About our Group
Mission Statement
Hamilton Ontario Plein Air Artists goal is to raise awareness of the beauty and importance of our urban and rural green spaces by creating artwork during our weekly meetups at various outdoor locations in the greater Hamilton Ontario area and by sharing the work and our enthusiasm for our outdoor environment with the public through events, exhibitions and shows.
We strive to bring art and the process of creating art to the public by engaging with people who see us out painting and creating during our meetups, events and shows.
We believe in the value and importance of nature conservation, especially in cities.
Our interactions with the public serve to educate and grow interest in the beauty of our city and its wonderful artists.
We support our members by providing workshops, events, sales opportunities, online profiles, social media education, plus an online community chat group and more!
We strive to be inclusive by providing opportunities for artists of all abilities, cultures, genders, ages (adults 18+) and genres.
We embrace and encourage all artists who share our passion for art and nature to join us!
HOPAA began in 2019 as a Facebook group. Over the years, the group grew and became more organized in our efforts.
2023 saw huge growth for our organization with up to 12 artists meeting up regularly at various locations throughout the greater Hamilton area to paint, chat, network and enjoy the outdoors. In 2024 we opened our website so that we can share our work and activities with all art lovers. Our members-only online community continues to thrive.
In November 2023 we hosted a successful 1st Annual Show and Sale that featured the work we completed during the plein air season.
Our History
June 2024 we hosted our first Plein Air Festival, an open competition for all plein air artists to participate and compete for prizes. Sign up to our newsletter to receive notice for our next Call to Artists.
Our community partner, Welcome Inn Community Centre provides us with a physical building to host our events and shows. In appreciation for their generosity, we share 20% of our art sales with Welcome Inn to help support their community programming which includes a food bank, seniors diner club, youth after-school and summer programs and much more. Please consider donating to Welcome Inn Community Centre.
And in fall 2024 we added Hamilton Conservation Authority as a new partner supporting our members as we support the conservation initiative.
FAQs
Do I have to live in Hamilton to become a member?
No, our members come from areas in and around city including, Niagara, Brantford, Oakville, Kingston, Toronto and Dunnville. We welcome anyone who wishes to participate.
Is this a non-profit organization?
Becoming a non-profit organization in Ontario has some very specific requirements which we do not meet at this time. As our group continues to grow and develop as an organization we hope to reach the stage of becoming a non-profit.
Do I have to pay extra for workshops and other activities?
Additional fees for workshops, events and exhibitions are often required. As each presenter will request their own fees our group needs to cover these costs. Some events that are open to the public will be discounted for members who wish to participate.
How are my membership fees used?
Currently our groups costs are maintaining our website. Liability insurance is paid for by our leader. We do accept donations and sponsorships that will help pay for additional costs.
Do I need to participate at every meetup?
We understand that everyone’s schedule is unique. That’s why our meetup schedules include 3 opportunities weekly to join up with other members to paint outdoors. Locations and times also vary which allow members with varying schedules to find a day and time that works for them.
Can beginners join the group?
Yes! We welcome all skill levels. Our weekly meetups are not instructional, however you’ll find many members willing to provide tips and ideas.