“Canadian-Made” Exhibition in the Collector’s Gallery
June 25, 2025
Thinking with Models Workshop with Zimra Beiner
June 30, 2025
Summer’s heating up @ Medalta – and so are the opportunities to learn, play, and explore!
We’ve got a full season of classes, workshops, and hands-on adventures for all ages and skill levels.
Starting July 1st, we’re open every day from 10am to 5pm with our brand-new summer hours.
Add to that a growing team of energetic Coordinators, awesome summer students, and a brand-new Executive Director.
There’s never been a better time to stop by!
GENERAL UPDATES
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Join us for our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, June 26th at 6:30pm. We will welcome our new Executive Director, Jessica Whitford, and introduce new staff members, and review 2024 together.
New Executive Director
We’re excited to announce Jessica Whitford as Medalta’s new Executive Director, beginning July 21, 2025. Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Jessica returns with over 15 years of leadership experience in the arts, culture, and heritage sector, including time spent working in Toronto and internationally. With a BFA, an MBA, and a diploma in Non-profit Management & Leadership, she brings both expertise and a deep passion for community-based cultural work.
Board Chair Melinda Arthur shares, “Jessica brings a wealth of experience, vision, and enthusiasm to the role. As Medalta continues to grow as a world-class cultural district with a heart of clay, we are confident in its bright future with her leadership.”
From Jessica: “I’m honoured to join Medalta and look forward to working with the community to celebrate and build on its incredible legacy.”
Welcome New Employees
We are thrilled to welcome two new permanent team members to Medalta: April Mandziak, our returning Marketing & Communications Coordinator, as well as Tomo Ingalls as our Residency Coordinator. Tomo also previously spent time with us as during her year-long MIAIR residency throughout 2022/23.
Additionally, we are so pleased to welcome all the new summer students this year!
COLLECTIONS
Rylin Humphries
EDUCATION
Anna Taylor, Berlyn Rowinski, and Rebecca Wilson
MAINTENANCE
Daniel Haddon
MIAIR (Medalta International Artists in Residence)
Kalina Straube
MUSEUM
Brianne Steinkey, Sarah Lewall, and Sophia Laigne
PRODUCTION
Grace Warren
Thank you to Young Canada Works and Canada Summer Jobs for making these positions possible.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Date: Thursday, June 26
Time: 6:30pm
Location: 713 Medalta Avenue SE
Contemporary Ceramic Sale
Date: Sunday, June 29
Time: 12 – 4pm
Location: Shaw Centre @ Medalta
Canada Day/Free Admission
Date: Tuesday, July 1
Time: 10am – 5pm
Join us for free museum admission & guided tours all day on July 1, 2025! You can also enjoy:
- NEW summer hours from 10am to 5pm (and open 7 days a week!)
- FREE guided tours at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm (tours are first come, first served.)
- NEW “Made in Canada” exhibition on display. Curated by one of our summer students, Rylin Humphries
- Gift shop open all day with special-edition wares made just for Canada Day!
“Canadian-Made” Exhibition in the Collector’s Gallery
Curated by Rylin Humphries
Dates: June 27 – August 4
Admission: Included with Museum entry
National pride, told in clay. Discover the ceramics that helped define Canadian identity. Open 10am – 5pm, 7 days a week until August 4th.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Save the Date: Adult Fall Pottery Registration Opens July 15th!
Archaeology Field School @ Medalta
Ages 16 – 21 years old
July 21 , July 28, and August 4
Join Field School @ Medalta for a hands-on archaeological experience led by Dr. Talva Jacobson.
This summer, ages 16 – 21 are invited to excavate, map, and interpret artifacts from an official, permitted dig site in the heart of Medicine Hat’s Historic Clay District.
Choose one, two, or all three availab;e weeks between July 21 – August 8.
Learn real skills. Unearth real history. Get seriously dirty (on purpose).
Registration is now open here!
“Thinking with Models” with Zimra Beiner
August 6 – 10, 2025
Open to all skill levels
There is just one summer workshop left and it’s open to all skill levels! “Thinking with Models” with Zimra Beiner is happening August 6 – 10, 2025, and it’s all about building bigger, bolder ceramic work.
You’ll learn hands-on techniques like coil building and using templates to bring your ideas to life. It’s creative, practical, and a lot of fun. Registration (and on-site lodging) is still open, but not for long!
Discover more details & register right here.
Hands on Heritage: Adult Clay & Play (18+)
July 4 or August 8
9am – 4pm
$95 + GST
Looking for a one-day getaway that’s creative, hands-on, and actually fun?
Hands-on Heritage: Clay and Play for Adults (18+) is your chance to reconnect with your inner child while diving into the rich (and muddy) history of the Historic Clay District.
Choose from July 4th or August 8th, and spend the day exploring our museum, taking in the sights on a guided nature walk, and rolling up your sleeves for some clay-based creativity.
Treat yourself to an adults-only day that’s anything but ordinary here!
Art & Explortion for Teens (13-18 yrs)
July 3 or August 7
9am – 4pm
$85 + GST
Get your hands dirty in the best way possible! Spend the day at Medalta diving into clay, playing games, exploring behind-the-scenes spaces, and making cool stuff that’s actually useful.
You’ll learn hand-building techniques to create pottery and sculpture, plus pick up some creative skills you’ll want to keep in your back pocket. It’s art, adventure, and a little bit of industrial grit – all in one unforgettable day!
Get all the details here.
Claymates
Claymates is Medalta’s new monthly giving program. By being a Claymate, your monthly donation gives Medalta reliable and stable support all year around. Monthly gift amounts are specified by donors and are automatic, which in turn lowers admin costs increasing the impact of your gift. Donations made by Claymate members are used to maintain our historic collections and buildings, increase creativity in the community through our artists-in-residence program, deliver our education programming to youth, and support other aspects of our operations such as utility bills. Claymates help ensure Medalta receives the support we need when we need it.
Medalta requires regular ongoing financial support from individuals. Being a charity without regular and/or guaranteed government funding means Medalta relies on private donations to maintain its role in the community. By working together and making consistent donations, Medalta’s mission of preserving the unique heritage of the clay industry in Medicine Hat will continue to grow. In addition, being a Claymate gives donors the knowledge they are part of a larger community of regular donors collectively contributing to the longevity of Medalta.
We encourage you to become a Claymate and commit to a monthly donation to Medalta. By doing so, you will accompany Medalta’s artists, board, staff, and community in a unique way. The steps to become a Claymate can be found here – medalta.org/donate/
Medalta is committed to the highest standard of donor stewardship by committing to uphold the Donor Bill of Rights. This promises transparency and appropriate use of donations. The Donor Bill of Rights is available on Medalta’s donation webpage – medalta.org/donate/
