Gift Suggestions from Guelph Arts Council




It’s that time of year again – the time when we all are racking our brains for interesting and unusual Christmas gifts to give family, friends and colleagues. Whether you need gift certificates for the walker, Fête tickets for the food lover, booklets for the resident historian, CDs for the music lover, or something for the collector, we thought we’d pass on a few Guelph Arts Council suggestions that might help you solve your gift dilemma.

For example, if you are looking for stocking stuffers, why not consider a Guelph Arts Council Fête Romantique ticket that offers a chance to win a gourmet dinner for six or one of 32 other prizes (see Calendar Front for more details). Or you can purchase one or more of Guelph Arts Council’s attractive Historical Walking Tour booklets which tell many interesting stories about this City’s history and architectural heritage. Another thought might be a gift certificate for one of the informative Historical Walking Tours which are offered on Sundays during the spring and the fall each year. Or you might consider a Guelph Arts Council membership which will provide benefits, including mailings of Arts in Guelph, for the next year.

You might also be interested in starting or adding to a collection of pewter ornaments depicting Guelph heritage buildings. Last year, Guelph Arts Council worked with the Downtown Board of Management in the inaugural year of the ornament program, providing the historical descriptions for each of the four ornaments and packaging and selling them at the then Eaton Centre (now The Guelph Centre). We’ll be participating again this year, so watch for us starting November 19 when the four 1999 ornaments will be released. These ornaments make great gifts for friends or family who no longer live in Guelph or for visitors who want an attractive and lasting memento of our fair city.

And then, there are artworks produced by Guelph’s many talented visual artists. You may have discovered some of these during the Studio Tour/Arts Festival weekend in October, but, if you’re still looking for leads, Guelph Arts Council has an Arts Directory of area artists in virtually every media. Or you can check out the local galleries, many of whom feature the work of local artists.

You can also consider CDs produced by local musicians. Many of these are available in local record shops, or, here again, Guelph Arts Council can help you get started in seeking out work representative of Guelph, “The City of Music.”

One other suggestion is A Natural Journal, a Millennium project of The Arboretum at the University of Guelph. A work of art in itself, this 150-page keepsake book contains informative nature notes, charming line drawings as well as writing and sketching pages that are watermarked with leaves. A wonderful gift for anyone, anytime.

To purchase Guelph Arts Council gifts, or to get ideas, call or visit the Guelph Arts Council office at 147 Wyndham Street North - Suite 404 (519) 836-3280. Happy shopping!

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