Announcing 2025 PEC Arts Fund Recipients

04 Jul 2025 10:27 AM By communications

Announcing the 2025 PEC Arts Fund Recipients

See the full list of recipients below and learn more about the activities they'll be carrying out in 2025 and 2026!

The County Foundation is pleased to celebrate the recipients of the inaugural PEC Arts Fund. 

This fund supports arts-mandated organizations providing services, programs, and amenities in the realm of the arts. Organizations may apply for single or multi-year grants to assist with general operating expenses, special projects, capacity building, events, or programming. 

The PEC Arts Fund was established in early 2025, following an extensive review process of the Municipal Community Grants program and analysis of local supports for the arts sector, undertaken in partnership by the Municipality, The County Foundation, and the Prince Edward County Arts Council (County Arts) to find a mechanism that could be leveraged to better support the arts in our community.  

This year, the program offered $60k in available funding for both 2025 and 2026. Ten organizations were selected to receive a total of $60,000 in funding in 2025 and $43,672 in 2026 (full detailed list below). We hope to continue to grow the amount of available funding to further support the incredible organizations that provide programs and services in Prince Edward County.   

The above graph is based on how organizations self-identified their programs and services in their applications.

We are thrilled to celebrate the first recipients of The County Foundation’s new arts fund—an inspiring group whose creativity strengthens our community. We want to thank the municipality for supporting this vibrant sector that is an essential part of the County’s identity and culture, and we hope to encourage individuals in our community to join us in championing the arts in Prince Edward County by supporting the PEC Arts Fund.” - Gillian Armstrong, Interim Executive Director of The County Foundation

"The municipality is proud to partner with The County Foundation to support arts activities across Prince Edward County through the PEC Arts Fund. The municipality's contribution to this fund comes from our portion of the Municipal Accommodations Tax, demonstrating how tourism revenues can benefit our community. This investment strengthens the arts and cultural economy and makes Prince Edward County a more vibrant and creative place to live, work and play.” - Steve Ferguson, Mayor of Prince Edward County

2025 Adjudication Committee

Grants were adjudicated by a committee of local volunteers representing a wide variety of interests and expertise related to the arts sector and the local arts community. The committee awarded funding based on a combination of scoring, criteria, and discussion.  

Members of the 2025 PEC Arts Fund Adjudication Committee

Arwyn Carpenter -  Dancer/Choreographer   

Delane Cooper - Artist  

JC Sulzenko - Literary Arts   

Michele Maheux - Former Arts Executive/Film (Declared Conflict of Interest for The Regent Theatre) 

Sarah Crawford - Arts Patron  

Teri McNair - TCF Board Member, Arts Patron  

Thomas Harrison - TCF Board Member, Writer & Actor 


Note: Adjudicators cannot score, vote, or speak about an application when a conflict has been declared. 


We would like to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to the members of the 2025 adjudication committee. 

2025 Grant Recipients

Ten organizations were selected to receive a total of $60,000 of funding for 2025, with 6 organizations also receiving $43,672 in total funding for 2026.

Below is a breakdown of the recipients, the amount of funding they were awarded, as well as a summary of their plans for the funding. We thank everyone who applied to the inaugural year of this program, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their work over the next two years. 

Al Purdy A-frame Association - Awarded $2,000 in 2025 

For over a decade, the Al Purdy A-Frame Association has stewarded Ontario's only dedicated writing residency, providing focused, paid time and space for writers to work in the former home of one of Canada's seminal writers.


Funding will provide operational support to implement an artistic program expansion, which includes expanding the residency program from 27 to 34 weeks, and building relationships with partners and potential sponsors across PEC and Eastern Ontario. 

Alchemy Artist Residency - Awarded $2,000 in 2025 

An Artist-led initiative to engage and encourage artists to continue work in progress or undertake new work inspired by the people and land of this dynamic rural agricultural setting. 

Funding will support the expansion of community workshops. 

Click here to visit their website

Baxter Arts Centre - Awarded $4,964 in 2025 & $4,672 in 2026 

The Baxter Arts Centre exists to create a wide range of arts and education programming, maintain the Don Baxter Memorial Building and local history, and share their well-designed space to inspire and promote community events in the heart of Bloomfield, Ontario.


Funding will support an initiative to increase the organization’s visibility in the region, which includes increased newsletter and social media outreach, as well as plans to increase connections with low-income families.

Click here to visit their website

County Stage Company - Awarded $8,036 in 2025

County Stage Company is a dynamic, growing performing arts company located in Prince Edward County. Their work is rooted in the fabric of the community, inspiring creativity, gathering and pride of place. 


Funding will provide operational support to help County Stage deliver its ambitious and diverse 2025 season.

