Celebrating Fifty Years: Stories from the Winter Festival Art Show & Sale

As the Winter Festival Art Show & Sale marks its 50th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on half a century of art, community, and inspiration. Since its beginnings in Prince Albert, the Festival has grown into one of Saskatchewan’s most inclusive and beloved exhibitions, showcasing artists at every stage of their journey and celebrating creativity in all its forms.

These stories, shared by artists who have exhibited over the years, reveal the heart of what makes the Winter Festival so special: connection, encouragement, and enduring artistic spirit.

Finding Confidence and Community

Heike Fink has been submitting to the Winter Festival since 2013, calling the exhibition “a remarkable experience” that has shaped her growth and confidence as an artist. Her first-ever submission, Castor Anonymous, a life-sized felted beaver, won her first prize, granted by curator Alison Norlen. “Her comment about the beaver having character without being cute was exactly what I was striving for,” Heike recalls.

Years later, in 2022, her sculpture Penser aux sculpteur des Pense, honouring Joe Fafard, earned Second Place Prize, selected by guest curator Wally Dion. “That was a very special moment in my career,” she says, “since this piece was near and dear to my heart.”

"The Winter Festival had a significant influence on my career and confidence as an artist. My first submission in 2013 was a life-size felted beaver sculpture called "Castor Anonymous," and with this entry, I won my first prize ever, granted by Alison Norlen. At the time, I was so new to the Saskatchewan art world that, to my embarrassment, I have to admit, I didn't even know who Alison Norlen was. Besides being overly excited to win this prize, I always remembered and felt encouraged by Alison Norlen's comment about the beaver having character without being cute, which was exactly what I was striving for, but I was not sure if I had achieved my goal.

Years later, in 2022, I was especially amazed to win an award, since the usual phone call asking whether one is planning to attend the opening ceremony did not come, and honestly, I felt a bit disappointed. All the more thrilled was I to learn that my entry, "Penser aux sculpteur des Pense," a sculpture honouring Joe Fafard, won Second Best in Show. This was a very special moment in my career, since this piece was very near and dear to my heart, and I admire Wally Dion's artwork, the guest juror, very much, so I was proud that he acknowledged my work."

Memories That Span Decades

For Lilian Donahue, the Winter Festival is a cherished constant in her creative life, one she first joined more than forty years ago.

“I entered my first show upstairs at the Arts Center,” she remembers. “I didn’t even realize there was a juried section! I was thrilled when both my pieces sold.” Over the decades, she’s watched the Festival evolve and relocate to the Mann Art Gallery while holding onto its original inclusiveness: “It’s the only show I know in Saskatchewan where every submitted piece is displayed. That inclusivity reflects the very best of Prince Albert.”

"I have many. Always a highlight for me. I entered my first show maybe 40 years ago. Oh my. How time flies. It was held upstairs in the Arts Center. I didn’t know that the main gallery was for those selected by the juror and the other room was for all the others. I couldn’t understand why one of my pieces was in one room and the other one in the second room until my friend explained it to me. I was thrilled to be in the main gallery and even more thrilled when both my pieces sold. The quality of the work blew me away and inspired me to improve. I appreciated that all the pieces were hung and displayed. This is still the case and I think it’s the only show in Saskatchewan that does this. The show has expanded, moved to the Mann Gallery, and the works, now submitted from all over the province rival any I’ve seen in major galleries in quality. I hope it will continue in the inclusive vein that characterized its beginnings. The selection process is still the same (main gallery works and all the other pieces) but now all pieces are displayed for the duration of the show, whereas before only those in the Main Gallery stayed for the 4 week duration. The Winter Festival Art Show to me reflects the best of Prince Albert: top quality artists, inclusiveness, and inspiration for everyone."

From the Archives: A Young Artist at Work

A special piece of Winter Festival history comes from Roger Jerome, whose connection to the event reaches back nearly six decades.

Roger Jerome, as a young man, drawing at the Margot Fournier Centre in P.A. during the Winter Festival, circa 1965 or '66

"A photo of myself demonstrating chalk pastels. This photo was in the Prince Albert Daily Herald though I have lost the write up over the years. As I recall was taken at the Winter Festival in 1966 at the Margo Fournier Centre (beside where the old swimming pool used to be)"

A photo from The Prince Albert Daily Herald, taken around 1965–66 at the Margo Fournier Centre, shows a young Roger demonstrating chalk pastels, a moment that captures the Festival’s spirit of creativity and openness.

Since then, Jerome’s career has flourished: his Centennial Mural—Northern Tradition and Transition was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. He was recently awarded an honourary lifetime membership from the La Ronge Arts Council, with his paintings featured at the Alex Robertson Public Library.

A New Generation of Artists

The Festival continues to nurture emerging talent, as Tabata Bagatim experienced firsthand. Her participation in the 48th Annual Winter Festival (2024) marked a defining moment in her artistic journey.

“It was the first exhibition I participated in outside of my Saskatoon clay community,” she shares. “Winning the Lorraine Mathiason Memorial Pottery Award gave me the confidence to pursue my art full-time.” For Tabata, that recognition became the spark that guided her decision to leave her career in science and follow her artistic calling.

"The Winter Festival Art Show & Sale at the Mann Gallery holds deep personal significance for me. It was the first exhibition I participated in outside of my local clay community in Saskatoon, and it was also where I received my first award, the Lorraine Mathiason Memorial Pottery Award, juried by Bevin Bradley during the 48th Annual Winter Festival in 2024. That recognition marked a pivotal moment in my career, giving me confidence in my work and encouraging a deeper commitment to my practice. This journey ultimately led to my decision this year to leave my full-time career in science and pursue ceramics as a full-time artist. The award and my experience at the Winter Festival had an immense impact on how I perceive my work and my path forward, and I remain deeply grateful for that support."

Fifty Years Strong

From its early days at the Margo Fournier Arts Centre to its current home at the Mann Art Gallery, the Winter Festival Art Show & Sale has remained a reflection of the community’s creative soul. It is a place where new artists find their footing, established ones reconnect with their roots, and every voice, no matter how small or seasoned, finds a space on the wall.

As we celebrate 50 years, we extend gratitude to all who have shared their work, memories, and passion along the way. The Winter Festival continues to remind us that art, like the Saskatchewan winter itself, has a beauty and resilience that endures.