We create space for art, connection, and community to flourish.
Tanya ZaryskiThe Story of Art in the Valley
Apples & Art Exhibit — now known as Art in the Valley — began in August, 2015 when a group of local artists gathered in the living room of artist Ray Macdonald’s restored 1886 church in Kimberley, Ontario, Canada.
A community call-out quickly brought together a vibrant collective of artists, leading to the first exhibition at Kimberley Hall in September, 2015.
The original vision was simple but powerful: celebrate local artists, their work, and the spirit of the community.
At a time when Kimberley was recovering from the loss of the Talisman Ski Resort, the exhibit offered a new way for people to reconnect through creativity and culture.
Kathleen Heithorn-Althoff
Cindy NortonHow it began
Ray Macdonald, new to the area but eager to meet fellow artists, soon discovered an extraordinary artistic community already rooted in Grey Bruce and Grey Highlands — a richness captured in the book Backroad Craft: Fine Craft in Grey and Bruce Counties by Becky Comber and Kate Civiero.
Founding artists included Paul Corfield, Tanya Zaryski, Collette Dionne, Ofra Svorai, Doug Galloway, Peter French, and Frances Beatty.
Together, they imagined an art show unlike any other in the region — one that could help bring people together and give renewed energy to a community searching for a shared identity.
Grey Highlands supported the vision by opening Kimberley Hall for the exhibit during Canada’s annual Culture Week celebrations, while local contractor Kimbergill Construction provided scaffolding to create the first temporary gallery walls.
Brian SickleBuilt by community
The early years were filled with creativity, determination, and community support.
When scaffolding proved difficult, discarded doors became display walls thanks to donations from local residents.
Later, Kimberley legend Jonathan Robinson famously stepped forward declaring, “I’m going to build you guys some walls,” helping the exhibit evolve into a more polished event.
Opening nights were consistently packed with enthusiastic visitors, including Mayor McQueen, council members, local businesses, and supporters such as the Kimberley General Store, South Grey News, Ron Barnett, and John Butler, whose coverage helped showcase the event’s growing impact across Grey Highlands and Grey Bruce.
Kate EsplenPeter French
Carol Sebert
Chari CohenA new chapter
Two major turning points shaped the exhibit’s journey: the COVID years and the four-year Kimberley Hall renovation project, which temporarily paused the annual show.
In spring 2025, Frances Beatty and Ray Macdonald spearheaded the re-imagination of the event with support from Grey Highlands and the Kimberley Community Association.
The result was a fresh new identity — Art in the Valley.
Opening night in October 2025 once again filled the hall with energy and excitement, inspiring community member Dave Meslin to thank organizers for “bringing art back to the community.”
What began as an informal gathering with makeshift walls and lighting has grown into a polished, curated annual exhibition featuring 14 artists, reusable gallery infrastructure, and a strong social media presence — continuing to celebrate art, connection, and community in the valley.
As I left the event, I found myself reflecting on the joy of local events like this where I get to see creations, meet their creators and learn about the processes whereby the creative impulse becomes a work of art – all in a community loved equally by its artists and its local patrons of the arts.
—John Butler