Current Exhibitions

SHARED GROUND

Kim Douglas Harrison & Carol Finkbeiner Thomas
Galleries One & Two
May 9 to July 4, 2026
Opening Reception: May 9, 1–3 pm

Shared Ground brings together the work of Kim Douglas Harrison and Carol Finkbeiner Thomas in an exhibition rooted in friendship, mentorship, and a shared love of the landscape. First connected as teacher and student, the artists later discovered how deeply their experiences of the land echoed one another.

Both recall childhood drives through the countryside with their fathers—quiet excursions through places such as Elora, Paris, Grey County, and Elgin County. These early experiences of roads, fields, waterfalls, and rural vistas continue to shape their work. Through expressive use of colour, gesture, and atmosphere, Harrison and Finkbeiner Thomas explore landscape not as strict record, but as memory, feeling, and imagination. Together, their paintings reflect a shared visual language grounded in place, experience, and lasting connection.

Grounded in Place

Selections from the Permanent Collection

Gallery Three

May 19 to July 1, 2026

Grounded in Place brings together works from the permanent collection that reflect on landscape, atmosphere, and the experience of place. Presented in conversation with Shared Ground by Carol Finkbeiner Thomas and Kim Douglas Harrison, this exhibition highlights how artists return to the land as a source of memory, meaning, and inspiration.

Image: Donna Andreychuk Lake Side View, 2007 Oil on canvas

Upcoming Exhibitions

Afterimage

Paintings by Jamie Jardine

July 11 to August 22, 2026

Galleries One & Two

Opening Reception July 11, 1-3pm

The St. Thomas–Elgin Public Art Centre is pleased to present Afterimage, an exhibition of new paintings by Jamie Jardine. Through atmospheric landscapes and evocative industrial forms, Jardine explores memory, place, and the traces left behind by human presence. Suspended between reality and imagination, these works invite viewers to consider what lingers after a moment has passed and what remains embedded in the landscapes we inhabit.

NEW* CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

Classes and Workshops for Children!

Summer Programs!

The Art Centre offers an environment that is creative, non-competitive and open-ended, allowing young artists the freedom to explore their potential and nurture their self-esteem. New skills and concepts are presented with an engaging and contemporary approach.

ChildrenChildren

Adult Workshops

Nurture your creativity, discover a new passion, or hone your artistic skills with the STEPAC's adult art programs! Whether you're a practicing artist looking to refine your technique and connect with other practitioners, or whether you're a first-timer looking to develop a new hobby or skill, our programs have something for everyone.

Adult WorkshopsAdult Workshops

ART TREES AND TRAILS

Art has an incredible ability to unify. Supporting the mission of the Public Art Centre, especially “encouraging the appreciation for and supporting the practice of the visual arts in St. Thomas and Elgin County”, the “Art, Trees & Trails” project will allow us to engage with the community outside the walls of the Public Art Centre, promote art education, and add to our visual environment in places where community members and visitors explore nature.

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Call For Artists 2026

CALL FOR ARTISTS – ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION
Southwestern Ontario artists are invited to submit 2-dimensional work for our Annual Juried Exhibition. Selected pieces will be juried and exhibited at the St. Thomas–Elgin Public Art Centre.

Submission deadline: AUGUST 8, 2026

Exhibition date August 29 to October 3, 2026

More details here

IN VIEW OF THE ARTIST

in view of the artist 2026.pdf

APPLICATION

Thank you!

The OSSTF District 11 Political Action Committee Adolescent Community Sponsorship Program has played a meaningful role in supporting the initiatives of the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre.

We extend our sincere thanks for your commitment to investing in youth, creativity, and community engagement. Your support helps us continue to offer accessible arts programming, foster connections, and create opportunities for learning and expression throughout St. Thomas and Elgin County.

Thank you for helping us ensure that art remains an essential and vibrant part of our community.

Call For Artists frameWORK

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is proud to introduce Framework, a unique cultural partnership with the Princess Avenue Playhouse and the Elgin County Museum. This new initiative celebrates the profound impact of culture on our community by uniting art, theatre, music, and architecture to highlight the shared history and heritage of St. Thomas and Elgin County.

For more information see here...

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Invest in the care of art and the comfort of community.

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is launching a capital campaign to replace its aging HVAC system. This vital upgrade will protect artwork, preserve our permanent collection, improve visitor comfort, and support exhibitions, educational programs, and community use of the building year-round. Your gift will help sustain a welcoming, professionally maintained space where art and community can thrive.