Guelph Arts Council (GAC) received a 2024 Musagetes Fund operational grant to help them achieve their mission of making the arts more accessible for underrepresented communities in Guelph and Wellington County. The project focused on supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ artists and audiences, creating more space for connection, and inclusion in the local arts scene. This work reflects GAC’s overall purpose to build a creative and welcoming cultural community.
The grant came at a critical time, and was helpful in allowing GAC to keep the beloved artBar space open during a financially challenging year. During Pride Week, GAC offered the artBar rent-free to Guelph Pride, and throughout the year, kept the space low-cost or free for groups like Fierce! and Frequencies. The artBar continued continued to buzz with creativity, hosting events from Guelph Dance, Guelph Fringe Festival, and the Guelph Film Festival, among others.
The grant also allowed GAC to keep its sliding-scale membership model, ensuring that cost was never a barrier to getting involved. As a result, the organization welcomed new members from historically excluded communities and disciplines, including emerging artists and even local comedians! In 2024, GAC featured work from 44 artists in the artBar Gallery, paid over 60 artists for their contributions, mentored 12 creatives through the Emerging Artists Project, and filled Quebec Street with 80 vendors for Art on the Street in June. Their impact on the arts community in Guelph can not be overstated!
GAC also remained a trusted voice for the arts—sharing opportunities, celebrating local talent, and keeping the creative community connected through newsletters, their website, and social media. With thanks to the support from the Musagetes Fund, GAC continues to make space for more stories, more artists, and a more vibrant cultural future for everyone in Guelph and beyond.