About the DVAC

Last modified: January 11, 2012
Our members gather to create and share our appreciation of art at the Brick Works in the heart of Toronto’s Don Valley.
About the DVAC > Who We Are
The Don Valley Art Club has a long history in the Toronto art scene, having been established over 55 years ago. There are 150 full time members, most express themselves primarily through painting. Some members have worked in fine arts or another creative field their whole life, others have only recently found the time to develop their talent. A common thread through the membership is a life-long desire to create art.
This club cooperatively deals with all the aspects required to be a showing artist in Toronto, volunteers organize the groups’ publicity and exhibitions. A volunteer executive committee is elected annually.
During its long history the DVAC has developed programmes that appeal to all types of painters. There are regular programmes 6 days a week and a few weekend workshops though out the year. Most events are held at the historic Brick Works in the heart of the Don Valley. The club also exhibits regularly at Todmorden Mills, situated close by on Pottery Road.
Regular DVAC programmes include the following:
Monday afternoon is an opportunity to paint amongst friends
Tuesday evening is painting from the live model
Wednesday afternoon and evening is for still-life painters
Thursday afternoon is painting from the live model
Friday evening – This is our Club night, running from September to May. Updates on Club news will be presented, we have guest demonstrators and speakers, educational features and social activities.
Sunday afternoon the club is open for members to work individually while socializing with their peers.

The Don Valley Art Club has a long history in the Toronto art scene, having been established over 60 years ago. There are 170 full time members, most express themselves primarily through painting. Some members have worked in fine arts or another creative field their whole life, others have only recently found the time to develop their talent. A common thread through the membership is a life-long desire to create art.

This club cooperatively deals with all the aspects required to be a showing artist in Toronto, volunteers organize the groups’ publicity and exhibitions. A volunteer executive committee is elected annually.

During its long history the DVAC has developed programmes that appeal to all types of painters. There are regular programmes five days a week and a few weekend workshops though out the year. The club also exhibits regularly at Todmorden Mills on Pottery Road.

Regular DVAC programmes include the following:
Monday afternoon is an opportunity to paint amongst friends
Tuesday evening is painting from the live model
Wednesday afternoon is painting from the live model
Friday evening is our Club night, running from September to May. Updates on Club news are presented, we have guest demonstrators and speakers, educational features and social activities.
Sunday afternoon is Portrait Drawing. Participants take turns posing for half hour portrait poses.

Our DVAC 2009 Annual Spring Show marked The Don Valley Art Club’s 60th anniversary, a very special landmark in the club’s long and successful history in the Toronto arts scene.

One of the oldest art clubs in Toronto, the DVAC was founded in 1948 in a public school on Chester Avenue by a group of people whose shared desire was to create art. A few years later the club members, who strongly identified with the valley of the Don River, built a clubhouse at the foot of Don Mills Road. In 1972, the club then moved to Todmorden Mills, which was its home until 2000, when the DVAC relocated to a restored building at the old Toronto Brick Works. In 2011 the club moved north to Eglinton Ave West, near Avenue Road.

The Don Valley Art Club has a rich cultural heritage whose many activities include painting sessions, socializing, lectures and demonstrations by guest artists, workshops, and painting excursions. The club has 170 members and a growing waiting list.

The DVAC traditionally presents three exhibitions per year in the gallery at Todmorden Mills.



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