April Patry, Gallery Director at the Southampton Arts Centre (centre) stands with the Centre's Board of Directors Chair/President, Margot Foster and Vice Chair/Vice President, Michael Hills at Thursday evening's Business After Hours.

Hub Staff

The Southampton Arts Centre played host to the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce's first Business After Hours event of 2017 on January 19. The business networking event was co-hosted by Little Black Dog Creative Catering and Chef Services who provided a variety of tasty appetizers for guests to enjoy as they socialized.

April Patry, Gallery Director at the Southampton Arts Centre, spoke of the economic impact the Arts Centre has on Saugeen Shores. “The gallery sees at least 10,000 people come through here every year and the Art School teaches about 900 students every year,” she said, adding that this year the Art School will be offering over 90 adult classes and 46 children's classes.

Patry said they were planning numerous events and exhibitions for the year starting with The Winter Blues from February 9 to 25, a show and sale of mini artworks with the colour blue playing centre stage. “They're all miniature pieces, all affordable for February, because we're all still trying to get over Christmas,” said Patry. She added that there will also have the Blues playing in the gallery for the entire month.

She said that this will be a special year for the Art School as it will mark its 60th anniversary. As part of their celebration, the Centre will be honouring the legacy of its founder Bert Henderson with exhibits over three shows stretching over 2017 and 2018. “I can't imagine what it would have been like for a young man to open up some sort of art school in a small harbour town in Bruce County in the '50s,” Patry said. “He had incredible vision for the arts in this community and we are a result of the seed that he planted.” She said they were also hoping to interview Henderson, who now is 89 years of age and lives in Belleville.

Patry said that as a registered, not for profit charitable organization there was always sponsorship opportunities for businesses and other organizations to help with exhibitions and events and anyone interested could contact her at the Arts Centre. She added that the Art School catalogues would be available February 1, both online and in the gallery.

Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director Sally Kidson briefly spoke at the event with an update on their Light the Way campaign. “It was such an incredible success,” she said. “98 The Beach's Radiothon raised $66,000. Overall the campaign raised $192,000.”

During the evening, door prizes were handed out and new Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce members were welcomed, including The Chakra House of Healing, Kristen's Pharmacy, Chuck's Roadhouse Bar and Grill, Ashanti Coffee and King's Bait & Tackle.

At the end of the evening $182 in donations had been collected for the Southampton Arts Centre, which included money from a raffle for an original water colour donated to the event by Gallery Artist Marion Anderson.

Next month's Business After Hours will be held February 16 at Boston Pizza in Port Elgin, with the March event following at Peninsula Ford in Port Elgin.

Co-hosts Kendra Smith (left) and Stacey Hull of Little Black Dog Creative Catering and Chef Services with some of the tasty appetizers they were serving at the Southampton Arts Centre Business After Hours event January 19.

Guests mingle at the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce's first Business After Hours event of the year, hosted by the Southampton Arts Centre.

A selection of some of the tasty appetizers that were being served by the evening's co-hosts, Little Black Dog Creative Catering and Chef Services.

A raffle for an original water colour, donated to the event by Gallery Artist Marion Anderson, was on display.