From 50: Celebrating Five Decades of Winter Festival Art

February 1 – March 23, 2026

Curated by the Mann Art Gallery

Generously supported by the Prince Albert Council for the Arts

In From 50, the Mann Art Gallery invites visitors to explore a rich selection of artworks drawn from its Permanent Collection—each one originally acquired through past Winter Festival Art Show & Sale exhibitions. Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Annual Winter Festival Art Show & Sale, this exhibition offers a meaningful reflection on five decades of creativity, community, and artistic growth in Prince Albert and beyond.

The Winter Festival Art Show & Sale will be on view at the Mann Art Gallery from February 7 to March 21, 2026, and From 50 serves as a companion exhibition that highlights the lasting legacy of this remarkable event.

A Legacy Rooted in Community

The Winter Festival exhibition was founded in 1976 by Margreet van Walsem, then President of the Prince Albert Council for the Arts. Established to address a lack of exhibition opportunities for local artists, the inaugural show was held in the Little Gallery (now the John V. Hicks Gallery). As a special feature, artist Ann Newdigate was invited to serve as guest curator, shaping the exhibition and offering professional feedback to participating artists—an approach that would become a defining characteristic of the Winter Festival.

Over the past five decades, the Winter Festival has remained true to its founding vision: providing a welcoming platform for artists of all levels, supported by the insight and expertise of guest curators. Now recognized as one of the longest-running community exhibitions in Saskatchewan, the Winter Festival has fostered artistic experimentation, career development, and enduring connections within the arts community.

From Festival to Permanent Collection

Thanks to the generosity of longtime gallery donors Diane and Roger Mann, the Mann Art Gallery has been able to acquire artworks from Winter Festival exhibitions over the years. The Gallery’s Permanent Collection began in 1993, with one of its first acquisitions being Fort Carlton by George Glenn—a work that also received the Best in Show award at the 1993 Winter Festival, curated by Joan Borsa.

Since then, the Permanent Collection has grown into a vibrant reflection of the region’s artistic heritage, shaped in large part by the creativity and contributions of Winter Festival artists. From 50 celebrates this enduring relationship between community exhibitions and the Gallery’s collecting practices, showcasing how temporary moments of artistic exchange can become lasting cultural touchstones.

Join Us

Visitors are also invited to deepen their experience through our Art for Lunch exhibition tours, taking place on:

• February 27, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM

• March 6, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM

  
  

These free, informal tours offer an opportunity to learn more about the artworks and the stories behind them during your lunch hour.

From 50 is a celebration of artists, patrons, curators, and community members who have helped shape the Winter Festival and the Mann Art Gallery over the past 50 years. We invite you to join us in honoring this legacy and experiencing the art that continues to define it.