Colour Connects: Creating Your 'Happy Place'
Oakville Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
In partnership with Toronto-based artist Caroline MacFarlane and the Town of Oakville, Colour Connects brought together people of all ages at Oakville Public Library’s Glen Abbey Branch through creativity and collaboration. The project featured community workshops that contributed to a large-scale digital mural, wall sculptures, and colour interventions using natural paints. Integrating with recent renovations, including the Creation Zone, Kid’s Zone, and a 1,900 sq. ft. outdoor patio, Colour Connects turned the library into a “Happy Place” for all community members by enhancing shared spaces through community engagement and promoting artistic expression across all skill levels. By merging creativity with functional design, the project revitalized the library, transforming it into a vibrant, inclusive hub for learning and leisure.
Challenge/Opportunity
The initial design of the Kid’s Zone at the Glen Abbey Branch was less functional than intended, featuring poor sight lines for staff and insufficient space for children to play and engage with books and materials. The fixed arrangement of shelves and furniture also constrained its use for programming. By implementing a large-scale art installation, we had the opportunity to reconfigure the Kid’s Zone into a more cohesive, accessible, and functional environment. We could utilize the strengths of community engagement to create a unique, sensory-rich, interactive space that supports passive learning and enhances the atmosphere with calming, one-of-a-kind, welcoming artwork for all. This transformation could be used to address previous design flaws and revitalize the space into a vibrant, adaptable area for all members of our community.
Key Elements of Innovation
In the Colour Connects project, innovation was exemplified by transforming the Kid’s Zone and outdoor patio into vibrant spaces through community-driven creativity led by artist Caroline MacFarlane. We created a unique opportunity for all community members to engage with her workshops as open laboratories for experimenting with colour, form, and composition, regardless of artistic skill. This inclusive approach not only democratized artistic expression but also ensured that every participant had a hand in shaping their own “happy place.” The result is a large-scale digital mural and physical wall sculptures that directly reflect the community’s creative input, turning personal expressions into a cohesive and welcoming environment. This process showcased innovation by integrating diverse ideas into practical, impactful art installations that enhance the library's spaces and foster a shared sense of ownership and joy.
Achieved Outcomes
Colour Connects fostered community involvement by engaging people of all ages in workshops to create artwork, which not only enriched the library’s spaces but also strengthened community ties and encouraged local artistic expression. The project transformed the Kid’s Zone into a “Happy Place” by integrating hundreds of unique pieces of artwork created by community members which helped in creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that serves as a positive and engaging space for users. The redesign also improved accessibility and functionality of the space, allowing for a more adaptable area for programming and passive activities.
