CVAG Community Hub Gallery
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY EXHIBITION
L’Arche Comox Valley Artists
Creativity and a sense of community are essential to our well-being. They help us connect, express ourselves, and feel seen—needs that are universal.
Ten years ago, L’Arche Comox Valley launched a unique program called Art of Belonging, designed to bring people with and without intellectual disabilities together to create art and foster genuine connection.
L’Arche Comox Valley is part of an international organization committed to supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, grounded in the belief that everyone has gifts to share. Art of Belonging embodies this principle by providing a welcoming, inclusive space where creativity and community go hand in hand.
Valuing diverse abilities means recognizing that everyone contributes in meaningful ways—not in spite of their differences, but because of them. It asks us to look beyond labels and limitations, and instead see the strength, insight, and creativity each person offers. In Art of Belonging, this value is lived out in every workshop. This approach shifts the narrative from “helping” to “sharing,” creating a dynamic exchange where everyone gives and receives.
Under the generous guidance of professional artist Dean Bauche, participants explore diverse artistic forms that inspire, challenge, and delight. Guest artists and facilitators are often invited to share new perspectives and techniques, enriching the experience for everyone involved.
Over the years, the program has explored a wide range of media—from driftwood sculpture and fused glass to fish prints, watercolor, digital design, Gelli prints, and puppet-making. Yet the focus is never solely on the final product. What matters most is the process: the joy of self-expression, the satisfaction of working with our hands, and the relationships formed through shared creative experience.
The environment is playful, respectful, and deeply affirming. Facilitators weave together improvisation, acting, song, dance, and open conversation to create a space where trust and laughter flourish. This spirit of collaboration nurtures a profound sense of belonging — for everyone.
Art of Belonging is more than an art program. It’s a living example of what becomes possible when we create together across perceived differences. It’s a celebration of community, creativity, and our shared humanity.
“I really enjoy the ‘Art of Belonging’. Every year it teaches me more about different kinds of art and allows me to work and interact with beautiful people of many abilities and talents. I have participated for at least 5 years and I look forward to it every year.”
– Sid Lodewyk
“I had lots of fun doing ‘Art of Belonging’ over years, and I also enjoyed making puppets.”
– Joe Grubwieser
Art of Belonging and because • not despite | three videos are part of the convergent program because • not despite.
Created by Erik Hedley after being inspired by his Art of Belonging instructor Dean Bouche, Sand Spin is viewable 24/7 in CVAG’s Window + Plaza Media Gallery as part of because • not despite | three videos.
