The Portage & District Arts Centre, housed within the William Glesby Centre, in the heart of downtown Portage la Prairie, is comprised of a gallery, a newly renovated gift shop, dance studio, pottery studio, classroom, boardroom gallery and art library. The focal point of the Arts Centre is the gallery, which features a changing schedule of diverse exhibitions showcasing the works of local, regional and national artists. The gift shop offers art supplies as well as a mix of original art including pottery, stained glass, photography, wood turning, books and paintings by local and regional artists. The gift shop and gallery is open year round Tuesday to Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm.

The Arts Centre provides a wide range of art activities for children, adults and arts groups in the visual, expressive and performing arts.  The classes and workshops are geared to various levels of expertise.  In some cases, the classes have raised the level of our amateur artists to professional status.  In turn, these artists have become instructors and spread their creative energy to others.

Throughout the year, the Arts Centre hosts a variety of events and programs that are aimed at community involvement and broadening the general knowledge that art includes all genres of artistic and cultural expression.  The Arts Centre continues to create interest in art and cultural activities by providing dance programs for students of all ages, organizing and promoting various art classes and workshops, hosting youth spring and summer art camps, exhibiting local and regional artwork in the gallery as well as hosting performing arts such as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The gallery featured a variety of artists and art forms in 2010. John Nielsen’s artful photography ended 2009 and began 2010 and was followed by Shirley Elias’ large acrylic abstract works of musical images. Shirley is an artist who is becoming nationally known and is represented by galleries in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Gerry Little’s portraiture paintings were displayed in March. One of 0ur most unique exhibitions this year was “Furniture with a Story”. Coming next to the gallery is Bev Tosh’s nationally touring exhibition “One-Way Passage”, August 24 to October 30. We are also hosting a public War Bride Tea on Sunday, September 12 in the gallery to coincide with that exhibition.

One-Way Passage features portraits of war brides on large wooden panels as well as several large works on canvas. These paintings capture the spirit of these young War Brides as they began their journey into a less than certain future. The exhibition also includes various installations and memorabilia from the 40’s.

Portage & District Arts Centre website