Current Exhibitions

Annual Fall Art Auction
Friday, November 6, 2026
Auction Preview: October 11–November 6

Discover a wide array of artwork, from historic to contemporary, at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre’s Annual Fall Art Auction. Whether you’re a longtime collector or purchasing your first piece, this is a wonderful opportunity to find artwork you love while supporting the arts in our community.

Explore the auction preview from October 11 to November 6 and participate through the silent auction, sealed bids, and online bidding. View the artwork in person at the Art Centre and online bidding opportunities starting October 11 here.

Join us on Friday, November 6 for an evening of art and community. Proceeds support the Art Centre’s exhibitions, education programs, and care of the permanent collection.

Call 519-631-4040 for tickets or online!

Annual Fall Art Auction 2026

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Can’t Make the Auction?

You can still be part of the excitement!

There are several ways to participate in the Annual Fall Art Auction, even if you can’t attend in person.

Place a sealed bid in advance on selected artworks, or take part in our silent auction (in-person until November 6) opportunities. It’s an easy way to support the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre while bidding on a work of art you love.

Explore the auction, place your bids, and join in from wherever you are.

Click here for Sealed Bid AuctionClick here for Sealed Bid Auction

Online Sealed Bid Instructions

Online sealed bidding begins at the minimum bid amount listed for each artwork.

To submit a sealed bid, please include:

Lot number
Artist’s name
Your bid amount
Bidder’s full name
Phone number and email address

Online sealed bidding closes November 5, 2026.

All artworks receiving sealed bids will then be included in the Annual Fall Art Auction on Friday, November 6, 2026, with the highest sealed bid becoming the starting bid for the live auction.

Submitting a sealed bid does not guarantee that you have won the artwork, as bidding may continue during the live auction.

Winning bidders will be contacted after Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Drop-In Jam

Music, community, and a relaxed Saturday afternoon at the Art Centre.

Join us on the last Saturday of September, October, and November for our free Drop-In Jam. Bring an acoustic instrument and join in, or simply stop by and enjoy the music.

All experience levels are welcome, and you don’t have to be a musician to take part.

October 31 • November 28, 2026
Free | Acoustic | Everyone Welcome

No registration required — just drop in!

Upcoming Exhibitions

Framework

November 14, 2026 – February 13, 2027

Galleries One & Two

Framework brings together architecture, history, visual art, music, and performance to consider how a community is shaped by the spaces it creates and inhabits.

Developed through a partnership between the St. Thomas–Elgin Public Art Centre, the Princess Avenue Playhouse, and the Elgin County Museum, the project was inspired by historian Paul Baldwin’s research into architect Neil R. Darrach and his lasting influence on the built character of St. Thomas.

Darrach’s buildings remain part of the everyday life of the community — places of gathering, learning, civic life, and performance. They carry memory while continuing to change with the people who use them.

This exhibition brings together creative responses developed through the project and invites visitors to look again at familiar places, considering how architecture, culture, and memory shape our sense of place.

Miniature Show & Sale

November 14 – December 22, 2026

Gallery Three

The Miniature Show & Sale returns with an imaginative collection of original artwork on a wonderfully small scale.

Featuring paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and more, this popular exhibition brings together works by artists working in a wide range of styles and media. Whether you are looking to start an art collection, add something special to your home, or find a one-of-a-kind gift, the Miniature Show & Sale is a great place to discover original art.

With works sized to be accessible, collectible, and easy to take home, there is always something new to find.

Give Original. Shop Small.

Deadline for artists: October 31, 2026

more information for artistsmore information for artists

NEW* CLASSES / WORKSHOPS

Classes and Workshops for Children!

Fall 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

McDougall Scholarship Fund

Support the Clark McDougall Scholarship Fund

Clark McDougall (1921–1980) was one of St. Thomas and Elgin County’s most distinctive and celebrated artists. Known for his bold black enamel outlines and vivid colour, McDougall created an enduring visual record of the people, landscapes, buildings, and rural life of this region.

The Clark McDougall Scholarship Fund honours his remarkable artistic legacy by supporting emerging artists and encouraging the continued study and practice of the visual arts.

Your gift can make a real difference. By donating today, you are helping provide financial support to a deserving local student pursuing post-secondary studies in the visual arts and giving the next generation of artists the opportunity to learn, create, and succeed.

Make a donation today and help carry Clark McDougall’s artistic legacy forward.

Clark McDougall Scholarship Fund

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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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