Warm Up With Culture This November

November 19, 2025, Volume 3, Issue 11

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What's on at the

Helson Gallery

Dense forest scene with tall straight tree trunks rising vertically. The trees have reddish brown bark and are surrounded by green moss and ferns. Slanted branches and fallen logs crisscross the forest floor. Sunlight filters through the canopy creating patches of light and shadow. The background shows layers of trees fading into the distance.

Colour and Form Society's 73rd annual juried show

October 22 - November 30

Helson Gallery and Upper Sisnett Lobby

The Helson Gallery is excited to welcome the Colour and Form Society's 73rd Annual Open Juried Exhibition into its space for the first time. The exhibition features original works of art by both members and non-members. This impressive showcase of disciplines celebrates the range of creative perspectives and richness in contemporary fine art today. This highly anticipated exhibition is shown only in one gallery each year. Don't miss out on this chance to enjoy works by some of Ontario's most talented artists.

Photo: Jamie Kapitain, Near Roberts Creek

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Abstract painting with swirling layers of gray pink purple and blue tones accented by white vertical lines and circles and bright green organic shapes in the center

Opposites Attract: Creativity and Partnership, the Artwork of Stephen and Elle Stanley

October 22 - November 30

Lower Sisnett Lobby

For 43 years, Stephen and Elle have shared both marriage and a passion for art. Stephen’s career spans decades as an award-winning scenic artist and production designer, while Elle has inspired countless students through her innovative approach to visual arts. Their work reflects contrasting influences—architectural and industrial precision alongside expressive, interdisciplinary creativity. Rather than competing, these differences spark collaboration. For the Stanleys, art and love are inseparable, forming the foundation of their greatest strength.

Photo: Elle Stanley, Prayers Answered

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Upcoming

Painting of agricultural fields with long green rows stretching into the distance. White patches of snow or soil appear between the rows. A diagonal strip of reddish brown earth runs along the left side. In the background there are yellow and orange trees and low hills under a gray cloudy sky. The perspective emphasizes the lines of the fields converging toward the horizon.

Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour 100th Anniversary Members Exhibition

December 3 - February 1

Opening Reception: December 6, 1 - 3 p.m.

Helson Gallery

A juried exhibition showcasing a selection of paintings from over 225 elected members of the CSPWC, recognizing excellence in watercolour painting.

Photo: CSPWC Diploma Collection Painting by E. Conyers Barker (1909 - 2003), Flooded Fields, Holland Marsh

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Culture by the Numbers

Children playing a xylophone with mallets while standing close together on a stage with a drum visible in the background and an adult nearby.

96%

of Ontarians agree that engaging children in the arts is important to their overall development.

Statistic from the Ontario Arts Council report: The Arts and the Quality of Life 2023

Photo: Bandology workshop, Culture Days 2025

Culture Days Wrap-Up

Indoor gathering with several people seated and standing in a room. Two Indigenous individuals in the center hold large hand drums and drumsticks. Other participants sit in chairs arranged in a semicircle. Some people hold smaller percussion instruments. The setting is a community or cultural event with bright lighting and neutral walls. The floor has a patterned design with red and gray tones.

Culture Days 2025 was a tremendous success thanks to the extraordinary community that came together from September 19 to October 12. This year, we celebrated Halton Hills' 10th anniversary of presenting the award-winning national arts and culture festival. We exceeded expectations with our programming, partnering with 369 outstanding artists' organizations and businesses to deliver 204 free or donation-based events.

Threads of Tradition, an Introduction to Phulkari Embroidery with Rafia Shafiq, presented in partnership with the Town of Oakville, the Town of Milton, the City of Burlington, and Halton Region, received recognition from the Ontario Culture Days Spotlight Awards, winning "Best Collaborative Program". The Glen Williams Bicentennial Festival, another local Culture Days activity, was runner-up in the same category. Congratulations to all local organizers and artists!

Photo: Four Colours Drum Circle at Hillsview Acton.

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Call for Artists

Colorful abstract landscape of a sunset over water. The sky is filled with horizontal brush strokes in shades of blue purple orange and yellow. The water reflects similar colors with bright reds oranges and blues. A dark silhouette of distant hills separates the sky from the water. The painting uses bold segmented strokes creating a vibrant mosaic effect.

The Colour of Water

We invite artists from Halton Hills to submit artwork for The Colour of Water exhibition. Artists will consider water not just as a resource, but as a living presence we are all connected to, and responsible for. A show that celebrates water, its life-sustaining properties, power to shape landscapes, and ability to connect communities.

Photo: Shelly Newman, Surrender in the Moment, Gift of Dave and Dale Cox to the Town Art Collection

Learn More and Apply

Drop-In Art Sessions

Hands holding a pencil sketching a figure on a spiral bound sketchbook.

Drawing in the Gallery

September 17 - December 10

Weekly, Wednesday, 1 - 3 p.m.

Helson Gallery

Join a creative community and enjoy an afternoon of life drawing in our weekly self-directed sessions in the gallery. Surround yourself with art, get inspired, and practice figure drawing.

Photo: Drawing in the gallery.

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Join the Conversation

Let's Talk 2026 Budget

Halton Hills is growing—and so is the budget. Learn more and have your say on how your tax dollars are invested, explore key budget details, and share your feedback through our survey and comment section.

Photo: Let's Talk Halton Hills logo and image of the Mayor

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