Children should have the chance to explore their creativity, make friends, and enjoy experiences at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB), regardless of their financial means.
To ensure this opportunity, the art gallery has created the AGB Arts Fund for Kids, held at the Burlington Community Foundation (BCF).
The fund supports a bursary program, which allows children to be financially supported to attend the AGB, including camps that run throughout the year, such as on PA Days and during the summer.
The camp bursary program was piloted after receiving seed funding from BCF’s annual Community Granting Program. A bursary program was then made permanent by the gallery through an additional major gift from the Joyce Family Foundation.
“The arts are an invaluable experience for children, and we want to ensure that kids who want to take part in AGB camps and programming are never prohibited from doing so because of cost,” says AGB Executive Director Emma Sankey.
“We are grateful to the generous donors who have enabled us to create the AGB Arts Fund for Kids and look forward to providing many more creative opportunities for children through community generosity.”
During the summer of 2025, 31 bursaries were awarded through the support of the Burlington Community Foundation for campers to attend AGB Summer Camps and PA Day Camps across the school year.
The bursary program opens doors for children and youth who might not otherwise have access to creative experiences, helping them build confidence, express themselves, and feel part of a welcoming community.
“Supporting children and youth has been a key priority of the Burlington Community Foundation. We are proud to see that the seed funding provided through BCF granting helped to create a sustainable pathway for arts access,” says Foundation CEO Megan Tregunno.
“We know that the establishment of a permanently endowed fund at BCF will help many children continue to access valuable arts experiences through camps and offerings at the AGB.”
The AGB is uniquely positioned to offer immersive art experiences beyond the typical school classroom.
This fund supports local classrooms accessing subsidized school visits and art programming, allowing hundreds of children to visit the gallery and benefit from the creative, social, and emotional opportunities that arts education provides.
During the camps, not only are environmentally friendly art supplies used to create, but nutritional assistance is also provided. Campers supported by the AGB Arts Fund for Kids are provided with a locally prepared lunch each day of the program. (prepared lunch each day of the program.”)
To support the fund, BCF fundholders, Ralph and Susan Sgro, provided the first $15,000 matching grant, through the Lindsay’s Loves Fund.
The AGB Arts Fund for Kids invites community donations of all sizes from people and businesses wishing to help more children and youth gain access to arts programming. This fund is a vital step toward dismantling the financial barriers that prevent low-income youth from participating in arts education — fostering resilience, well-being, and a creative, empowered next generation.
Donations can be made directly to the AGB Arts Fund for Kids online or through the ways listed here.
Photo Credit: Jing Marchant and Mina Dragojevic from Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Photography