Founded in 1963 by a group of artists, Muskoka Arts & Crafts (MAC) started as an art show and has since become “one of the oldest arts organizations in Ontario,” says executive director Nichole Kitchen. The group, which hosts workshops, shows, and oversees two gallery spaces in Bracebridge, Ont., has long been a key player in developing the arts scene in Muskoka. In 2008, the organization successfully pushed for the District Municipality of Muskoka to be an official “Designated Arts Community.” The designation “recognizes the importance of the arts community in Muskoka,” reads MAC’s website, adding that the designation also “highlights the strength and vitality of our artistic legacy” as well as the area’s “current artistic community” and “artistic future.”
This year, MAC is gearing up to host their 62nd Summer Show in Annie Williams Memorial Park in Bracebridge, Ont., from July 19 to 21. Kitchen says the show will feature 200 artisans, food vendors, and entertainers. The show is a popular one, attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors annually.
And if you can’t make it to the show, not to worry. You can always visit one of MAC’s two galleries. The MAC on Main location on Manitoba Street is the newer of the two. “We had four hundred people at our grand opening party, which was impressive for our little gallery,” says Kitchen. The new gallery hosts rotating exhibits by local artists that run for about two-and-a-half weeks. The current exhibit, on from May 31 to June 23, is Sacred Strength: Indigenous Ribbon Skirts, curated by the Hope Arises Project, an Indigenous-led not-for-profit from Huntsville, Ont.
MAC’s other location, dubbed The Chapel Gallery, is just down the road from the new spot and still houses the organization’s permanent art collection. Here, you’ll find works such as The Good Old Boys by Iris Gammon, Thaw by Bill Urban, and Muskoka Mammaries by Hilary Clarke Cole. This gallery is open by appointment only.
Muskoka Arts & Crafts also has an app where folks can purchase tickets for events and shows, buy art and merchandise, and receive access to special offers and perks. The app even features a virtual gallery of current exhibits.
Here’s a look at MAC’s upcoming collaborations:
- September 6-22: MAC has partnered with the Prince Edward County Arts Council to display artwork from County Arts members.
- September 28: MAC and the Rotary Gardens are presenting a Youth Arts & Crafts market for artisans under the age of 18.
- September 27–October 13: MAC is partnering with the Bracebridge BIA, Town of Gravenhurst, Muskoka Tourism, and the Three Fires International Film Festival to host an “art crawl” in downtown Bracebridge.
- October: MAC is partnering with Craft Ontario, a Toronto-based not-for-profit, to explore craft talent from across Muskoka. Artists will have the opportunity to win a spot to have their work showcased at Craft Ontario’s Queen Street Gallery in Toronto.
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