McTavish Academy of Art: From Empty Halls to a Community Alive with Creativity
by Sean McNeill
Not long ago, the halls at 1720 McTavish Road were quiet. The former elementary school had closed in 2008 and sat idle, an empty building on a beautiful piece of land, waiting for its next chapter. In 2016, a small team of community minded entrepreneurs, including co-founders Sean McNeill and Carl Joosse, saw what it could become: a welcoming home for creativity where people of all ages could learn, make, and connect. They repurposed the school, opened the doors, and invited the community in.
Walk those halls today and you’ll hear a very different soundtrack. There’s preschool laughter and the bustle of before and after school care. Music floats from guitar and ukulele lessons. Down one hallway, a yoga class settles into quiet focus: down another, a watercolour or acrylics workshop layers colour onto canvas. Behind other doors, writers gather, photographers share tips, woodturners swap techniques, and dancers rehearse. You’ll even hear the refrains of Happy Birthday from a celebration in the gym and gallery. The building hums with possibility because at McTavish Academy of Art, creativity shows up in many forms and for every age.
From the start, McTavish Academy’s role has been to open space and offer support for the projects and people in the community. That approach guided the Academy through challenges, including the pandemic, when in-person programs paused and new ideas had to carry the mission forward. One of those ideas was laser cut art kits, which grew into a Canada-wide way to share creativity.
Each kit begins as an original drawing, is transformed into layered pieces on a laser cutter, and becomes a hands-on project that anyone can paint and assemble. Whether it’s an orca leaping from the waves or a layered ornament, these kits offer an easy, joyful doorway into making art for a first step or a fresh spark.
McTavish Academy’s work doesn’t stop at its walls. On the Saanich Peninsula, the Academy partners with the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation (SPHF) to bring art experiences directly to residents in the Extended Care Unit. Residents experience weekly sessions in mixed media, pottery, painting, and crafting, and others. Every activity is adapted to suit the needs of residents, and each session invites personal memories and stories into the process. The residents experience conversation, more confidence, and more moments of connection. As one participant put it, it has been “the most inspirational class I’ve attended in a long time… it brought my buttons back.”
Community use of the Academy extends well beyond classes. Local groups such as the Saanich Peninsula Art & Craft Society and the Parkinson’s Wellness Projects use McTavish Academy’s studios to gather, teach, and share skills. Looking ahead, the team is exploring programming around gardening and sustainability turning the grounds into spaces that connect art, land, and learning.
The same vision that sparked the original purchase of the school continues to guide the work today: transform underused space into a vibrant cultural hub that strengthens the region and supports the people who call it home. Entrepreneurship is part of that story. Building McTavish Academy meant taking risks—investing before the path was clear, listening closely to community, and continually refining offerings.
The last few years demanded resilience and creativity in equal measure, and the small team met that moment with long hours and big heart. The result is a thriving centre where artists can teach and earn, where learners of every age can find a welcoming place to grow, and where families can discover new ways to create together. The ripple effects reach beyond the walls, supporting local businesses and adding to the cultural vitality that draws people to the Saanich Peninsula.
McTavish Academy believes arts and culture are essential community services. They create opportunities for dialogue, belonging, and creative learning. They connect people around shared goals, and they nurture leadership and resilience. When people make things together, a community grows stronger. That belief guides everything the Academy does from removing barriers in participation, to welcoming cross generational learning, to partnering with organizations that widen its reach.
Looking ahead, the Academy will keep doing what has worked since day one: listening, collaborating, and making room for creativity to flourish. It will continue to expand inclusive programs on site and in the community, support local artists and small businesses, and spark moments of connection wherever possible.
McTavish Academy of Art is deeply grateful to everyone who has helped along the way, from the early champions who believed an empty school could become a community asset, to the partners who bring programs to life, and the participants who show up with curiosity and courage. McTavish Academy of Art began with a simple idea: art is for everyone. Today, that idea fills every corner of the building and ripples into hospital rooms, living rooms, classrooms, and neighbourhoods. If you’ve been part of this journey, thank you. If you’re just discovering McTavish Academy of Art, welcome. There’s a seat at the table, a brush on the canvas, and a place for you in this creative community.
