History of the Ottawa Art Association

In 1918 the Women's Art Association, later known as the Art Association of Ottawa, was founded. Monthly meetings were held at "Earnscliffe", the home of Lady Flood. She was the wife of the British High Commissioner.

At the meetings, members painted under the instruction of some well known local artists. Between 1936-39, Fred Varley of the "Group of Seven" was in charge of classes. The Association was disbanded in 1944 because of the War, but in 1951 the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Association was held at the home of Senator Cairine Wilson. The first Board of Directors were elected, with Kenneth W. Drysdale as President and Robert Hyndman as Vice-President.

The aims of the Association were "fostering of Art in the Ottawa Valley and to promote the interests of the artists". The Slogan "An Original Painting in Every Home" was adopted.

The first meeting was held at Ottawa Teachers College in April 1951. A.Y. Jackson of the famous "Group of Seven" was the guest speaker. Some of the other distinguished artists who spoke at future meetings were: Goodridge Roberts, Kenneth W. Drysdale, Dr. Andre Bieler, Henry Masson and William Winter.

The first exhibition held by the Association's members was in June 1951, at Ottawa Teachers College. At another in December 1952, Begum Mohammed Ali donated a silver rose bowl to be awarded at annual awards shows.

Another award was the Blyth MacDonald trophy, presented to the Association by Mrs. MacDonald in memory of her husband. In 1953 the association changed its name to the Ottawa Art Association.

In celebration of its 85th anniversary in 2004, the OAA funded a scholarship at the Ottawa School of Art awarded to the most deserving full time student. This has been continued on an annual basis.

The Association continues to display members' works at the Ottawa Little Theatre, changing each show on a monthly basis for 9 months of the year. Members receive 9 newsletters a year announcing events of the OAA and its members and discussing other events and items of interest to its members.

There are two Award shows each year. At the Fall Awards Show reception, members vote for their favourites in each of six categories: Watercolour, Pastel, Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media and Other Media. An independent paid jury judges the winners in these same categories at the Spring Awards Show.