Pictured. The signing of an agreement to establish the new Portage & District Arts Council Bursary Fund.

A new partnership between the Portage & District Arts Council and the Community Foundation of Portage & District will ensure the legacies of 3 local artists are remembered for years to come. The resources of three bursaries have been pooled into one to establish a new local artist fund. The three bursaries in question paid tribute to Jack Hassard, Joyce Smedegaard  and Karen Handford.  Moving forward, one of the three bursaries will be awarded each year and presented at the P.D.A.C.'S annual general meeting.  


Pictured. Barney Christianson, CFPD Chair; Harvey Sawatzky, PDAC President & Doug Halmarson, PDAC Treasurer

Arts Council President Harvey Sawatzky says this partnership will ensure the artists in question will be remembered for years to come.  District Chair Barney Christianson received a cheque for $30,000 dollars on Friday to establish the new bursary program. He says he is proud to see the organization connected to this and helping to ensure the artists legacies go forward. All applicants must be residents of the Portage area and demonstrate an existing interest in the arts and a keen desire to develop their talents.