about
Our Mission
Pembina Hills Arts Council is a non-profit that encourages and facilitates the growth and diversity of arts and culture for the Pembina Valley Region by providing an inclusive and dynamic environment where creativity is experienced, developed and shared.
Our Vision & Values
Vision
To be a welcoming and inclusive hub where people can connect with and through the arts.
Values
Diversity and Accessibility: welcoming and accommodating all people
Education and Enrichment: offering a diverse programme responding to an ever-changing and fluid art world
Community Input: responding to people’s interests in the arts
Fostering Creativity: offering a safe environment for artistic expression
Building Relationships: with the staff, artists, instructors, volunteers, partners and communities
Financial Sustainability: effectively utilizing time and resources
Truth and Reconciliation: committed to learning how we can incorporate this into our organization and taking action
Board of Directors
Looking for more information about who sits on our Board of Directors, or who the Staff are who are running this place? Click on the drop-down links above.
Where We’ve Come From and Where We’re Going
The Pembina Hills Arts Council has its roots in a small group of local artists who came together in 1988 to cooperatively exhibit and sell their works and to create opportunities to highlight the artistic talents of the Pembina Valley region. These early initiatives led to one of the main parts of our original mandates which was to foster, support and provide opportunities for artistic professional development to area residents. To that end, the focus in the early years was to develop a strong exhibition program with an emphasis on regional artists, as well as renovating and making improvements to our building to better display exhibited works. Most recently, we have undergone extensive renovations to the main floor of our building during 2015.
Several successful partnerships were also established to showcase local talent: the Pembina Valley Artists’ Studio Tour, the Corn & Apple Festival Art Walk, the Back40 Folk Festival Artisan Village are a few examples.
Over the years the focus has broadened to develop opportunities for local artists to teach and engage the community through a variety of educational programs and activities in order to stimulate artistic expression and awareness. The PHAC has developed strong programming, including an active pottery studio, children’s after school Art Academy and summer Art Camp, and a variety of other classes and workshops. We also have Third Thursday art discussion nights and quarterly open mic nights for folks who love art but don’t necessarily want to take a class.
The PHAC has established contracts with two satellite galleries – The Manitou Opera House and Neubergthal Commons. We are also part of the Central Cultural Council and participate in planning and hosting the Central Region Juried Art Exhibition on an annual basis, showcasing artwork from around central Manitoba. We’ve also increased our partnerships to include Pembina Valley Local Immigration Partnership, the Truth and Action Working Group and Pembina Valley Pride. We are excited about ever-expanding opportunities to diversify the community we serve and the artists we represent.
In recent years the Pembina Hills Arts Council has spread out to the community and broader region to allow community members to encounter and experience art wherever they are. In 2021 we had our first successful Art on the Trail, placing two sculptures on the Lake Minnewasta trail. We also ran our first ice sculpture contest on Lake Minnewasta, a fun community event. We hope to continue to bring art out into the community in new ways.
