughout the year.  Cassandra Kornelsen, Manager of Community Programs, says they’re adding to the fun by introducing spring programs.  “Up until this point, we ran our typical fall and winter sessions with our summer camps, of course. We added in some spring breakout camps a couple of years ago, and now we’ve taken that next step to add in the spring classes.”  Classes like pottery, creative wellness, and some new workshops are coming up this spring and are planned to run for eight weeks, right before summer camps kick off.  Kornelsen shares that it will be a mix of familiar favourites but with fresh starts.  “A mixed media for youth or a stop motion class. And of course, like our traditional yoga and strength circuit. Those things would all start off from the basics and work their way up. So, it’s basically feeding into that demand of what’s been happening in fall and winter and continuing right through.”  She explains that they decided to add this programming to allow for more growth and to serve different people in the community.  “We definitely have that buzz now and people are calling. They’re like ‘What do you have in spring? What’s going on in Spring?’ So, we got to fill the demand, and we are running out of space, but we’re going to find space and it’s going to be great.”  Programs at SAC have continued to grow over the years, and Kornelsen shares how this rapid expansion aligns with their ongoing efforts to better serve the public.  “Whether it’s different workshops or whether it’s different long week classes, it’s just adding more of those and having more instructors come to us to say we want to teach, we want to be involved. Which then turns into, how can we make this into a program that people love and bringing in the arts, the culture, the heritage, all the pieces together to make that run.”  They have even seen their programs double in size which has been a huge accomplishment.  “I like doubling programs,” she says. “It’s my favourite thing which we also have done this year, and our exhibit space. Everything is booming, which is what our goal is with programming.”  For more information on programs or to register for spring classes, visit the SAC website at steinbacharts.ca.  

This article was originally published on SteinbachOnline.com: https://steinbachonline.com/articles/sac-offering-a-new-program-for-adults-interested-in-trying-the-art-of-improv- If you’ve ever been interested in improvised theatre, but didn’t know where to start, Foundations of Improv is for you.  It is a brand-new adult improv program at the Steinbach Arts Council that is being created by Alan Fehr.   He notes “I’ve been teaching improv to kids there for a number of years now, and me and David sat down, and we said, ‘why don’t we offer improv to adults as well?’  We thought that was a great idea, so this year we’re opening it up. We just want to create that space, that environment for people who want to work on their skills for presenting, for speaking, for just expressing themselves.”  Fehr says his goal is to create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable taking risks no matter their skill level. With no script to follow, he notes improvised theatre is special because it teaches you to think on your feet.  “Whether we like it or not, so much of our life is improvised. You don’t meet a friend on the street and have a script that you now need to follow. You see a person on the street that you want to chat with, and you just start talking, you feel that freedom to say what’s on your mind. It’s great to be able to harness, to tap into that in an improv setting.”  He adds “Sure, maybe we’re different characters, we’re fictional characters, but we’re still going to explore our relationship together by asking questions by answering questions and just making stuff up and discovering it as we go along. It’s a lot less scary once you’re actually in it.”  Not only is improv a wonderful tool for building presentation skills and confidence, but Fehr says it is also incredibly fun.  “You are creating something, it’s never been made before, and it will never be made again. This is the only time that this creation is going to be in existence, and when that scene is done, it’s done. It’s the perfect art form for just being in the moment and enjoying the act of creating.”  If you are interested in trying improv, or you know someone who might be, Fehr says registration is already open on the Steinbach Arts Council website. He adds classes will begin mid-January and run until the end of March.