William J. Withrow School Visits Bursary
For nearly three decades, the Varley Art Gallery has welcomed and inspired thousands of young people. Each year, elementary and high school students engage with art through immersive tours and hands-on programs led by the Gallery’s education team.
To remove financial barriers and ensure more students can access these experiences, the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham supports the William J. Withrow School Visits Bursary. This bursary helps schools cover the cost of bus transportation so students can visit the Gallery—many for the very first time. Once onsite, classes take part in guided tours and interactive art-making activities led by professional educators, connecting curriculum goals with creative exploration.
Since launching in 2019, this initiative has ensured that cost is not a barrier, enabling 710 students from 12 schools to access high-quality arts education at the Gallery.
Eligibility:
- Non-tuition school or organization
- Located in York Region
- Consist of 60 plus participants
- Group consist primarily of self-identified minority participants
- Confirm Financial Need
Application Form
Opening Doors Beyond the Classroom
“Students enjoyed the activities (sculpture and printmaking)…The talk in the gallery was engaging and informative…The bus bursary really helped! If there were more transportation subsidies, we would bring more students!!” – Intermediate teacher, Christ the King CES, Richmond Hill
“I appreciate your help and the generous sponsors of the William J. Withrow Bursary committee. As mentioned in my earlier email, many of the students attending our camp come from various backgrounds, of which many have financial difficulties in pursuing extracurricular activities. One of the main challenges this year is getting them exposed to the remarkable resources available in our backyard, such as the Varley Art Gallery. The opportunity of having the bursary cover our transportation costs was a monumental benefit in getting students aware of not just art, but the historical piece of Canada’s growth over the past 100 years.” – Camp Counsellor, Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association