Music at Port Milford (MPM) - Awarded $4,000 in 2025 & $4,000 in 2026 

Music at Port Milford offers a residential chamber music academy for students ages 10-19, a choral day camp program for local elementary students, a world-class concert series, and free live music events in Prince Edward County. 


Funding will provide operational support to increase the sustainability of MPM’s programs and operations.

Click here to view their website

Prince Edward County Arts Council - Awarded $10,000 in 2025 & $10,000 in 2026 

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. 


Funding will provide operational support to allow County Arts to continue operating as the community’s only arts service organization. 

Click here to view their website

Prince Edward County Jazz Festival -  Awarded $4,000 in 2025 

The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival promotes appreciation and public understanding of jazz and advances musical education for students and young musicians by presenting high quality performances, training and mentoring experiences, awards, and clinics in PEC and surrounding areas. 

Funding will provide operational support to produce and execute a 6-day music festival delivering a program of 30+ performances throughout PEC.

Click here to view their website

Quintissimo - Awarded $5,000 in 2025 & $5,000 in 2026 

Quintissimo is an El-Sistema based free after school music program. Their mission is to empower children to reach their full potential by using music education to inspire positive social change. 


Funding will provide operational support, allowing Quintissimo to increase overall capacity over the next two school years by hiring two additional music instructors, establishing a ukulele program, and welcoming at least 20 new students. 

Click here to view their website

The Department of Illumination - Awarded $10,000 in 2025 & $10,000 in 2026 

The Department of Illumination aims to bring joy and creativity to our community by producing festivals, workshops, and other artistic events. They strive to be a cultural leader, demonstrating excellence and innovation in rural arts. 


Funding will provide operational support allowing the organization to continue providing its signature programs, as well as launching the new Art on Wheels program in 2026.

Regent Theatre  - Awarded $10,000 in 2025 & $10,000 in 2026

The Regent Theatre is a heritage designated Prince Edward County landmark that is one of the anchors of Main Street Picton. Built in 1918, the theatre brings year-round entertainment to the County. 


Funding will provide general operational support to help achieve The Regent’s goal to expand the number of visitors to the theatre by 25% in 2025, representing an increase of more than 5,500 additional guests. This grant will help to cover the corresponding increase in general operating costs and marketing costs. 

Click here to view their website

The 2025 PEC Arts Fund will benefit the organizations listed above as they work to make a difference across these sectors in our arts community. 

The following recipients shared a few words about the impact of receiving a PEC Arts Fund grant: 

Photo By: Vi Woo

"Quintissimo is truly grateful to receive the PEC Arts Fund. This two-year grant enables us to grow our free after-school music program and continue empowering children to reach their full potential. From the start, the municipality’s support has been vital—without it, Quintissimo wouldn’t exist." - Diana Lam, Executive Director of Quintissimo

Photo By: Logan Somers

“The Regent is thrilled to be a recipient of the PEC Arts Fund Grant. This generous fund will enable the Regent to uphold its mandate as a vibrant cultural hub, offering diverse programming—from live music events, to theatre, first-run films and, of course, CAFF. The Regent is a much beloved historic landmark that engages the community and supports local and visiting artists. We thank the [PEC] Arts Fund for their generous support!” - Isabel Gomez-Moriana, Chair of the Board & John Galway, Executive Director of The Regent Theatre

Thank you to the County of Prince Edward for their contribution of $50k in funding per year in 2025 and 2026 from the County of Prince Edward's share of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (TAX).  

Together we can provide sustainable support for the arts! 

Supporting the PEC Arts Fund

As part of their ongoing advocacy work, County Arts identified that $200k in base funding would be needed to meet the needs of local arts organizations, and so in order to help close the funding gap and to leverage the MAT funding from Council, the PEC Arts Fund also welcomes external donations through The County Foundation, enabling local businesses and individuals to support the arts in our community.   


In Prince Edward County, we all benefit from a dynamic and vibrant artistic and cultural community. The arts are an essential part of shaping a community's identity and creating moments of shared joy between friends and neighbours. They can help to drive economic growth across other sectors and industries, and they can embolden and inspire people to share their own stories in unique and meaningful ways.

Why donate to the PEC Arts Fund?

When you give to the PEC Arts Fund, you are contributing to a larger pooled fund. This means donations go further than they could on their own, continuing to grow over time, leading to more sustainable funding for the arts.

How to Give 

If you are passionate about supporting the arts in the County, consider giving in the following ways: 
    • Donate using a credit card through Canada Helps. Select "PEC Arts Fund" from the drop down menu. 
    • We can accept Interac e-Transfers sent to info@thecountyfoundation.ca. Indicate "PEC Arts Fund" in the notes section. 
    • Make cheques payable to The County Foundation, and use the memo line to specify the PEC Arts Fund.
      Cheques can be mailed to: 
    *Please note that donations made to the PEC Arts Fund are directed to Qualified Donees as defined by the Income Tax Act.