Quinte Arts Council

08/25/2026

Cultivating Creativity: Lisa Spence Jewelry
By Scott Williams

The mainspring, rockers and gears of an old watch movement becoming the beating heart of a pendant. An old-style skeleton key becomes the backbone of a miniature dragonfly. Everything old is wonderfully new again in the curious creations of artist Lisa Spence, whose Belleville studio is home to an impressively eclectic inventory of junk raw material: bits of wood from a home renovation, tire tubes and bicycle chains, crystals from a chandelier, coins from the turn of the last century and tin ceiling tiles from the century before that, teaspoons and salad forks, a discarded box from The Wine Rack, an old porcelain doll. Even, she says, “a broken laptop that I found on the road that somebody had run over.”

https://issuu.com/janet-quinteartscouncil/docs/umbrella_2026_summer?fr=sOGFhNzg3MDk4MzI

At Quinte Arts, we believe in the power of creativity — it energizes our community and brings people together. Every week, our Cultivating Creativity articles champion the visionaries and creative practices that fuel our region’s growth and strengthen our sense of belonging.

Photo by Lisa Spence

08/17/2026

Cultivating Creativity: Kidan Singer
By Quinte Arts

A fresh perspective is behind the lens.

Quinte Arts is proud to spotlight one of our talented young members, Kidan Singer, whose passion for photography began when he received his first camera at just twelve years old. Since then, he has developed a distinctive eye for creative composition, unexpected perspectives, and the details that often go unnoticed. Kidan's work is featured in the Summer 2026 issue of Umbrella Arts Magazine, available to read on our website.

Kidan's journey is a reminder of what can happen when curiosity, creativity, and community come together. Now a Biology student at the University of Ottawa, where he has earned a place on the Dean's List, Kidan continues to pursue photography alongside his academic studies and involvement in varsity cross country.

Read more: https://quinteartscouncil.org/cultivating-creativity-kidan-singer/

https://issuu.com/janet-quinteartscouncil/docs/umbrella_2026_summer?fr=sOGFhNzg3MDk4MzI

At Quinte Arts, we believe in the power of creativity — it energizes our community and brings people together. Every week, our Cultivating Creativity articles champion the visionaries and creative practices that fuel our region’s growth and strengthen our sense of belonging.

Photo by Kidan Singer

08/10/2026

Fresh perspectives. Local talent. Incredible photography.

The annual Student Photography Contest and Exhibition, presented by Quinte Arts in partnership with the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board, celebrates the creativity of young photographers aged 7–18 while capturing the beauty and character of our region through their unique perspectives.

Visit the exhibition at the QAC Cultural Hub, then join us for the Closing Reception and award presentations on Thursday, August 27, from 4:00–6:00 PM.

A special thank you to this year's juror, Ash Murrell—owner of AMP Visual Media, an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work has helped document and celebrate the people, places, and businesses of the Bay of Quinte region. We are grateful to Ash for sharing his time and professional expertise with our young photographers.

Quinte Arts Cultural Hub�36 Bridge Street East, Belleville

Photo by Steven M.
Age Category: 7-9

08/07/2026

A bold new landmark has arrived in Downtown Belleville.

Congratulations to local artist Angela Wiggins on the unveiling of the striking Becker Shoes mural, a vibrant new work of public art that adds even more creativity and character to our downtown.

Angela shared the story behind the mural, the many hours that went into bringing it to life, and how the artwork can even be seen glowing from across the river at night.

Be sure to check it out behind Becker Shoes at 276 Front Street!

A heartfelt thank you to the Belleville Downtown District BIA for investing in public art, supporting local artists, and continuing to make Downtown Belleville an inspiring place to live, work, and visit.

08/06/2026

Three full days of learning, listening, and reflection concluded this week as we wrapped up our Accessibility in the Arts training series.

Our final session, Approaches to Inclusion from an Indigenous and Disabled Lens, challenged us to think differently about the decisions we make every day. Guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings and the Ten Principles of Disability Justice, participants worked through real-world scenarios and explored how these values can shape more welcoming, accessible arts spaces across our region.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who showed up with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from one another. A special thank you to our facilitators Dr. Terri-Lynn Brennan, Brittany Dale, and disability advocate Rachel Marks, and to Knowledge Holder Carol Anne Maracle, whose presence, teachings, and guidance grounded this work in respect, relationship, and shared responsibility.

The conversations may have ended, but the work continues. Inclusion is an ongoing practice, and we look forward to seeing these teachings reflected in the decisions we make and the communities we continue to build together.

Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts for funding to make these sessions possible.

08/06/2026

Experience one of the region's most vibrant cultural celebrations this weekend.

