Vernon Arts Summer School gives adults chance to hone creativity

Vernon Arts Summer School gives adults chance to hone creativity Published 8:00 pm Saturday, July 11, 2026 The Vernon Arts Summer School is returning next month, offering adults an immersive opportunity to focus on their creativity during the peak of the...

Vernon Arts Summer School gives adults chance to hone creativity Published 8:00 pm Saturday, July 11, 2026 The Vernon Arts Summer School is returning next month, offering adults an immersive opportunity to focus on their creativity during the peak of the Okanagan summer. The summer school, hosted by the Vernon Community Arts Centre (VCAC), will take place Aug. 3 to 16.

The program features 15 multi-day workshops led by professional artists, including illustration, painting, ceramics, glass, fibre arts and more. Each workshop offers extended, hands-on studio time in a supportive environment designed for skill development, experimentation, and creative growth. The school is now in its third year and has become a sought-after summer activity for artists and creative learners who return for its depth of instruction, dedicated studio time and opportunity to develop their practice.

Unlike shorter-format classes, the summer school workshops provide several days of focused learning with professional artists, allowing participants to move beyond introduction into deeper exploration of materials, technique, and process. The 2026 program features guest and local instructors including Carolyn Fisher, Desiree DeRuiter, Brenda Danbrook, Helen Kovacs, Suzy King, Arlene Westen, Ann Willsie, and Sienna Belanger-Lee, among other instructors from across B.C. and beyond. Set in Vernon, the program blends immersive studio learning with the inspiration and pace of summer in the region.

“I have already told several people about what a great workshop this was. I highly recommend taking anything that VCAC has to offer,” said one past participant. The Vernon Arts Summer School is the only program of its kind in the Interior.

Registration is open, with limited space available in each workshop. For full program details and registration, visit vernonarts.ca/vass.