The Arts Council of Ladysmith and District regrets to announce that its “Bid for the Build” fundraiser has been postponed from May 22 to Friday, June 12. The event supports the new gallery at the Arts and Heritage Hub, known as “The Machine Shop,” and the postponement is due to unforeseen delays in occupancy permit approval.

Join us for a lively art auction to raise funds for the Arts Council of Ladysmith's portion of the new Arts & Heritage Hub. Bid on 50+ juried artworks, take part in a live auction of 5 additional works of art by well-known Canadian artists while enjoying live music and refreshments provided by the Ladysmith Kinsmen. Prominent speakers will talk throughout the event, Emceed by Andrea Rosato-Taylor. Tickets are $45.

Guest Speakers

Lynn Johnston: Lynn Johnston is the Canadian creator of the comic strip, For Better or For Worse®. This family-based series has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. At its peak, For Better or For Worse® appeared in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and was translated into eight languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario and grew up in British Columbia. Johnston was the first woman to receive a Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonist Society in 1986.

What you are supporting:

Envisioned as a vibrant and evolving centre for creativity, the Arts & Heritage Hub stands at the intersection of innovation and community. Our mission is to foster an environment where barriers between genres, backgrounds, and traditions fall away—making space for bold artistic exploration and authentic expression.

A cornerstone is the large gallery: a multipurpose, multidisciplinary venue designed not just for display, but for the making of art in all its forms. Here, visual, performing, musical, digital, and photographic arts and printmaking will intersect with sculpture, fabric arts, and First Nations traditions.

Our vision is to invite artists from all walks of life—emerging talents and seasoned practitioners alike—to push creative boundaries, challenge conventional ideas, and contribute perspectives that are as diverse as our community itself. This space will host a lively calendar of workshops, professional development sessions, large- scale installations, and extended exhibitions. Be a part of the legacy of arts, culture and heritage in Ladysmith.