This post was originally published by SteinbachOnline.com:https://steinbachonline.com/articles/steinbach-arts-council-reports-record-year-as-demand-continues-to-grow- The Steinbach Arts Council board gathered at Smitty’s in Steinbach on Wednesday to host their annual general meeting. The Steinbach Arts Council (SAC) is looking to build on a record year as participation continues to grow. Celebrating community SAC held its annual general meeting at Smitty’s in Steinbach on Wednesday, where board members and staff reflected on the 2025-26 year and looked ahead to the organization’s plans for the coming year. Board chair Taylor Brandt said the organization’s current facility is increasingly stretched. "We’re bursting at the seams over at the Steinbach Arts Council," Brandt said. She said SAC wants to continue creating opportunities for people to connect through the arts, both in Steinbach and surrounding communities. "We are dedicated to create a community where creativity is celebrated and where everyone has the opportunity to experience the power of the arts and have a sense of belonging." A record year Executive director David Klassen described 2025-26 as a record year for the organization. Programming registrations exceeded 2,000, with Klassen estimating participation was around 2,300 for the year. He said the growth was reflected in increased programming, concerts and performances, art sales, fundraising, grants, partnerships and support from sponsors and donors. "Our community continues to show up," Klassen said. "They register, they attend, they volunteer, they donate, they sponsor, they partner with us, and they continue to tell us that arts and culture matter in this region." SAC’s instructional programming remained strong across a variety of disciplines, while its concert series and community productions continued to attract audiences. The organization also expanded opportunities for artists through its galleries and buy, lease and print program. Its partnership with the Southeastern Manitoba Festival continued to provide music and performance opportunities for young people across the region. Expanding programming Klassen said SAC also continued developing culture and heritage programming, strengthening relationships with Indigenous organizations and cultural groups, and preparing for an expansion of therapeutic arts programming. As SAC prepares to expand therapeutic arts programming, the organization says it will begin with music therapy in partnership with the Hanover School Division. Music therapy is expected to begin in early October at seven schools in the division, reaching significantly more students than SAC’s previous programming. The organization is also planning to introduce visual arts therapy, with a target of January 2027. Klassen said SAC is working with trained professionals to ensure the programs are delivered appropriately and to a high standard. "We’re working very hard to take guidance from those who are trained in the area, not overstep and believe that we can do something that we’re not qualified to do, but bringing the professionals into the environment who can actually execute some of those programs," he said. That work is expected to allow SAC to reach additional participants and community partners in the coming year. Increased revenue The organization’s financial statements also showed growth, with auditor Brian Derksen noting revenue increased by just under $200,000 from the previous year. Derksen said SAC’s cash position also increased during the year, while the organization continued investing in programming and other expenses associated with its growth. Despite the positive financial results, Klassen said the organization’s growth comes with additional responsibilities, particularly when it comes to space. "Our facility continues to operate at a very high level of use, and space remains one of the most significant challenges faced by our organization," he said. "We will continue to maximize while participating in important conversations about the facilities and resources of our community and those that we will need in the future." Member of the Year The AGM also included the presentation of SAC’s 2026 Member of the Year award to Ray Chapman. Klassen highlighted Ray’s volunteer contributions, creativity and commitment to the community, including his work creating a miniature Volkswagen van for SAC’s Pioneer Days Parade entry. Klassen said Ray’s involvement reflects SAC’s focus on creating community and ensuring people feel included and valued. Chapman, who spoke about his lifelong appreciation for the arts, said his first experiences with the arts included reading as a child and later attending ballet and opera performances while attending the University of Saskatchewan. Looking ahead As SAC looks ahead, board member Geoff Dilts said the organization has established a strong reputation in Steinbach, across the region and beyond, but there is still work to do. "As our community continues to grow, so does the opportunity for SAC to grow with it, to reach more people, build new partnerships, expand our programs and facilities, and continue finding new ways to create connection through arts and culture," he said. SAC’s board and staff said they intend to build on the momentum of the past year while continuing to focus on the organization’s mission of creating community through arts and culture. "If you’ve been here, if you grew up here, there’s really a home for you. Anybody who wants to experience arts and culture. We’re just going to open the door," said Brandt. Photo: SteinbachOnline.com

