Earlier this year, students were challenged to select an expressive medium of visual or performative arts and work individually or collaboratively in a pair, small group, or whole class to create a piece of art. This year’s showcase challenged students to consider how they might create art from an eco-conscious lens, by using natural, recycled, repurposed, and/or materials already in school buildings. A broad collection of these pieces will be selected to be on display at the region showcases.

See the list of dates and locations below:

City of Kawartha Lakes

Date: Thursday, April 9
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: I.E. Weldon Secondary School (24 Weldon Road, Lindsay ON)

Muskoka

Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: TLDSB Muskoka Education Centre (1271 Cedar Lane, Bracebridge ON)

Haliburton

Date: Wednesday, April 29
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Fleming College – Haliburton Campus (297 College Drive, Haliburton ON)

If you have any questions, email info@tldsb.on.ca.

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The new display features work by Orillia-based artist Deby Melillo.

Melillo’s work is hanging in the lobby and in the council chambers. 

People can check out the lobby display during regular business hours – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and the display in the council chambers is viewable during committee meetings and council meetings. 

Melillo describes herself as an emerging artist who has been “joyfully splashing paint around for the past five years.” 

She noted her work has been displayed in a variety of locations, including at the Orillia Opera House, the Severn Township municipal office, and the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst. 

“My work leans towards abstract pieces with a floral whisper and landscapes that play with mood and movement,” Melillo said. “I paint on everything from small canvases to the biggest ones I can get my hands on. The larger the surface, the happier I am. Bold colour is my love language and I’m endlessly fascinated by the positive emotions it can spark.”

The Town of Gravenhurst’s Public Art Advisory Committee spearheads the art showcase project at the municipal office. The Muskoka Discovery Centre sources the work on display. 

Thanks to everyone who helps make this project possible.

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Artists from across the region and beyond are invited to submit proposals for this year’s event, which embraces the theme Into the Wild.

“Into the Wild considers ‘wild’ as both landscape and state of being,” says Artistic Dan Watson. “We are inviting artists to explore the untamed—within nature, within ourselves, and within the spaces we inhabit—blurring the boundaries between control and chaos, restraint and release, and the forces that pull us between order and freedom.”

Nuit Blanche North encourages bold, imaginative, and interactive projects that engage audiences and activate public space. Organizers are particularly interested in works that foster participation and reflect the unique character of the Muskoka/Parry Sound region.

The exhibition area spans downtown Huntsville, including Main Street from the swing bridge to Centre Street, bounded by Minerva Street to the south and River Mill Park to the north. Main St. will be closed to traffic between Centre St. and Brunel Rd. Local businesses, cultural organizations, and community spaces are encouraged to take part by opening their doors and hosting artistic programming throughout the night.

The call is open to individual artists and collectives of all disciplines and experience levels. Selected projects must be site-specific, free to the public, and accessible throughout the duration of the event.

Deadline for applications is April 24, 2026 at 5pm
Application deadline and submission details can be found at huntsvillefestival.ca

About Huntsville Festival of the Arts
Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HfA) has been enriching the cultural life of Muskoka for 33 years, presenting a diverse range of performances, exhibitions, and community-engaged artistic experiences.

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The Huntsville Art CRAWL is a free, self-guided art tour that allows visitors to explore local businesses, galleries, and studios featuring exhibits, demonstrations, and interactive experiences by local artists. Thousands of visitors participate each year, supporting local businesses and purchasing art from regional artists. This year, in response to community feedback, the Art CRAWL will extend throughout the summer, increasing visibility for artists and businesses alike.

“The Art CRAWL has become a Muskoka summer tradition for Downtown Huntsville,” says HfA Executive Director Dan Watson. “We’re thrilled to once again extend the CRAWL throughout the summer months from June to August. This increased timeframe offer more opportunities to highlight the amazing businesses and artists in our community while attracting more visitors to our beautiful downtown.”

