DUNNVILLE—For Dunnville teens, a place to belong is found not only on the ice or the field, but inside a studio filled with music, art, and imagination.
The LVW Creative Barracks in Dunnville is once again opening its doors to youth through Teen Takeover, a weekly program designed to give young people a place to create, connect, and belong. Running every Monday evening until December 15, the initiative offers a mix of structured workshops and open drop-in sessions for ages 12 and up.
Teen Takeover has been running for nearly eight years. It’s the vision of LVW founder Lacie Williamson, who wanted to provide a space where teens could explore their creativity without rigid instruction.
“The idea is that they’ve already had 12 or more years of being told what to do creatively. We’re hoping to give them a space to come in, be themselves, and do what they want in a supervised setting,” Williamson explained.
The program is built around flexibility. Some participants treat it as a social space, dropping in to do homework, play board games, or sketch. Others take part in structured programming like music jams, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, clay and stained-glass workshops, or digital courses led by in-house animator Heidi Dillon.
Students can spread out across the building, from quiet lounge rooms to the busy workshop space, making the space truly feel like their own.
The variety of activities is intentional. Williamson and her team recognize that while some teens thrive in group activities, others need quieter corners to create.
Weekly musical drop-ins provide a chance for those with instruments to play in a casual, social setting. The popular Dungeons & Dragons sessions run over 10 weeks and guide players through collaborative storytelling adventures, whether they are seasoned gamers or first-timers.
For those with existing skills in clay or stained glass, the open studio allows them to work independently while having access to tools and materials.d
Digital arts have become a growing part of Teen Takeover. Dillon, who has studied under renowned Disney animator Aaron Blaise, leads step-by-step classes in illustration and animation. The program now offers multiple levels, with some students advancing to Animation 2.0 after several years of experience.
“We’ve got some students who have been doing the animation for three years, and they’re getting to be quite good,” Williamson said.
On any given Monday, one to two dozen teens can be found inside the Barracks. While a core group comes from Dunnville, others travel from as far as St. Catharines and Port Colborne, drawn by the unique opportunities offered.
“There is nothing like what we do being offered anywhere else in the region,” said Williamson.
The program has always emphasized creating a safe and welcoming space, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Williamson explained that Teen Takeover is advertised as a youth-only environment, with adults not permitted to linger. Parents can drop off or pick up their kids, but the evening is for teens to feel ownership of the space. This structure also helps them transition to adult workshops later, giving them a foundation of comfort and belonging.
For Williamson, the mission is deeply personal. As someone who grew up in Dunnville with artistic interests, she recalls the lack of creative outlets for young adults. That memory inspired her to open the studio and keep youth at the centre of its programming. While adult workshops have since been added, she insists that the heart of the Barracks remains with its youngest creators.
Teen Takeover runs weekly from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., with various activities scheduled throughout the evening. The DIY drop-in is free, while the clay and glass studio costs $25 per week or $175 for 10 weeks. Digital courses are $15 per class or $100 for the season. More information and registration details can be found at barracksbythegrand.ca/teen-takeover.
