ST. CATHARINES ART ASSOCIATION HISTORY

In 1951 a small group of painters formed the Studio Club and began to meet regularly in the basement of radio station CKTB under the guidance of artist David Partridge.

During the next few years studio space was found at Ridley College and later in the Coach House at 189 King Street.

Through the efforts of members and the local library board, a more permanent home was established at the Carnegie Library in 1953.

After renovations to the upstairs, an art gallery was opened, the first in St. Catharines.

The club was incorporated in 1956 under the name of the St. Catharines Art Association.  Membership rapidly grew to more than 100 with art instruction classes being offered to both adults and children. Regular exhibitions were held, together with many other events. including a masked ball, lectures, an art rental program and scholarships for promising artists.

Artwork was purchased which, in time, became the foundation of Rodman Hall’s permanent collection.

The St. Catharines Art Association moved to Rodman Hall in 1960 as part of the St. Catharines District Arts Council. At that time, Rodman Hall also housed the Mary Schmon Singers, Arachne Weavers, the Niagara Civic Orchestra, the Lincoln Historical Society and the Community Theatre.

Interestingly, the actual purchase of Rodman Hall was executed through the St. Catharines Art Association.

The St. Catharines Arts Council was later absorbed into what eventually became today’s Rodman Hall Arts Centre, now the property of Brock University. In the fall of 2003, in an effort to secure our future and upgrade our accommodations, art association members voted unanimously to “return to our roots,”  now the St. Catharines Centennial Library.

Currently, our activities involve four exhibitions: two at the Pen Centre and two at the St. Catharines Centennial Library where our members can display and sell their work. All SCAA shows are non-juried.

We also hold regular meetings which are varied and offer lectures, demonstrations, workshops, a critique night and life drawing together with an opportunity to network over coffee and cookies.

In addition, we send out an enewsletter in late January and late August to ready all members for upcoming meetings and events. Those not on e-mail are sent a printout of the enewsletter.

This website also lists upcoming events and gives members an opportunity to showcase their work in our Members' Gallery. 

Adult membership is $30, student $15 per year and is open to all artists, amateur and professional alike and anyone with just an interest or love of art.

We are a non-profit organization, entirely self-supporting.

Meetings, open to the public, are held the fourth Tuesday of every month, September through June (except December and January) at the Centennial Library beginning at 7:30 pm in the Bankers Room just off the atrium but the coffee is on by 7 so feel free to arrive early. There is underground parking and parking for people with disabled at the library.  There is also convenient parking across the road from the side entrance of the library on James Street in the city hall parking lot and it includes several parking spots for people with disabilities.  The library and meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible. 

For further information write to the St. Catharines Art Association, P.O. Box 5016, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7T4 or go to the Contact Section of this site for the e-mail addresses of several members. 

Please see How to Join for a membership application.