Who is MA&C?
Mission
Vision
Mandate
Values
The organization is the true heart of visual arts in the province’s favourite cottage and vacation area and has become an innovative force in the community at large.
Muskoka Arts & Crafts supports artists directly through its programming and resources and is also a champion of arts and culture in Muskoka, always striving to make the community a vibrant and culturally engaged destination for visitors, local residents and summer residents alike. Membership in Muskoka Arts & Crafts is open to all.
Muskoka Arts & Crafts is a non-profit organization. MAC mounts several annual shows, including the popular Summer Show, which has been a centrepiece of Muskoka summers since 1963 and attracts hundreds of artists from across the country and more than 10,000 visitors every year. Our holiday market and Spring members Show are juried events featuring our premium MAC Members.
Board Director - Chair
Jenn Walters
Jenn Walters is a seasoned digital marketing strategist, having spent over 15 years working for Toronto-based advertising and media agencies. Currently, Jenn holds the role of President at Dandelion Inc., one of only four Google and Amazon platform licensing partners in Canada.
Having been raised in Muskoka, Jenn's dream to retire back home was fast-tracked due to the pandemic and she is now happily working from downtown Bracebridge. Jenn is a hobbyist and an avid fan of artistic expression. She wanted to join Muskoka Arts & Crafts to provide her marketing and operations skills to her community in a meaningful way.
Board Director
Kate Monk
Kate Monk is a writer with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion to grow arts appreciation. As the current VP of Strategy & Communications for Explorers Edge, Kate brings a vast connected network and additional expertise to MAC to help expand our footprint both within the Muskoka region and beyond.
Board Director
Morris Cooper
Morris is a lawyer practicing civil and commercial litigation since 1976. In addition to his professional career, Morris has has acted as a Director for a number of nonprofits and charities over the years, and locally as a current Director of The Ryde Community Co-op.
Morris himself amalgamated his love of machines to move dirt and dig with his own version of "Land Art", finding and developing unique landscapes on the granite and gravel that make up Muskoka. His daughter is a professional sculptor and part-time faculty member at Sheridan College, and his wife is a watercolour artist and registered Art Therapist. When not working he remains an avid outdoor enthusiast.
Board Director
Trish Conley-Knight
Trish Conley-Knight is retired from the Town of Huntsville and Town of Bracebridge where she served for over 30 years, most recently as the Manager of Arts, Culture and Recreation for the Huntsville Community Services Department. The strengths she developed during her career that would benefit the MAC board include: fundraising/corporate sponsorship, project management, writing a business plan for a theatre, and her political acuity.
Board Director
John Yates
John Yates is a CPA, CA, and spent the majority of his career in the publishing industry. Prior to retiring in 2021, John served as President, Publisher & CEO, and Director, of University of Toronto Press for many years. During his time at University of Toronto Press he volunteered as President of The Association of Canadian University Presses and as Secretary-Treasurer, Director of Livre Canada Books. After retiring, John pursued his passion as a landscape and wildlife photographer with a particular concentration in the Muskoka, Haliburton and Algonquin Park regions. He believes that this region is one of the most beautiful parts of Canada – if not the world. John gets inspired by the opportunity to share this spectacular scenery with others through his photography and hopes his work serves as a great reminder of what Canadians love about this part of Canada.
Board Director
Sarah Dorybk
Sarah is an avid traveler, concert-goer, and lover of the arts. Her father is an accomplished painter and although he didn't pass along his artistic gifts, she continues to involve herself in artist communities and enjoys exploring new artist exhibitions and more. When she's not indulging in her passions, she is a National Customer Success Leader with Corporate Traveller. Sarah is extremely tech savvy and will help steer MAC in the right direction. Sarah is a proud member of the Muskoka Arts & Crafts board, and she hopes that her commitment and love for the arts will soon rub off on her 5-year-old daughter Namiri.
Board Director
Larry Carroll
Larry is a full-time resident of Muskoka and has been a professional photographer for 35+ years. In addition to having his work published across Canada both artistically and commercially, he has been a great supporter of capturing our events for Muskoka Arts & Crafts. A committed volunteer to this organization, we would welcome Larry to further his contribution with a seat on our board.
Board Director
Serena West
Like most children I loved creating crafts of all sorts. I took art all through high school and was able to enjoy a year program at the Dundas Valley School of Art in affiliation with McMaster University, after which I began my career as a mural artist in Hamilton, Ontario where I brought to life the visions of many home owners and businesses. Now as an artist living in Muskoka and continuing to grow my art business, I am grateful that I get to create pieces that speak to my soul and feel full circle to the little girl that still lives within.
Whether I’m painting people or the natural spaces where we go to heal, I find inspiration in the beauty of the Canadian landscape. I share my home with my husband and two boys, along with our cat Beans and dog Copper. We get to experience the glory of all 4 seasons in Muskoka Ontario, and whatever the weather we spend a lot of time outdoors.
Board Director
Liane Robertson
Liane Robertson is an award-winning interior design entrepreneur, based out of Halton region, now living in Muskoka. As a long-time supporter of MAC, Liane would welcome the opportunity to share her love of the arts and community along with her business acumen and network of philanthropic individuals to the MAC board and organization.
Board Director
James Bowler
James resides in Huntsville and is the producer and news anchor for YourTV Muskoka through Cogeco. He also skillfully produces various other video content focusing on lifestyle, local programming and our monthly MAC Arts & Culture segment. James works with two other local non-profit boards currently, and welcomes the opportunity to be more closely aligned with the arts and culture that MAC brings to the region.
Executive Director
Nichole Kitchen
In the summer of 2020 Nichole was embraced by the generous and kind community of Bracebridge. Having spent her childhood summers in this beautiful region, Muskoka has always felt like home.
Nichole spent her formative years growing up in the small northern community of Elliot Lake. She was immersed in art, music, and culture, all thanks to her mother who was very connected to the arts community. Nichole is an Interior Designer by trade and resided in Toronto and worked as a commercial construction Project Manager for over a decade. Through hard work Nichole was given the opportunity to travel the globe managing numerous clients, consultants, and trades.
Nichole welcomes this new opportunity to head up Muskoka Arts & Crafts as Executive Director. She hopes to create a welcoming, safe, inclusive environment. Visitors will be welcomed from all over the world and from all walks of life. She wants them to remember MAC and all the amazing art they were able to experience during their visit! Stay tuned.
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@muskokaartsandcrafts.com.