The 39th Annual Tyendinaga Traditional Pow Wow takes place August 8–9 at Tsi Tkerhetoton Park, hosted by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

Enjoy traditional dancing, more than 90 Indigenous vendors, authentic foods, and a welcoming celebration of community, culture, and tradition.

If you're attending for the first time, take a few minutes to learn about Pow Wow etiquette and how to be a respectful guest before you go. We encourage everyone to experience this meaningful annual event. https://bayofquinte.ca/tyendinaga-traditional-pow-wow-everything-you-need-to-know-before-attending/

Take a look at back at 2024’s gathering in our Umbrella Arts magazine: “Celebrating Culture and Community”
https://issuu.com/articles/59632629

First Photo by Wihse Green
Second Photo by Spiider Von Clark
Third Photo by Don Carr

Admission:
Seniors- $5 | General- $10 | Ages 7-17- $5 | Children(0-5) - Free

08/05/2026

Cultivating Creativity
Pass the Feather: Dawn Iehstoseranón
By Scott Williams

Eighty years ago, George Orwell wrote that “if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” Since the 1980s, the term “Sixties Scoop” has been part of the Canadian lexicon, but the term itself corrupts our thought. It sounds familiar, friendly and fun: conjuring images of a happy child with a scoop of ice cream balancing precariously atop a cone.

In this edition of Cultivating Creativity, Scott Williams profiles Mohawk entrepreneur, artist and activist Dawn Iehstoseranón, founder of Pass the Feather and the Indigenous Arts Collective. Through her story of resilience, creativity, and community leadership, she reflects on the lasting impacts of the Sixties Scoop while demonstrating how art, culture, and compassion can help reclaim identity and inspire change.

Read more 👉https://quinteartscouncil.org/pass-the-feather/

Discover Dawn's remarkable journey and the work she continues to do in support of Indigenous artists and communities.

This article was previously published in the Summer 2026 (Vol. 35, No. 2) issue of Umbrella Arts Magazine.

👉 https://issuu.com/janet-quinteartscouncil/docs/umbrella_2026_summer?fr=sOGFhNzg3MDk4MzI

07/31/2026

Conversations about inclusion are most meaningful when they happen in the spaces where community comes together.

This week, we welcomed Mayor Neil Ellis, Victoria Watts (City of Belleville Economic Development), and Cat Fisher Andrews (Quinte Immigration Services) to the Quinte Arts Council to recognize our commitment as a signatory of the Workplace Inclusion Charter. During their visit, we also had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful work of local artist Edith Lepage Crete, a reminder of the creativity and diverse voices that strengthen our community.

Thank you to the City of Belleville for your leadership and for recognizing the importance of creating communities where everyone belongs.

Inclusion | Quinte Arts Council has signed the Workplace Inclusion Charter! 📝

By signing the Charter, they have committed to advancing accessibility, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within their workplace and throughout the community.

We asked why it was important for their organization to become a signatory:

"For the Quinte Arts Council, fostering a harmonious, respectful, and efficient workplace begins with a commitment to inclusion. Becoming a signatory to the Workplace Inclusion Charter reflects our belief that internal workplace inclusion strengthens our ability to lead and support progressive community initiatives throughout the arts sector."

We also asked what message they would like to share with other employers:

"Workplace inclusion begins with compassion and consideration. When organizations take the time to understand and support their employees' diverse needs, they create a culture of respect, engagement, and belonging. Compassionate workplaces are stronger workplaces, helping to reduce barriers, improve collaboration, and foster positive outcomes for everyone."

Learn more about the Workplace Inclusion Charter and how your organization can become a signatory: BellevilleBIQ.ca/Inclusion

Quinte Arts Council Quinte Immigration Services

07/29/2026

This week, the Quinte Arts Council team had the opportunity to join arts leaders from across Ontario at the Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario (AACO) Symposium in Hamilton.

We left inspired by the conversations, strengthened by new and renewed relationships, and encouraged by the shared commitment to advocating for arts and culture as essential infrastructure in our communities. It was invaluable to hear perspectives from government, business, tourism, and the nonprofit sector, and to explore how we can work together to build a stronger future for the arts across Ontario.

A sincere thank you to the Hamilton Arts Council for hosting, and to our outstanding speakers and panelists: Jaspreet Sandhu and the Ontario Arts Council, Neeky Dalir and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Abbott and Hamilton Tourism. Also great to see Nicola Schneider of Culture Works Canada, Julie Jardel (Regional Development Advisor, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming), and Erin Kang from the Ontario Nonprofit Network.

We look forward to building on this momentum together.

#2026