Benefits of Participation

For Businesses:

●      Featured as an official stop on the Huntsville Art CRAWL

●      Inclusion in advertising and the Huntsville Art CRAWL website

●      Negotiated commissions on the sale of artwork

●      Increased visitation and promotional support from HfA

●      Businesses must provide space for art display and coordinate with artists during May 2026

For Artists:

●      Artwork on display from June 1 to August 30, 2026

●      Increased exposure and community recognition

●      Opportunities for increased sales

●      Advertising and promotional support from HfA

●      Artist spotlight video (filming dates May 2 & 3, 2026)

●      Opportunities to lead workshops and give public presentations

Application Details

●      Deadline to submit interest: April 16, 2026

●      No fee to participate

●      Artists can apply through the Artist Application Form [HERE]

●      Businesses can apply through the Business Intake Form [HERE]

Special Events

●      Wednesday Walkabouts (Every Wednesday in June): Join an organized group walk through downtown Huntsville to explore the Art CRAWL, featuring artist meet-and-greets, prizes, music, and a social gathering at a local restaurant or bar.

●      Artist Demonstrations: Watch local artists create live outdoor paintings in downtown Huntsville.

●      Canoe Mural Project: Street Art Edition: On Canada Day, celebrate in Downtown Huntsville as artists transform real canoes into bold, street-art inspired works influenced by the iconic landscape paintings of Tom Thomson.

●      Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery Tours: Enjoy self-guided and facilitated tours of Huntsville’s stunning Group of Seven & Tom Thomson outdoor murals throughout the summer.

The Huntsville Art CRAWL is presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts with support from the Huntsville Downtown BIA and community partners, including the Huntsville Art Society. The Canoe Murals project is made possible through the support of Algonquin Outfitters through their annual Paddle Art Auction.

For more information and updates, please visit huntsvillefestival.ca or huntsvilleArtCRAWL.ca.

The post Applications Now Open For The 2026 Huntsville Art CRAWL appeared first on Muskoka411.

Secondary students in the District Municipality of Muskoka were recently invited to take part in an art exhibition hosted by the Muskoka Arts and Crafts (MA&C).

This is the fifth Rising Star Stunt Show the gallery has hosted, which challenged young artists to explore the theme, “Echoes of Time.” Students had the freedom to use any artistic medium to capture a lasting impression. This could be a memory, a present moment, or an imagined vision, whether personal or universal.

The exhibition, running from March 5 to 29, includes entries from several Muskoka secondary schools, including Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School (BMLSS), Gravenhurst High School (GHS), and Huntsville High School (HHS).

“I was incredibly proud to see the students’ work admired by so many at the opening at MA&C on Main,” said GHS arts teacher Aimee Bulloch. “Many hours went into thinking of a concept and creating original work, and the students showcased some beautiful and thought-provoking work.”

” We are very proud of all of our students who participated in the annual MA&C show this year,” said Teresa Patterson, HHS Art Department head. “It is opportunities like this that build self-confidence and allow students to envision the arts as being a long-term part of their lives. Students benefit from having the opportunity to see themselves as part of a bigger arts community.”

“This was a truly wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with the local community through their art. Beyond showcasing their artwork, they had the chance to connect with fellow young artists and participate in an experience that will stay with them throughout their lives,” said Raven Carruthers, BMLSS visual arts teacher. “Congratulations to all of our students who participated, and a special shout-out to our winners, Brooklyn Gibbs, Seseang Yoon, and Mckenna Hodge!”

