Perhaps it was coincidence, perhaps it was fate, but three Port Perry artists independently had the same idea back in 2005: a year-round gallery that focuses on Ontario art and artists. “It was quite serendipitous, actually,” one of the founders, Birgitta MacLeod, says. “We’re all artists and all had the same idea. There’s a very popular art tour that happens every year in Port Perry, but no place that’s open year-round that features local artists.” To remedy this Birgitta and her fellow founders Bonnie Thomson and Jennifer Hardie opened Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery.
One particular point of pride for Birgitta and her partners is Meta4’s focus on Ontario artists. “I don’t think any gallery has such a focus on this province’s many talented artists,” Birgitta says, “many galleries emphasize or deal exclusively with Canadian art, but we’re all about what Ontario has to offer.” Nowadays, Meta4 showcases over 130 artists all from Ontario.
