Art After Dark: Not your ordinary art class

Drinking beer, answering trivia questions and learning a new creative skill is exactly how people in Moncton are spending their evenings. Art After Dark has been taking place in bars and restaurants since March and allows groups of people to get together to paint for the first time. “When you see people painting, smiling and having a good time, it's not an art class...the last thing you call it is an art class,” said one founder, Jeff Kelly. Art After Dark began when two friends and artists on Prince Edward Island recognized a similar program happening in the United States. By the end of November 2015 Kelly, and photographer Len Currie, had sold tickets to their first event which took place at a golf course. “We thought we would do one or two a month for fun. The first one went well and we contacted another venue in Charlottetown,” said Kelly. “In December, we had venues contacting us.” Kelly said there are more than 50 events scheduled for April, and the event will also be taking place in Halifax and other parts of Nova Scotia in May.

Kelly wants to keep the events local which he does by helping out community charities. Proceeds from their December events went to a Christmas turkey drive. “We donated 125 turkeys to the CBC turkey drive, that’s $2,400. That became the standard now we have one or two different charities we give to each month,” he said. Tickets for events are $40 with space for 40 people. Kelly says keeping the groups small makes the event more enjoyable and relaxing.

“It takes anxiety from people...the target market is someone who hasn't picked up a paintbrush,” he said. “The painting is going to come by itself… we don't want to teach, we want to show you or guide you.”

“As an artists I get inspired by having other people inspired.”

#art #paint #moncton