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The Art Gallery of Prince Albert, 2003 - present (formerly the Little Gallery, 1976 - 2003) began its' permanent collection in 1994. The Permanent Collection of the Art Gallery of Prince Albert houses many works of art created by local artists. Certain paintings, drawings, and sculptures tell a story of the history and influences of Emma Lake. They were created at different stages of the art community's development. The Emma Lake Art School is a landmark to which various parts of Prince Albert's art history lead back. Many artists have attended workshops in drawing, painting, and sculpture at the Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus. The influences of the Emma Lake Art School is exemplified in the works of art and also in the connections between artists, teachers, and friends.

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''From the Dining Hall at Emma Lake'' by Joe Oliver.
1970
Kenderdine Campus, Emma Lake, Saskatchewan

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Joe Oliver, a civil servant and local artist, was a catalyst in the transition of Prince Albert's "Old City Hall" into the Prince Albert Arts Centre. A "meeting" place where the populace could attend classes in painting, drawing, pottery and weaving among others. The Heritage building became the first home of the Little Gallery, now the Art Gallery of Prince Albert.

Joe attended Emma Lake Workshops twice in the 1970's. He worked in a variety of mediums including pen and ink, oils and scratch board.

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''Untitled'' by Joe Oliver 26 cm x 35 cm, Watercolour on Paper
1981
Area near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada

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Newspaper article in the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
26 May 1955
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

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In 1955, the "history of painting" was a story in the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

"Wherever there is a settled community, there are people who paint and sketch. Thus, it is more than probable that the city held its share of artists within it's boundaries during it's long and colourful history"

This article mentions artists Wynona Mulcaster and J. S Base from Prince Albert in the 1940s and 1950s whose work is currently in the Art Gallery of Prince Albert's Permanent Collection. Wynona Mulcaster is credited with organizing an art club of 8 members.

"The club organized 'Saturday night' sessions at which there would be held discussions on trends in art, techniques of painting and some performances of music. Present at many of these sessions was Ernie (Ernest) Lindner, whose cottage became a centre for many art students".

The article mentions Emma Lake as being the basis for the organization of arts in Prince Albert:

"No consideration of art in Prince Albert would be complete without a mention of the school conducted at Emma Lake by the late Gus Kenderdine, who brought the resort to great prominence during his many years of work and teaching there."

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Wynona Mulcaster.
5 August 2005
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

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Seventy years after that article was published, on August 5th 2005, Wynona Mulcaster was in attendance at the reception for "Passages" (curated by Brenda Barry Byrne), her first solo exhibition in her 'home-town' Prince Albert. A retrospective of her paintings were exhibited in the Art Gallery of Prince Albert and were viewed by her friends, colleagues, former students, and admirers.

At ninety years old, she is an accomplished Canadian painter. On a local level, she is recognized for her involvement in the Prince Albert arts community. She was one of the first students at Emma Lake Art School in 1935 and she has always maintained close ties with Prince Albert through teaching and painting.

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''Bit O' the North'' by J.S. Base
1935

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J.S. Base and Wynona Mulcaster were members of the "art group" that met in Prince Albert in the 1940's. He was a reporter for the Prince Albert Daily Herald during the Depression. He painted and sketched Emma Lake scenery and Prince Albert landscape.

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''A Northern Point'' by J. S. Base
1940
Emma Lake, Saskatchewan

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''From Sunset to Afterglow'' by J. S. Base 36.5 cm x 47cm. Oil on Board
1935
Emma Lake, Saskatchewan

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''Still Life with Wild Roses In Front of City Hall'' 100 cm x 80 cm. Oil on Canvas
2004
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

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George Glenn's teaching and painting has influenced many artists including Margreet van Walsem and Andree Martinson.

George came to Prince Albert in 1975 as Artist in Residence. He attended the Emma Lake Artists' Workshop and spent time painting at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan in 1977 (with Margreet van Walsem and Connie Freedy).

George led workshops in painting and drawing at Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus during the 1980s and many artists including artists from Prince Albert and area attended. George has also taught off-campus drawing and painting classes for the University of Saskatchewan (in Prince Albert) since 1981.

He has a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati (1974) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba (1970).