Silver Spring Studio is a social enterprise operated by the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD). The studio sits on the grounds of Silver Spring Farm located in the west end of Ottawa at the intersection of Robertson and Baseline Roads. As part of CSED’s Social Enterprise Spotlight Series, we recently sat down with Rosemarie Ferguson, Service Development Consultant, to learn about the enterprise and how it is cultivating creative, inclusive pathways for individuals with developmental disabilities to connect with and contribute to their communities.
Silver Spring Studio is a fee-for-service creative arts studio dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Our programs include farm-to-table cooking and baking classes, as well as a variety of creative activities such as pottery, glasswork, painting, gardening, and more. We also sell the art that our participants make (if desired), and 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the individual.
Beyond the programs, we offer inclusive evening and weekend workshops, and open our doors to the community with rental space for parties, book launches and more.
The Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities has been serving the community for over 70 years. Silver Spring Studio opened its doors in 2022 following the introduction of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ Journey to Belonging long-term plan to reform Ontario’s developmental services, which is aimed at empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to live independently and participate fully in their communities.
Based on a polling of the people we support, there was an overwhelming desire to use the annex on Silver Spring Farm as a fee-for-service art studio that would enhance creative, social, interpersonal and life skills within the developmental sector.
As we do not receive Ministry Funding, we rely on earned revenue along with donations and fundraising to achieve our mission. Every dollar earned is poured straight back into the program.
Our main customers are seniors and persons with developmental disabilities. We also have customers in the wider community for evening and weekend creative art classes and we support potters that require a place to fire their pottery. We also have a growing army of volunteers.
What keeps people coming back is the variety of activities; there’s something for everyone. Volunteers return because they experience personal impact by helping our customers. Our space is built on diversity and inclusion.
Marketing is an essential part of sustainable development and to do it efficiently it is necessary to ensure that a professional is available to assist with community engagement. This is very difficult to do with limited resources.
Watching this program grow, engaging with the community and enabling many collaborations within it. Our customers are happy, they show pride in learning new skills and the obvious boost to self esteem when art is sold is heartwarming.
Funding. Funding. Funding. It is a constant effort to raise money, attendance, and seek donations to keep the program alive.
Attending the Bootcamp was a terrific experience that solidified my ability to engage, pursue and develop projects that will continue to benefit the community and my customers. I learned some marketing techniques from my Mentor that were valuable. It also helped to be in a group of other entrepreneurs that were developing their own social enterprises; there were so many skillsets in one room it was easy to absorb and share knowledge.
Ask for help. Don’t try to do everything yourself. You can save time and energy by seeking out others who have experience and are willing to help.
We continue to grow our farm project. It feels like we are “waking up a dormant farm”! We are continuing with collaborations with the Ottawa Catholic School Board, 93 Carpenters Union, Ottawa Horticultural Society and so many others.
Believe in yourself. Put trust in others to help you. Positivity and passion about your project are addictive and garners interest and respect from those around you. Keep going! There is an answer to EVERY problem.