County Arts, formally incorporated as the Prince Edward County Arts Council in 1986, was initially formed in 1979 when members of the community got together to form a group dedicated to promoting the arts in Prince Edward County. Our team has been hard at work activating and championing our vibrant arts sector ever since!
To enrich the community by actively supporting and promoting the arts and artists as an essential part of life in Prince Edward County.
We do this by:
Prince Edward County is recognized as one of Canada’s top arts destinations, where the arts thrive and all artists can reach their full potential, contributing to quality of life and sense of belonging.
We invite you to explore our full Strategic Plan Report to learn more about our bold new vision for the arts in Prince Edward County, and for our role in the County’s creative ecosystem – and how we are ensuring this community-informed roadmap results in real and relevant actions responding to the changing needs of local artists, arts organizations, and the broader community.
2022-27 Strategic Plan Report
The Arts & Our Role in Reconciliation
We express gratitude to all the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have been traditional and contemporary stewards of this land. We acknowledge that we work, live, meet and create on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee peoples, who through migratory and settlement patterns, have been present in Prince Edward County for hundreds and thousands of years. We also recognize how fortunate we are to be learning from and building relationships with our friends in the adjacent Kanien’keha:ka community of Tyendinaga.
We are actively building relationships with Indigenous artists in the County and beyond, and are committed to harnessing the power of art and storytelling to foster truth and reconciliation, and to the support and advancement of Indigenous artists in Prince Edward County and beyond. Our work is guided by the 94 Calls to Action proposed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and also recognize the primacy of the 46 Articles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in particular Articles 11 & 31 pertaining to Arts and Culture.
We invite you to read our complete Indigenous Land Acknowledgement statement and learn more about our Indigenous Voices Fund.
Inclusivity, Diversity & Equity
We value artists who express and reflect our diverse stories, histories, communities, cultures and artistic practices. We are committed to reflecting and including the diversity of this place, and fostering a sense of belonging, in our organization. County Arts will integrate principles of diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and responsiveness into its policies, programs, partnerships and services; address systemic barriers and challenges; and engage with community members representing the diversity of our community.
We also believe that all stakeholders including employees, volunteers, members, partners and event participants deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in environments that are free of harassment, violence and discrimination.
Please read our full Inclusivity, Diversity & Equity Policy, which includes a section on Respectful Work Environment and Relationships and links to learn more about our workplace violence and harassment prevention policies and programs.
Beginning in July 2023, County Arts has added a voluntary Self-Identification section to our Artist Fund and other application processes. This will enable County Arts to take concrete action towards fulfilling several relevant commitments from our 2022-27 Strategic Plan and IDE Policy, more about this can be found in our Voluntary Self-Identification Framework and Equity Priority Policy document.
Other Policies
