Create at the Mill:
Call for Proposals

A New Opportunity at the Alton Mill Arts Centre

Create at the Mill is a new series of hands-on creative experiences at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. Designed for beginners and curious makers, the program invites participants to discover new artistic skills in a welcoming environment while creating something they can take home.

We're looking for engaging workshop experiences led by artists, makers, and creative professionals. Each experience should inspire creativity, build confidence, and provide participants with a meaningful take-home experience.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Please ensure that all proposals include the following:

  • A workshop/experience title (Create at the Mill: Your Title Here)

  • A 150 - 250 word description

  • A target audience as well as recommended age

  • Duration (keeping in mind these should be between one and three hours)

  • Maximum number of participants you are comfortable with

  • Specific materials required by participants

  • Estimated material costs per student (can you provide these materials or will we need to?)

  • Instructor Fee (your flat fee for the workshop, if you need to increase your fee over a certain number of participants, include that as well)

  • Images of previous work, suitable for marketing

  • Short artist biography

  • Website/social media (optional, but we would love to promote you!)

  • Previous teaching experience (if applicable)

  • Availability (Please let us know if there are specific days of the week or times that you prefer. We are prioritizing offering experiences during business hours for now, after-hours experiences, such as Thursday evenings, will be offered once Patina Bistro is open, beginning Winter 2027.)

How to submit

Option One:
Complete the form below.

Option Two:
Email your proposal to events@altonmill.ca. Use the subject line “Create at the Mill: Proposal”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This is a great question! We are ideally looking for experiences that:

    • Are welcoming to complete beginners.

    • Run between one and three hours.

    • Accommodate a range of participant abilities

    • Allow participants to complete a project during the session.

    • Encourage creativity, conversation, and hands-on participation.

    • Require only equipment and materials that can be transported into a classroom or event space.

  • The options might actually be endless! Some examples could include (but are definitely not limited to):

    Watercolour, Printmaking, Needle Felting, Block Printing, Bookbinding, Botanical Illustration, Alcohol Ink, Candle Making, Mosaic, Leather Crafting, Floral Design, Calligraphy, Macramé, Mixed Media Collage, Natural Dyeing, Cyanotype Printing, Photography, Cake Decorating, Creative Writing etc.

  • For this particular program, less suitable experiences might be:

    • Advanced masterclasses aimed at professional artists.

    • Multi-day courses.

    • Workshops requiring permanent studio equipment.

    • Projects that cannot be completed during the session.

    • Lecture-only presentations.

  • We ask that instructors or facilitators:

    • Create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.

    • Provide instruction and support to a variety of learners.

    • Arrive early for set-up and remain for clean-up.

    • Follow any safety procedures.

    • Where required, provide the tools for the experience.

    • Support the marketing efforts of the Create at the Mill series.

  • There are several potential spaces for workshops at the Alton Mill. These include the Riverside Room, Falls Gallery, Pond Gallery, Annex Courtyard and The Hive. Decisions on where a workshop is held will be based on the nature of the workshop, the size of the class, and availability.

  • At this time, we are accepting proposals on an ongoing basis.

  • We are considering proposals based on the following:

    • Beginner-friendly

    • Creativity

    • Participant experience

    • Feasibility

    • Value for participants

    • Instructor expertise

    • Variety within the overall program

    For any programs that seem like a good fit, we will connect with you to discuss further. Together we will establish the details and determine a date prior to a contract being provided.