Quinte Arts Council
Stories of Downtown
Quinte Arts Council. Executive Director, Janet Jarrell
When visiting the businesses of Downtown Belleville you get to take in the beautiful facade of the store front, discover unique local and international products and dine on delicious food. You may catch a glimpse of the owner as they wize by, the life of a small business owner is hectic- they want to engage with the customer though they also must be the boss, the marketing expert, the cleaner, the server, the accountant and that could all be before noon! We wanted to give those business owners an opportunity to slow down for a moment and share their story. Because behind each storefront are people who had a dream and put in a whole lot of work to make it come to life. These are some of the stories of Downtown Belleville.
Since 1967, the Quinte Arts Council has been located at 36 Bridge St East in Downtown Belleville. While based in Belleville the Arts Council reaches a wide area, supporting creative people and organizations from Brighton to Kingston and all the way from Prince Edward County up to Bancroft. The QAC has positioned themselves as the community leader in advancing, cultivating, promoting and advocating for a vibrant and diverse arts community, while supporting the new generation of artists, offering quality experiences and arts education. As a registered charitable umbrella organization they represent all artistic disciplines, from theater to film, fine art to photography, symphonies to rock bands and more. The QAC ensures that artists and arts organizations are valued, supported and celebrated by the community.
In 2018, Janet Jarrell assumed the role of Executive Director at the Quinte Arts Council. Janet found her passion for business through her post-secondary studies in British Columbia and found that her skills would benefit the organization. “I have been a writer and editor for many years. Serving as the Executive Director of the Quinte Arts Council since 2018, I knew I could use my strategic planning, not-for-profit finance, and marketing knowledge to advance the QAC.” She reminisces about coming back home to Belleville farm land after being born and raised in the area then making a big move to British Columbia for 14 years.
“Working in Downtown Belleville, where the QAC head office is located, offers a unique blend of community spirit and historical charm. The area is characterized by its beautiful downtown core, where picturesque streets are lined with well-preserved historical buildings. These structures, some dating back to the 19th century, add a timeless elegance to the cityscape.” Janet delightfully expresses. The Quinte Art Council ensures that when people visit their space they are met with an inviting atmosphere and greeted by some form of thought provoking exhibit in their Cultural Hub.
The Quinte Art Council is not only a digital and physical space for creatives to meet and network, it is also a not for profit organization that provides art education bursaries and an online events calendar called What’s Happening Quinte where you can find anything and everything creative that is happening in your local area. The QAC also supports community events such as the annual Jazz festival and Quinte En Plein Air event. When you are walking in Downtown Belleville make sure to stop in and see what this beautiful staple of our community has to offer.
It was wonderful getting a chance to speak with Janet and learn more about one of the beautiful businesses of Downtown Belleville. Before we left we had to ask our favorite last tough question, what is her favorite cafe/restaurant downtown! “I can’t pick just one, I can tell you my perfect day would include breakfast at L’Auberge with a cappuccino and croissant, lunch at Dinkel’s in the beautiful courtyard, and supper at The Lark including a fine cocktail and locally sourced meal.” replied Janet. Keep following along for our next Stories of Downtown!
Click here to visit the Quinte Arts Council’s website!
For behind the scenes fun head to the Downtown Belleville Instagram and Facebook!
Stay tuned for more Stories of Downtown coming your way in 2024
Funded by Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board
