creativity rooted in community

ABOUT THE MINTO ARTS COUNCIL

The Minto Arts Council (MAC) believes in the power of the arts to spark imagination, foster connection, and enrich rural communities. Since 1996, we’ve been creating opportunities for our community to connect with the arts.

about us

Minto Arts Council began in the summer of 1996 with a simple but powerful goal: to give local artists a platform for their work and to make art more accessible to the community.

What started as the Harriston-Minto Heritage Gallery has grown into a regionally respected arts organization, known for its inclusive programming, welcoming atmosphere, and strong volunteer spirit.

Today, we continue to build on that legacy, curating exhibitions that celebrate both emerging and established talent, and hosting events that bring people together through the arts.

An abstract painting on a gallery wall depicting swirling yellow, green, and brown colors.

our mission

We are a volunteer-run, non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging participation in and enjoyment of the arts, culture and heritage of Minto and the surrounding area.

Through exhibitions, student awards, film screenings, and cultural events, we provide opportunities for artists and audiences to connect in meaningful ways.

We operate the Minto Arts Gallery, located on the third floor of the historic Harriston Public Library, a unique cultural hub that blends contemporary art with community heritage.

A woman viewing artwork in an art gallery, with four paintings on the wall and a wooden chair nearby.

why our work matters

Art and culture connect us. It invites conversation, challenges assumptions, and reminds us of our shared humanity. In a rural community like ours, it’s not just about what hangs on the wall. It’s about creating belonging, inspiration, and opportunities for expression and connection.

That’s why we’re committed to maintaining a gallery and arts programming that is welcoming, diverse, and open to all.

People viewing artwork in an art gallery with white walls and wooden floors.

our achievements

Over nearly three decades, the Minto Arts Council has played a central role in shaping the arts and cultural landscape of our region. These milestones reflect not only MAC’s dedication to supporting the arts, but also the continued enthusiasm of the community that surrounds and supports us.

Here are just a few highlights that reflect our journey and community impact.

  • A group of people gathered outside a brick building with large glass windows, surrounded by trees and flags, during daytime.

    1997

    Minto Arts Gallery opens on the third floor of the Harriston Public Library, offering a dedicated space for local and regional artists to exhibit their work.

  • A downtown building with a vertical sign reading 'NORRGAN' and two movie posters in the windows, with flower pots outside and a streetlamp in front.

    2001 - Present

    Big Film Fest launches, in partnership with the Norgan Theatre in Palmerston and TIFF Film Circuit, bringing critically acclaimed Canadian and international films to Minto.

  • Black and white photograph of an elderly woman with white hair, smiling and holding her hands together near her chest. Next to her, text reads: 'June Callwood, Outstanding Achievement Awards for Voluntarism in Ontario.'

    2007

    MAC receives the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism from the Province of Ontario.

  • Logo of Minto Chamber of Commerce with a red circular emblem and navy blue and red text on a beige background.

    2011

    MAC is honoured with the Outstanding Organization Award by the Minto Chamber of Commerce.

  • A woman, a young boy, and a young woman stand together in two different photos. In the first photo, the woman with glasses and a purple shirt hands an award to the young boy in a green patterned shirt. In the second photo, the young woman in a white dress and high heels stands next to an older woman in a colorful blouse and black pants, all smiling.

    2015 – Present

    Archie Awards and Student Bursaries are established and recognize artistic achievement among students at Minto-Clifford Public School, Palmerston Public School, and Norwell District Secondary School.

  • Six women and one man standing together at an art gallery, with framed artwork hanging on the wall behind them.

    2020s

    Minto Juried Art Show grows into a regionally recognized event, attracting submissions from artists across Ontario.

  • A room decorated for Christmas with a small Christmas tree, Christmas ornaments, and holiday decorations on tables, with framed pictures on the walls and a large tree with lights on the back wall.

    Annually

    Our Holiday Silent Auction is a beloved local tradition, blending art, fundraising, and festive community spirit.

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meet our team

Group portrait of ten older adults, seven women and three men, gathered in an art gallery with paintings on the white walls behind them, some sitting and some standing.

The Minto Arts Council are led entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers, whose passion for the arts and community-building makes everything we do possible.

2024–2025 Board of Directors

  • President: Juliane von Westerholt

  • Vice President: Eleanor Butt

  • Past President: Juliane von Westerholt

  • Treasurer: Gordon Duff

  • Secretary: Lynn Jamieson

Directors: Warren Grein, Wendy Lockwood, Raissa Rogers, Beryl Rosewarne, Bill van Sickle, Judy Tuck, Ruth Wilkin

Members of the Minto Arts Council Board of Directors: [Back, L to R] Juliane von Westerholt, Wendy Lockwood, Eleanor Butt, Ruth Wilkin.

[Front, L to R] Warren Grein, Lynn Jamieson, Judy Tuck, Gordon Duff. Not pictured: Raissa Rogers, Beryl Rosewarne, Bill van Sickle.

Justice, Inclusion & Land Acknowledgement

The Minto Arts Council acknowledges that the lands we gather on today – within the Town of Minto – have been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. We are situated on the treaty lands and traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee. Today, Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island continue to live in and contribute to this region. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this space, and we remain committed to building respectful and cooperative relationships with Indigenous nations.

As a volunteer-led arts organization, the Minto Arts Council is dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. We are committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and equity in everything we do, from exhibitions and events to community engagement.

As an organization we support racial justice for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, and we affirm and celebrate all genders, sexual orientations, and identities. Everyone is welcome at the Minto Arts Council and Minto Arts Gallery.

Two framed watercolor paintings hang on a white gallery wall: one depicting a pink and white tulip flower with a bee, and the other showing a landscape with a pink church and trees along a river, under a soft sunset sky.