This post was originally published by SteinbachOnline.com:https://steinbachonline.com/articles/steinbach-arts-council-2026-gala-celebrates-growth-community-and-creativity The Steinbach Arts Council was celebrated in style Friday night, May 1st, as community leaders, artists, supporters, and residents gathered for the organization’s 2026 Fundraising Gala. Held in an elegant countryside setting of Bentwood Hall, the evening highlighted the rapid growth of the Arts Council, its expanding impact across southeastern Manitoba, and the community partnerships helping make arts programming more accessible than ever. Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk praised the Arts Council as a key part of the city’s identity and quality of life. “Tonight is a celebration,” Funk told the crowd. “Tonight is celebrating with you for a great year that you’ve had and a great year of growth, a great year of all the wonderful things you’ve done.” Funk said the City of Steinbach values its close working relationship with the organization. “You’re not necessarily just an entity in our community and organization, but you’re a partner,” he said. “You partner with us to provide quality of life for our community.” The mayor also called the Steinbach Arts Council “a treasured gem and a diamond in our community.” Executive Director David Klassen shared several milestones during the evening, describing how demand for arts and cultural programming continues to rise. “We often say that the most important thing we create at the Steinbach Arts Council is community,” Klassen said. “And that is very evident here tonight.” Klassen explained that the organization expects approximately 2,300 registrations across its programs this year, nearly triple pre-pandemic numbers. To meet that growing demand, the Arts Council now offers more than 160 programs, concerts, and exhibits annually, along with bursaries and free youth programming aimed at removing barriers to participation. “At its core, our work is about access and belonging,” Klassen said. “Access to opportunity, to spaces where people can come together and experience something meaningful.” He also noted the Steinbach Arts Council is now considered among the top 10 percent of service-providing arts councils in Canada based on available national data. “The same data tells us that the Steinbach Arts Council leads the nation in programming relative to per capita spending with half the budget,” Klassen said. “We are doing far more with much less.” Despite the rapid growth, Klassen emphasized that the organization’s focus remains on sustainability and community impact. “Our focus is on becoming one of the strongest, building something sustainable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of this community,” he said. Federal and provincial leaders praise community impact Member of Parliament Ted Falk spoke about the important role the Arts Council plays in helping young people discover and develop their talents. “When I think of, ‘Where can you go to develop your gifts, your artistic ability, your linguistic ability, your musical abilities or where can you do that other than the Steinbach Arts Council?” Falk said. He called the organization an important resource for families and youth across the region. “What a joy it is to know that we can send people to the Steinbach Arts Council to get an opportunity to develop those gifts and serve our community and also better themselves,” he said. Manitoba’s Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, Nellie Kennedy, also addressed the crowd, applauding both the organization and the strong community support behind it. “The funds that are going to be raised this evening are going to be supporting subsidized programs, diversity, and free youth programming directly impacting the community in Steinbach and beyond,” Kennedy said. She said the arts play a vital role in strengthening communities and bringing people together. “We know that the arts really enhance the quality of life for people,” Kennedy said. “It starts conversation, it helps you to see different perspectives, and it really is just a beautiful way for people to connect and bring community together.” Kennedy also praised local sponsors, volunteers, staff, and organizers for helping make the evening possible. “That’s what’s wonderful about smaller cities and towns,” she said. “When your community comes together, it can really accomplish great things.” A celebration of community and creativity Throughout the evening, speakers repeatedly emphasized that the Steinbach Arts Council has become far more than just a venue for performances and classes. Instead, organizers described it as a growing community hub where creativity, culture, and connection continue to thrive. With fundraising efforts focused on expanding access to programs and supporting future growth, the gala carried a strong sense of momentum and optimism for what lies ahead. As Klassen told supporters Friday night, “There is something that we all share this evening, a desire to ensure that the arts are recognized as a critical part of what makes our region unique, healthy, and strong.” The evening also included a dinner prepared by Cassandra Kornelson, SAC Culinary Instructor and her students. There was entertainment by the Steinbach String Quartet and young local artists performing musical pieces from “Broadway Moments,” SAC’s spring production, and the 2026 Southeast Manitoba Festival. The evening also included an art auction featuring photographs by local professional photographers Allan Penner and Dennis Fast. All were part of an entertaining and enjoyable evening.