A generous gift from Art Borups Corners in Northwestern Ontario will inspire new Manitoba arts and crafts projects this fall.

Natural materials have a special way of inspiring creativity, and this fall our arts and crafts projects here in Winnipeg will have something truly special to work with.

During a visit to Northwestern Ontario for community events last week, we were gifted a huge bucket full of beautiful birch bark to bring home to Manitoba. Since we’re in downtown Winnipeg, opportunities to gather natural materials like this are few and far between, making this gift especially meaningful.

Every piece of birch bark tells a story. We can't wait to see what our artists create with this wonderful gift this fall.
Every piece of birch bark tells a story. We can’t wait to see what our artists create with this wonderful gift this fall.

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone at Art Borups Corners for thinking of us and sharing such a generous gift. Every piece of birch bark will find its way into upcoming fall arts and crafts projects, giving artists the chance to explore a traditional natural material while creating something uniquely their own.

We also brought back a five gallon bucket filled with clay blocks they’ve been processing at the land lab for the last few weeks. That’s about 25 pounds of beautiful wild clay and so far, it looks amazing to work with!

There is already plenty of excitement about the possibilities. From decorative pieces to seasonal crafts, this birch bark will become part of many creative moments in the months ahead. We are grateful for the kindness behind this thoughtful gift and can’t wait to share what everyone creates this fall.