The Forum Art Institute was established in 1964 to provide educational and cultural enrichment for the art community in and around Manitoba. It was founded by two artists & university instructors - Nikola Bjelajac and Steve Repa. They worked diligently to create a non-credit school of art available to anyone willing to learn. After Steve passed away Nik remained as a very active influence and educator at the Forum up until 2006 when he passed away in his 86th year. Their inspiration and dedication to making art education an important part of our art community will continue at the Forum Art.

We have grown over the years and changed facilities 8 times in locations throughout the city of Winnipeg & we currently lease from the City of Winnipeg in an old city library building built in 1961.

The Forum Art is managed by an 9 member Board of Directors with some assistance by an Honorary Board of Directors, a valuable contingent of volunteers and a professional team of an Art Director, Executive Director and Art Instructors.

Mission Statement

‘The Forum Art Institute endeavors to develop and encourage art appreciation and artistic enlightenment. As a not-for- profit organization we provide this service to the community through various approaches of art instruction and awareness.

Our instructors excel in developing the full artistic potential of each student who wants to participate in exploring their own artist within. Students’ innovative and experimental work is encouraged, nurtured, and promoted with enthusiasm by the instructors and other students for creating art for its own sake. We are dedicated to enhancing art comprehension by exposure to history, global cultures and styles of the visual arts.

Students can participate from seven years old and onwards, from all backgrounds and all cultures to create new forms and ideas that portray the personality of each individual and stimulate the imagination.’

Board of Directors