Annual Spring Exhibition features Northwestern Ontario crafts, visual arts and more
As we begin final preparations for our Spring Exhibition, which runs from April 17-May 17, we’re excited to welcome Dryden crafter Francine Higgins to the show!
Francine (Fran) Higgins was born and raised in Dryden, Ontario. Her parents, Louis and Madeleine Toussaint, taught her and her siblings from an early age to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors. She has many fond memories of picnics at the beach, fishing trips, picking blueberries, visiting with family friends, and simply spending time outside.
Her mother, a school teacher, mentored Fran from a young age in cooking, sewing, and a love of reading. Fran remembers helping in the kitchen and watching closely as her mother sewed. Her mother made beautiful clothes for her, and Fran recalls how proud she felt wearing the dresses that were made just for her. She also remembers many evenings spent together making Halloween costumes.
Fran spent a great deal of time using her mother’s green Elna sewing machine. When she graduated from high school in 1977, her parents gifted her a Kenmore sewing machine, which she still uses today.
Sewing has remained an important part of Fran’s life. She considers it her “happy place.” Although she has explored many different types of crafts over the years, she always returns to her love of fabric and sewing. When she is not sewing, Fran enjoys walking her dog, spending time with her husband, and reading.
Come and Visit our Spring Exhibition in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario
Our seasonal exhibitions rotate annually between Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, highlighting artists and ideas from across the region. This year’s exhibition runs from April 17 to May 17, 2026 at the Dyment Recreation Hall, with gallery hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1–4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
In addition to the exhibition, visitors can take part in a range of programming throughout the month, including:
- Live Creative Sessions: Open mic nights and collaborative music gatherings.
- Knowledge Sharing: Artist talks and interactive, hands-on workshops.
- Community Conversations: Discussions exploring art, climate, emerging technologies, and the broader impacts of nuclear waste management.
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