Exhibitions / Submissions
Exhibitions at the Public Art Centre take place in our Gallery ONE, TWO and THREE. Tours are free of charge and can be organized in advance for school and community groups. For more information please see Education Programs.
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Current Exhibitions
SHARED GROUND
Kim Douglas Harrison & Carol Finkbeiner ThomasGalleries 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.
Gallery Three
Great Beginnings: Celebrating Emerging Young Artists May 9 to 16, 2026
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre is proud to present a special display of artwork created by students from the Great Beginnings Special Education program. This exhibition highlights the creativity, imagination, and unique perspectives of young artists at the very start of their artistic journeys.
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting future artists, this display provides an inclusive and encouraging space where students can share their work with the wider community. Each piece reflects not only artistic exploration, but also confidence-building, self-expression, and the joy of making.
We are honoured to partner with educators and students to celebrate these early creative voices, because at the Art Centre, art begins with opportunity.
Shared Ground
Artist Walk-Through with Carol Finkbeiner Thomas and Kim Douglas Harrison
Friday, June 5, 2026 6 to 7 p.m.
Join us for a special artist walk-through of Shared Ground at the
Experience the exhibition through the eyes of artists Carol Finkbeiner Thomas and Kim Douglas Harrison as they share insights into their work, creative process, and inspiration behind Shared Ground. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the artists and explore the exhibition in a deeper and more personal way.
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
Jamie Jardine
Galleries One and Two
July 11 to August 22, 2026
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre presents a new exhibition by London, Ontario–based artist Jamie Jardine.
A full-time artist for over 25 years, Jardine’s practice spans landscape, abstraction, and science fiction illustration. He has been represented by galleries since 2000 and currently exhibits at the Benz Gallery in London, Ontario.
Exhibition Proposal Submissions
Submit your exhibition proposal to STEPAC and share your work in a space dedicated to art, learning, and community connection.
The St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre welcomes exhibition proposals from artists, curators, and collaborative groups working across a wide range of media and approaches.
As a public art centre, STEPAC is committed to encouraging appreciation for and support of the visual arts in St. Thomas and Elgin County through exhibitions, educational programming, and the stewardship of a permanent collection. Our gallery spaces are places for connection, reflection, learning, and discovery, and we seek exhibitions that contribute meaningfully to that vision.
We welcome submissions from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. While all styles and media are considered, the strongest proposals are shaped by a clear curatorial vision. We are interested in exhibitions that do more than present individual works. Successful submissions show how the work comes together as an exhibition, how it responds to the gallery space, and what it offers to viewers through theme, material, process, or perspective.
Please review the gallery map below before submitting and consider the scale, layout, and character of our exhibition spaces.
Eligibility
Artists of all backgrounds, styles, and experience levels are encouraged to apply. Submissions are welcome from individual artists, curators, and collaborative groups.
Submission Materials
Please include the following in your submission:
A digital portfolio with a minimum of 10 high-quality images of recent work. Images should be submitted as JPEG or PNG files, with a maximum file size of 5 MB each. A website link may also be included.
An artist statement that briefly describes your practice, themes, materials, and areas of interest.
A current CV or resume outlining relevant exhibitions, education, professional experience, awards, publications, or related accomplishments.
An exhibition proposal or curatorial statement that outlines the central idea of the proposed exhibition and explains how the works relate to one another as a whole. Strong proposals help us understand why the work belongs together, how it will function in the gallery, and what kind of experience or conversation it may create for visitors.
Artwork and Installation
We accept submissions in all media, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, video, textiles, and mixed media.
Artwork must be suitable for display in a public gallery environment. Proposals that include large-scale works, installation, or non-traditional formats should clearly outline dimensions, spatial needs, and display considerations.
Please also note any special installation, mounting, technical, lighting, audio-visual, or equipment requirements. This information helps us assess the feasibility of the proposal within our gallery spaces and available resources.
Review Process
Proposals are reviewed with attention to artistic quality, clarity of concept, curatorial cohesion, suitability for the space, feasibility of installation, and relevance to STEPAC’s mission and community context.
We are especially interested in exhibitions that show thoughtful consideration of audience experience. This may include how the works speak to one another, how the exhibition unfolds in space, and how it invites visitors into a deeper engagement with the ideas and materials being presented.
How to Submit
Please email all submission materials to
email with Attention: Curator in the subject line.
If submitting by mail, please send materials to:
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
301 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1B5
c/o Curator
Please ensure that all files are clearly labeled with your name and, where applicable, the title of the artwork.
Important Dates
Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis. Proposals are reviewed annually in November, and applicants will be contacted if their proposal is selected for consideration.
Exhibition Agreement
Selected artists will be required to sign an exhibition agreement outlining terms related to insurance, sales, commissions, installation, timelines, and other exhibition details. Accepted artwork must remain on display for the full duration of the exhibition unless otherwise arranged in writing.
Questions
For questions or additional information, please contact email.
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