Art in the County Art Symposium

The 2nd Annual Art in the County Art Symposium connects the public with leading Canadian artists and art professionals through a series of insightful lectures. These engaging talks offer the opportunity to hear directly from established voices in the arts about their practices, ideas, and the issues shaping their work. Each session runs 60 minutes including a short break. You may choose to attend 1 talk, 2, or all 3! Sliding scale ticket prices ranging from $20-60.

Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 from 2-5:30 PM at the County Arts Lab. Register here.

This year, we’re proud to feature presentations by our distinguished 2025 Art in the County Jurors, each exploring a distinct area of expertise:

2 PM | Time as Material in Art with Nicole Collins – Drawing from her 35-year art practice, Nicole Collins will discuss the circuitous trajectory of a single artwork across an 11-year span, focusing on the creation, de-creation and transformation, from painting to painting to film.

3 PM| Indigenous Ways and Curation in the Institution with Michelle LaVallee – What does it mean to decolonize institutions? How can the people who work in institutions identify and dismantle the colonial legacies within the institutions where they work? There have been ongoing calls across the globe pushing institutions to reframe hegemonic narratives and to share power and authority when it comes to expanded/self-representations within programming and staffing. Michelle LaVallee will discuss these and other topics through her thinking and experience around her own curatorial practice, Indigenous-led projects, and decolonial work within Institutions including at the National Gallery of Canada.

4:15 PM | From Laneways to Libraries with Jim Bravo – In conversation with Stacey Sproule, to discuss the evolution of Jim’s career as a multi-award-winning painter and muralist. They will speak about the highs and lows of public art, the process and considerations of working in public space, and what it’s like working with community, municipalities and corporate clients as an artist. Hear all about Jim’s fascinating career and find out more about the County’s upcoming Public Art Program.

The 32nd Annual Art in the County Juried Exhibition and Sale will be held June 27th – July 13th, 2025. For more info visit artinthecounty.com.