Art in the County

ART IN THE COUNTY (AITC) is an annual juried art exhibition and sale presented by the Prince Edward County Arts Council and Welch LLP.
What began as an idea sparked by an art show elsewhere, ART IN THE COUNTY is now recognized as the premier art exhibition in Eastern Ontario. Since its inception in 1993, the show has grown in scope and stature, showcasing the highest quality works of art by Prince Edward County artists and artisans. With advice from the long established Quinte Arts Council and seed money from the Community Development Corporation, the inaugural AITC Volunteer Committee (namely, Paul Adams, June Boddington, Bob Hintz and Estelle Klein) set about to plan the first show. It was held in the lovely heritage space above the Picton Old Town Hall and for the next 18 years the space was converted annually into a fine art gallery displaying the best work of County artists. In 2012, the exhibition moved to a much larger gallery space above Books and Company on Picton’s Main Street.
In the show’s early years, only two-dimensional pieces (mainly paintings in oil and watercolour) were eligible for entry. Since then, ART IN THE COUNTY has expanded to include exciting works in a range of media including watercolour, acrylic, oil and encaustic paintings, sculpture, fibre, wood, photography, ceramics, glass and more. Only three Juror Awards were given in the early years. Today, three Canadian art professionals are responsible for selecting the show’s content, as well as the five Jurors’ Choice and five Honourable Mention award winners. Renowned Canadian artist and sculptor, Otto Donald Rogers (a resident of Prince Edward County) annually selects a winner for the Otto Rogers Award of Excellence. The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Elizabeth Crombie Real Estate Team, Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty Brokerage is determined by visitor ballots and presented at the close of the exhibition. Today, ART IN THE COUNTY is a signature event of the summer season in Prince Edward County. The show has attracted over 50,000 visitors since it began; generates meaningful opportunities for County artists, and provides economic benefits for businesses across the County. For more information about ART IN THE COUNTY, visit: www.artinthecounty.com, call the Prince Edward County Arts Council at (613) 476-7901 or e-mail: artinthecounty@pecartscouncil.org.
The Prince Edward County Arts Council (PECAC) is a registered non-profit organization that has charitable status. Art in the County is also non-profit, and every dollar raised is used to produce the show.