Charity and artistry have a new home on Princess St.
On Sept. 4, the Kingston School of Art (KSOA) announced via their Instagram that they’ll be moving into Providence Village this fall. They follow a series of other Kingston charities that have relocated to the Village since 2024, including Independent Living Centre Kingston and Girls Inc. Limestone. The move represents a step forward in KSOA’s commitment to keeping visual arts instruction accessible to the community.
KSOA is currently located at 647 Princess St, a smaller facility than Providence Village offers. Looking ahead to the move, KSOA’s website describes the Village as a “beautiful, inclusive space.” At 1200 Princess St, the Village is a large charitable community with room to house KSOA and other partners.
The Village has been adding new partners since the 2017 incorporation of Providence Village as a not-for-profit organization. The Village assumed operations of the Providence Motherhouse and care for its Sisters in 2024. Since then, the Village has been expanding its team of community now partners, including KSOA.
In a written statement to The Journal, a representative for KSOA’s Board of Directors said the move will increase KSOA’s ability to provide “accessible, affordable, and high-quality arts education to people across Kingston.”
Providence Village continues to establish itself as a charitable hub in Kingston, making use of the historic space to provide care in a variety of ways, including through art.
“The arts play a vital role in individual and community wellness. Through our programs, students and artists of all ages find ways to express themselves, connect with others, and experience the transformative power of creativity,” they said. According to KSOA’s website, the new space at Providence Village will include a printmaking studio and multipurpose arts classroom.
KSOA’s representative is joining other organizations that “strengthen the role of creativity as a pathway to inclusion, wellness, and community building.” This is true of other new additions to the Village like the H’art Centre, who moved to the Motherhouse in June 2025. The H’art Centre also focuses on providing access to art for the Kingston community, offering day programs and events for differently-abled people and their families.
KOSA’s website describes their vision for the arts along similar lines, emphasizing its “transformative power.” At the Village, KSOA hopes to reach a new community of artists and educators.
“We are proud to bring the Kingston School of Art into this community and look forward to shaping a future where the arts continue to inspire, connect, and support the people of Kingston,” KSOA’s spokesperson said.
Programs will resume gradually in late September as KSOA ramps up operations following the move.
Tags
Art, charity, Kingston School of Art, Providence Village
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