About Us

A Message From the Director, Anne-Marie Kornachuk

The Art School of Peterborough, formerly known as The Lakefield School of Fine Art, was founded in the fall of 1993 by Richard Hayman.  Richard remained as the Artistic Director until September 2007, when he passed away unexpectedly.  It was a great loss to the school and to the community.  It was a privilege to have known him for the time that I did.  He was incredibly supportive and generous with me; this description of Richard is echoed by so many.  In the summer of 2007 Richard asked me to replace him when he retired.   It is obvious to say that I did not picture succeeding him in this manner, although I am proud to carry on with his work at the school, to nurture it and help it grow.

I graduated from Concordia University, (Montreal, Quebec) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1993.  After several years of working diverse jobs to make ends meet, I was able to focus on my painting full time, several years ago, when I moved to Lakefield to join my husband.  My husband has deep roots in the community.   I enjoy a very busy career as a painter, exhibiting and selling my work in Canada and the U.S.  In the fall of 2006 I began teaching at the Art School of Peterborough, and I found I loved the school and I loved teaching.  The aspect of teaching that I enjoy most is sharing:   sharing ideas about making art, sharing in the excitement of watching other artists grow in skills and imagination.

The fall of 2008 will mark our 15^th anniversary as a not-for-profit private art school.  Having had the experience of teaching in many environments, I can say that the school has a unique spirit, and a wonderful creative energy that lives within its walls.  We offer an ever expanding variety of courses for adults and children.  Our instructors are dedicated professionals, with diverse points of view and interests.  Our success rests with the community that makes up the Art School:  our teachers, our dedicated Board and volunteers, not to mention our students, the reason for our existence.

I am proud to say that the Art School of Peterborough is a school of inclusion, where all students are encouraged to hang their work on our walls.  Come join in the fun and join us as we grow.

Anne-Marie Kornachuk

Executive Director

Mission Statement

The Art School of Peterborough is dedicated to providing a professional level of instruction in a wide variety of studio media to both adults and children and to making the programme accessible to people in the community, regardless of their experience or ability. No prior art training is necessary and there are no entrance requirements or examinations. We aim to treat our students not only equally but uniquely. Through a concern for both the imaginative and technical elements of art, we will tailor each course to the individual needs of the student. With this approach we expect to see a quantitative increase in the skill level of students and their ability to express themselves in increasingly personal terms. We are also dedicated to developing an endowment and scholarship programme. This would enable our student body to reflect Canada’s diversity and help students with artistic potential and financial need to take courses at the school.