Whitby’s Station Gallery receives $28,000 provincial funding boost

Whitby’s art gallery, the Station Gallery, will receive a $28,000 cash infusion through the Ontario Arts Council.

The Council is a publically owned organization dedicated to promoting the creation and display of the arts for all Ontarians. One of their many ongoing grant projects as the Public Art Galleries: Operating grant.

The program supports “diverse public art galleries that demonstrate a commitment to Ontario’s visual arts infrastructure, including exhibition/presentation, production, distribution, artist development, and opportunities created for the public to interact with contemporary visual art,” the council wrote.

One of the 39 recipients of this program is the Station Gallery, a public art gallery and a registered charity which has long received support from the Arts Council and the Ontario government.

A loose group of art enthusiasts, volunteers and benefactors bought Whitby’s Grand Trunk Railway Station in 1967. The station was set to be demolished before the purchase.

They dubbed their new home the Station Gallery in honour of the building’s history. Then-Mayor Desmond Newman sold the building to Artists Inc. for $1 on the condition that they move it to the other side of the tracks. The gallery officially opened at its new location in 1970.

It’s since featured a great many exhibits. It’s currently hosting Letters to the Earth: Between Despair & Hope, a large collection of works related to the climate crisis by dozens of artists. This exhibition lasts until Nov. 23.

Other recent exhibitions include:

• The Canadian Caribbean Photographic Arts Collective’s Beyond the Carnival
• Nadine Wyczółkowski’s The Prayer, “a visual interpretation of Caesar Baronius’ Prayer to Saint Philip”
• Kerry Hilts’ We Live Inside a Dream, “refulgent Woodland style paintings and wood carvings based on Metis lore and Elder teachings”
• The Air of Freedom – Aerial Photographs of Ukraine by photographer Zinoviy Pidperyhor

“We are deeply grateful for this support from the Ontario Arts Council, which will enable Station Gallery to continue our mission of bringing inspiring art experiences to Whitby and beyond,” said Station Gallery Executive Director Natasha Downes, “This funding not only sustains our ability to showcase local and regional artists but also strengthens our educational outreach and engagement with the community. Together, we’re building a vibrant arts culture that enriches lives and enhances Whitby’s creative landscape.”