The Public Art Centre's collection of works of art plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting artistic excellence, and enriching the community's aesthetic experience. By acquiring and maintaining a permanent collection, the art center provides a valuable resource for future generations to study, appreciate, and be inspired by a diverse range of artistic expressions. These works of art not only serve as a reflection of our society and history but also stimulate creativity, critical thinking, and dialogue among visitors and artists alike. The Public Art Centre's commitment to collecting and caring for these treasures ensures that they remain accessible and impactful for years to come, contributing to the cultural enrichment and development of our community.

Permanent Collection Statement of Purpose:

The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre’s Permanent Collection is  the largest and most significant in the St. Thomas and Elgin County region, made up of approximately 2065 artworks of local, regional, national and international origin in a variety of media, with special emphasis on contemporary and historical Canadian art  and on the artists associated with St. Thomas and Elgin County. The historical component of the Collection is based on approximately 500 works by local artists from the 19th and 20th century, with content that demonstrates our important history, which includes, oil paintings, prints, sculpture and watercolours. Several major gifts of artwork have been made to the Collection, including the St. Thomas-Smith and Clark McDougall works and through a purchase of the artwork from Alma College. 

• 1983 – 2009, Donald and his wife Marion engage the Mira Goddard Gallery of Toronto to represent and market Clark’s works – Don and Marion also establish the Clark McDougall Visual Art Scholarship – providing financial assistance to graduating Elgin County high school grads who go on to study Fine and Visual Arts in College or University.

• 1984, Donald McDougall dies and art estate passes wholly to Marion McDougall who oversees art sales in consultation with her nephew Peter Lemon of St. Thomas through Mira Goddard Gallery

• 2004, Marion and Peter negotiate donation of Clark’s large body of archival works (approx. 35,000 pieces)– sketches, preparatory drawings, unfinished works and extensive slide collection of local landscapes to the McIntosh Gallery at the University of Western Ontario in conjunction with curator Catherine Elliot Shaw.

• Spring 2009 - present, Marion and Peter engage the Michael Gibson Gallery of London Ontario to represent the Clark’s remaining unsold art.

• Summer 2010 Marion and Peter donate Clark’s multi volume hand scripted daily diaries to the Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario

• Feb 28 2011, Marion McDougall dies leaving the remaining unsold art works to her immediate family, comprising nephews, great nephews and a great niece (the McDougall Group) now managed by nephew Peter Lemon

• December 2011 – the McDougall Group donates a large quantity (220 pieces) of early and later finished works – signed and unsigned, to the St. Thomas- Elgin Public Art Centre

• January 2017- the McDougall Group donates the remaining works (170 pieces) of early and later finished and unfinished works - signed and unsigned, to the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre

• The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre acknowledged the generous gift and has developed a Clark McDougall Resource Room on the lower level of the facility.  This room will be used to house and preserve the 430 works in the Art Centre's permanent collection.  The room is available to the community by appointment.