News from Medalta, Medicine Hat

Medalta assumes control of Plainsman Clays Ltd.

As part of Medalta’s long-term sustainability plan, it assumed control of Plainsman Clays Ltd from I-XL Ltd, effective May 1, 2015. This move into social enterprise will have a positive impact on Medalta’s ability to achieve its vision of creating a world-class cultural hub for the benefit of the entire community.

Plainsman Clays Ltd. was established by renowned ceramic artist Luke Lindoe in 1962 and has been owned by I-XL Ltd since 1985. It specializes in providing clay and pottery supplies across Western Canada. Headquartered in Medicine Hat, Alberta, it owns retail outlets in Edmonton, Surrey and Parksville, British Columbia. Plainsman also services dealers across Canada and parts of the United States.

“The plan is for Plainsman Clays to continue full operations as an independent business,” explains Dave Sherwood, Friends of Medalta Society Chair. “It is important that all of Plainsman Clays’ loyal employees, customers and suppliers experience no change in the daily operations. It has proven to be a successful business that is built on trust and solid relationships – two things that we take very seriously.”

Sherwood believes Plainsman Clays will add to Medalta’s reputation as an innovative industrial museum, small-scale pottery, and contemporary ceramic arts centre. “Plainsman will be an important part of the Medalta family and is a major piece of our long-term sustainability plan. The idea behind social enterprise is that business profits directly benefit the community. Profits from Plainsman Clays will help Medalta achieve its vision and we are proud to be moving in such an innovative direction. Medalta has emerged as a model of how a not-for-profit can sustain itself through innovative thinking,” explains Sherwood.

BMO Financial Group donation to create new lodging facilities for Artists in Residence Program

On April 9, 2015, BMO Financial Group announced a $350,000 donation to Medalta to create new artists lodging facilities on the Historic Medicine Hat Brick & Tile Plant site which was acquired from I-XL Industries in 2011.

“BMO is very pleased to support Medalta with this donation for a renovation to the historic Medicine Hat Brick & Tile Site. Once complete, these facilities will provide lodging for artists from around the world as they come together in a creative community to develop new ideas and share their talents with the public,” said Susan Brown, Senior Vice President, Alberta & NWT Division. “We’re also very proud of our more than 100 year old relationship with the I-XL Group of Companies and the Sissons family who have both played such an important role in enhancing the history and the industrial development of Alberta.

Located in the Historic Clay District, this renovation will contribute to Medalta’s vision of creating a world-class cultural district in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Artists come to Medalta from around the world to expand their own art practice, experiment and develop new ideas or bodies of work in flexible, professional studios. The addition of new lodging facilities will help grow Medalta’s artist programming and provide deeper immersion and connections for artists as they connect with one another over their shared passion for art.

The new renovation forms part of Medalta’s larger vision for the Brick & Tile Plant, which is scheduled to open for public tours for the first time on May 16, 2015.

Medalta is an innovative industrial museum, contemporary ceramic arts facility, art gallery and community hub in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Located within a century-old converted factory and Canadian National Historic Site, it has become a place where cutting-edge technologies meet historic preservation and archaeology come together.

Stringam Denecky LLP Law Office partners with Medalta

Entering its fifth year and having established itself as the premiere black tie event in Medicine Hat, Medalta’s Gala has a new sponsor. Stringam Denecky LLP, a local law firm in Medicine Hat, has agreed to a three year Gala sponsorship commitment, ending in 2017. Through sponsorship, auctions, donations and ticket sales, the annual Gala raises significant funds for Medalta’s popular children’s programming, including the week-long Community Classroom project, half-day field trips, Kids’ Clubs and other special youth programs.

In its first four years, Medalta’s Gala has raised over $200,000 for the organization’s expanding and popular children’s programming while gaining a reputation as the must-attend event in Medicine Hat’s annual calendar. Gala 2015 is set for Friday, October 30, 2015 at Medalta. For more information visit www.medalta.org/ stringamdeneckygala15 medalta.org