Portage College students and faculty are getting a chance to showcase their artwork in four exciting exhibitions this year. Between now and the end of November, visitors to galleries across the province will be able to feast their eyes on works created by students and faculty from the College's Native Arts and Culture (NAC) department.

1. Rutherford Library Galleria exhibition As If Matter Matters - University of Alberta (U of A)

This is the third year students from the Native Arts and Culture program have been invited to participate with the U of A. This exhibition, which challenged artists to push themselves and to think about issues that really mattered to them, includes U of A students and alumni as well as Portage students from both the Aboriginal Art Certificate and Artisan Entrepreneurship Diploma programs. The Rutherford Library Galleria exhibition is open to the public and runs until May 11, 2019.

2. Portage student exhibition Our Travel Forward - Native Arts and Culture program studio

One of the tasks that Artisan Entrepreneurship Diploma students are required to undertake in their Care and Collections course is curate an exhibit. Last year students presented a hide-tanning exhibit outside the Voyageur Grill at Portage's Lac La Biche campus. This year the students, with the assistance and guidance of their instructor Pierre Oberg, have completed the installation of Our Travel Forward, featuring works highlighting the importance of traditional storytelling through the student's original art and writing. The program area would like to invite you to the newly renovated student gallery area in the main NAC program studio. The art show is set up in the newly-renovated student gallery in the main NAC program studio and runs until Convocation on June 7, 2019. Students and faculty strongly encourage you to stop by and view the exhibition.

3. Student art accepted for exhibition Coming Up Next - Alberta Craft Council

A first-year Aboriginal Art student is getting a chance to showcase her work in a prestigious, cross-Canada show. Naomi Desrochers-Caron, an Aboriginal Art student, submitted her works to the judicated Alberta Craft Council show Coming Up Next, a national exhibition of emerging Fine Art. The NAC program is pleased to announce that Naomi's Strike-A-Light Bag was accepted for the exhibition. The show runs from June 15 to August 3, 2019 at the Alberta Craft Council Discovery Gallery in Edmonton and then continues at the Alberta Craft Gallery in Calgary from August 31 to November 2, 2019.

4. Leading Faculty in craft exhibition Cultivate / Instigate - Alberta Craft Council

Ruby Sweetman, an instructor as well as the coordinator of the NAC programs, will have several of her works highlighted in the Alberta Craft Feature Exhibition titled Cultivate | Instigate. This exhibit showcases the works of leading faculty in craft education in Alberta and highlights instructors from Alberta University of the Arts (formerly Alberta College of Art and Design), Red Deer College and Portage College. The show will run in conjunction with the Coming Up Next exhibition from June 15 - August 3, 2019 at the Alberta Craft Council in Edmonton.

"As artists it is important that students have the opportunity to participate in shows and understand what is involved in exhibiting works," says Donna Feledichuk, Dean of Faculty of Education and Cultural Arts and Department of Paramedicine. "These exhibitions represent wonderful learning opportunities for our students while giving them a chance to showcase their artistic talents at the same time.  I would like to thank the NAC staff for all their hard work on these exhibitions and dedication to assisting our students in being successful."

To find out more about Portage College's Native Arts and Culture program, please contact us at 1-866-623-5551 or complete our online Information Request Form HERE.

Media Inquiries: 
Jaime Davies, Corporate Communications Manager 
780-623-5581 or email