Winners from each school included:

Best Execution of Theme – 2D

• First place – Ruth Miladinovic, GHS, for their piece titled Stages of growth
• Runner up – Shianne German, GHS, for their piece titled Can’t Escape
• Honourable mention – Jasper Austin, HHS, for their piece titled I Hate Spaghetti

Best Execution of Theme – 3D

• First place – Riya Patel, GHS, for their piece titled The Elephant Whispers
• Runner up – Simona Bickle, GHS, for their piece titled Blue Prints of Reality
• Honourable mention – Holly Aldom, GHS, for their piece titled Bloom

Most Inspiring Piece

• Runner up – Booklyn Gibbs, BMLSS, for their piece titled The Stolen Faces Will be Seen
• Honourable mention – Maddisyn Avida, GHS, for their piece titled Ik Hou Van Jou

Best Technical Execution

• First place – Sesang Yoon, BMLSS, for their piece titled Same Eyes, New Lens
• Honourable mention – Olivia Rossett, HHS, for their piece titled Light In The Darkness

Best Use of Colour

• Honourable mention – Julia Taylor, GHS, for their piece titled Together in Paradise

Most Original

• First place – Holly Aldom, GHS, for their piece titled Harvest Season

Best Use of Composition

• First place – McKenna Hodge, BMLSS, for their piece titled Held in Memory

Funkiest Work

• First place – Willow Dixon, HHS, for their piece titled VW Van
• Honourable mention – Melody Smith, HHS, for their piece titled Zoboomafoo Reflection

People’s Choice

The People’s Choice Award will be chosen by the public at the end of the exhibition.

The post Muskoka Secondary Students Take Part In A Local Art Exhibition appeared first on Muskoka411.

The large-scale artwork reflects the Seven Grandfather Teachings — truth, love, respect, bravery, honesty, wisdom and humility — through a circle of animal spirits. The title and imagery honour the historic Council Fires of the Anishinaabeg, which served as gathering places for governance, ceremony, trade and rest.

“The council fire seen in ‘Mno Ishkode’ is a representation of what has been known as the Third Council Fire at Beausoleil Island — one of five Council Fires that stretched the treaty and road of peace between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Nations from Lake Superior to northern New York State at the end of the 17th century,” King explained in an artist’s statement. “The Third Council Fire was said to be on an island opposite Penetanguishene Bay.”

King also shared that the location of the Third Council Fire has been significant to the Anishinaabeg for many generations as a place of trade and rest from traversing the Great Lakes.

Through respecting and uplifting traditional knowledge, Waypoint continues its commitment to creating culturally safe spaces for the communities it serves.

“Our hope is that adding this large, personal, meaningful piece of Indigenous art to the lobby will demonstrate our commitment to ongoing partnerships with the Indigenous communities we serve,” said Jess Ariss, Clinical Director and one of the Co-Leads of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Waypoint.

The message of King’s artwork reflects Waypoint’s approach to care — one that understands healing as more than just treatment, but as a relationship rooted in respect and understanding.

“You cannot have love without wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility and truth,” said Gary Johnston, a Traditional Healer at Waypoint. “To leave out one teaching would be embracing the opposite of what that teaching means.”

“Mno Ishkode” is now permanently installed in the Atrium Building lobby, where it will serve as a welcoming and reflective space for patients, visitors, staff and community members.

To learn more about Clayton King and his artwork, visit www.whitebearart.com.

THE SEVEN GRANDFATHER TEACHINGS

Wisdom (Nbwaakaawin) (Beaver) — To cherish knowledge is to know wisdom. Use your inherited gifts wisely and recognize your differences and those of others in a kind and respectful way.

Love (Zaagi’ idiwin)  (Eagle) — Knowing love is to know peace. Our love must be unconditional — to love and accept themselves is to live at peace with the Creator.

Respect (Manaadendamowin) (Buffalo) — Respect is not just an action, but a heart-growing feeling. To honour all creation is to have respect.

Bravery (Aakode’ ewin) (Bear) — Bravery is to face the foe with integrity. It is the state of having a fearless heart to do what is right, even when the consequences are unpleasant.

Honesty (Gwayakwaadiziwin) (Sabe/Raven) — Sabe reminds us to be ourselves and not someone we are not. To walk through life with integrity is to know honesty.

Humility (Dabaadendiziwin) (Wolf) — Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of creation. It is to live selflessly, not selfishly, and to find balance within yourself and all living things.

