Arts and Culture

Dysart et al is known for its vibrant and rich arts and culture community. Whether it's experiencing some of the Public Art & Galleries, enjoying a variety of Music, Theatre and Performing Arts, visiting Museums and Historical Points of Interest or taking a course at the Art School, Fleming College, Haliburton School of Art + Design, there is something for everyone.

Dysart et al boasts many Arts and Cultural Organizations.

Public Art

Public art in Dysart et al showcases art for residents and visitors to enjoy outside the traditional gallery settings — in parks, on the street and in the forest. Enjoy temporary and permanent sculptures  in the hamlets and villages of the municipality such as the annual Summer Downtown Sculpture Project, the Sculpture Forest in Glebe Park, artwork on the Campus of the Haliburton School of Art + Design, the Mural Wall of Sports Heroes on the side of the A.J. LaRue Arena, and the Pump It Up Art Project. 

Building a Strong Culturally Vibrant Community

Strong communities understand the past; embrace and enrich the present; and anticipate and plan for the future. With this in mind, the Municipality of Dysart et al began a cultural planning program with key community partners in June 2011. Following a dynamic public engagement process, Council adopted the Municipality’s first municipal cultural plan in 2012.

In 2025, the Cultural Plan was updated by the Cultural Resources Committee. The Cultural Plan Update for the Municipality of Dysart et al reassesses progress made since the original 2012 Cultural Plan and identifies priorities for the next five years. 

What is a Municipal Cultural Plan

The 2025 Dysart et al Cultural Plan update is an economic development plan which focuses on arts, culture and heritage. The cultural planning recommendations are focused on a 5 year timeframe and build on the strategic directions and goals set out in the 2012 plan. Using a mixed-methods approach the update captures broad community input and reflects significant shifts in the local cultural landscape. A total of 59 survey responses, input from Cultural Resources Committee and insights from younger residents (ages 25– 44) informed the development of recommendations that respond to evolving needs and opportunities.  

The Plan update is designed to coordinate and enhance the actions of the Municipality and community groups, and was adopted by Council in February 2026. It will be implemented through the Municipality and supported and advanced by the actions of community partners and stakeholders.

Key Planners

Dysart et al’s cultural planning program is designed as a community based approach.  Implementation of the Municipal Cultural Plan is overseen by the Cultural Resources Committee, which has wide community representation including members from the Municipality, the Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC), Fleming College Haliburton School of Art + Design, the Haliburton County Library, the Rails End Gallery and Arts Centre, the Haliburton Highlands Museum, the Arts Council – Haliburton Highlands, the business community, the recreation community, the youth community and the media.

Results Oriented Planning

A vibrant community is a community that residents are proud to live in. The cultural planning program leverages the cultural resources of this community and integrates the potential these resources offer into the strategic, land use, cultural, economic and operational planning systems of the Municipality. It is one more tool that we will use to build a vibrant community, where businesses want to locate and where people will choose to live, visit and invest.