On Wednesday, March 18th, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson met with representatives from the Southampton Arts Centre to formally congratulate the group on receiving a $13,200 Seed grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) late last year. The year-long grant has enabled the Centre to launch a new arts program.
“Investing in local arts and culture helps strengthen the fabric of our communities, and I’m pleased to see the Ontario Trillium Foundation supporting initiatives like the Maker’s Table at Southampton Arts,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “This funding will create welcoming opportunities for residents of all ages to connect, learn new skills, and explore their creativity. Congratulations to the team at Southampton Arts Centre for continuing to make arts accessible and enriching for the region.”
The OTF grant is supporting the delivery of The Maker’s Table, a series of craft workshops beginning in May, 2026 to promote creativity, learning, and connection in a welcoming community space at Southampton Arts. The workshops for adults will include knitting, crocheting, stamping, scrapbooking, and jewellery-making. The Maker’s Table is a pilot program offering accessible, small-group craft workshops that will run throughout the year.
The OTF grant is helping to equip Southampton Arts’ accessible Firehall Studio, support skilled instruction, and provide some materials. Classes will remain low cost to ensure affordability. The program creates welcoming opportunities for adults, seniors, newcomers, young adults, and rural residents to develop skills, connect with others, and enjoy the mental-health benefits of creative engagement.
“This is a great new opportunity to meet people, learn new craft skills and have fun,” said Fred Kuntz, Chair of the Board of Directors at Southampton Arts. “We’re grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting access to the arts in Huron-Bruce riding.”
Southampton Arts Centre is a not-for-profit charitable organization, founded in 1957 as an art school which now provides more than 120 courses for adults and students eight months a year.
The Centre relies on its volunteers who contribute some 5,000 hours each year that include monitoring classes for children, as greeters in the Art Galery, as skilled tradespeople when needed and as members of the Board of Directors.
Almost 500 children signed up for art classes last year (2025) with than number expected to rise in 2026, in programs such as exploring art out of doors, freestyle sewing denim and learning Improv and Comedy.
The Centre also operates the Southampton Art Gallery in the former Town Hall on High Street, featuring the works of over 40 artists and artisans from the Grey Bruce area. Visit www.southamptonartscentre.com to learn more.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit www.otf.ca to learn more.