Truth (Debwewin) (Turtle) — Truth is to know all of these things. It is speaking only about what you have lived or experienced; do not deceive yourself or others.

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The new display features work by Linda Gidora.

Gidora’s work is hanging in the lobby and in the council chambers. 

People can check out the lobby display during regular business hours – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and the display in the council chambers is viewable during committee meetings and council meetings. 

Gidora is a retired teacher from Whitby. A lifelong connection to the Georgian Bay area inspires her painting. She often captures the region’s iconic shoreline and sky in her work. 

Through her art, Gidora invites people to experience the tranquility, drama, and timeless beauty of the landscapes that have shaped her life. 

Her talent as an artist is also evident in the theatre world. 

For the past seven years, Gidora has designed sets for the Orillia-based Mariposa Arts Theatre. 

The Town of Gravenhurst’s Public Art Advisory Committee spearheads the art showcase project at the municipal office. The Muskoka Discovery Centre sources the work on display. 

The art showcase project launched last year and featured work by Raune-lea Marshall, Janice Feist, Norman Robert Catchpole, and Carolyn M. Boyd. 

Gidora is the first artist featured for 2026. 

Thanks to everyone who helps make this project possible.

Other displays are in the works for later in the year. Watch the Town of Gravenhurst website and social media channels for details.

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The Deep Wireless Festival invites audiences to explore the creative potential of radio and the electromagnetic spectrum through an interactive exhibition, performance, artist talks, online radio shows and a compilation album of experimental radio art works.

“Rooted in the belief that radio is both an artistic medium and a community connector,” NAISA Artistic Director Darren Copeland says that “Deep Wireless highlights the ways radio & transmission art can challenge conventions, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire immersive new forms of listening.  The festival will also launch NAISA’s theme for 2026 – Sound Culture – with works that nurture dialogue around the evolving role of radio in contemporary culture.”

The interactive sound sculpture Material Transmissions by Vancouver sound artist Anju Singh is one example which opens with an artist talk by Singh at 7 pm on January 8th, and the exhibit continues through to March 30.  This interactive sound sculpture connects the sounds of hymn-based drones from temples with a sewing machine, and other industrial materials found in garment factories.

The post Deep Wireless Festival Of Radio And Transmission Art Returns To South River appeared first on Muskoka411.

The new display features work by Carolyn M. Boyd. 

Boyd’s work is hanging in the lobby and in the council chambers. 

People can check out the lobby display during regular business hours – Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and the display in the council chambers is viewable during committee meetings and council meetings. 

Learn more about Carolyn M. Boyd.

The town’s Public Art Advisory Committee spearheads the art showcase project. The Muskoka Discovery Centre sources the work on display. 

Our thanks to everyone who helps make this project possible.

The post New Art Display In Gravenhurst Features Work By Carolyn M. Boyd appeared first on Muskoka411.

In partnership with the District of Muskoka and the Town of Huntsville, The Huntsville O.P.P. has a Community Policing Office located at the Canada Summit Centre and we would like to highlight the creativity of the people from Huntsville and Lake of Bays. Our goal is to display the artwork in our community office.

The artwork should represent the world of nature that we are fortunate to live in. The Huntsville O.P.P. will showcase the art to the local media and recognize the artists themselves.

If you feel inspired to submit some artwork, here is what we would ask:

·      All submissions are of a calming or supportive place or community moment

·      Be no larger than 24 inches by 24 inches and can hang on a wall (ie portrait or painting)

·      Be secured to a firm backing (or framed if you desire)

·      Be accompanied by your name or at the very least your initials and which community you live in

·      A brief note explaining the inspiration for your artwork

It goes without saying that all submissions are to be respectful and appropriate.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS – December 15, 2025

To arrange for your submission to be received, please contact via email:

P/C Ted Warman

Community Engagement Officer

Huntsville O.P.P.

Edward.Warman@opp.ca

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