The Beauhead Arts Festival is returning to Beausejour for its 6th year this August, and organizers have revealed the lineup of featured Manitoba artists who will showcase their work. Oil painter Erin Bell, glass sculptor Brook Drabot, and pencil and acrylic artist Terry Mellway have been chosen as the headliners for the 2026 festival, which runs August 21 and 22 at the Pioneer Village Museum.
The two-day event will offer residents a chance to see a wide range of artistic styles under one roof, from Bell’s peaceful landscape paintings to Drabot’s intricate blown glass pieces and Mellway’s realistic works in coloured pencil and acrylic. The festival opens Friday at 2:00 PM and runs until 8:00 PM, then continues Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Brook Drabot brings a wealth of experience to this year’s festival, having worked with glass for 25 years. She studied at Sheridan College in Ontario and later apprenticed with scientific glass worker Ryan Lacovetsky, honing the techniques she uses to create her sculptural works. Terry Mellway is an accomplished realist painter based in Sandy Hook, where she operates Pencil & Brush Studio. Her work spans multiple mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolour, and coloured pencil.
The festival is organized by a not-for-profit volunteer board that works year-round to plan the event. This year’s committee includes Michele Campbell, Autumn Robbie-Draward, Mallory Black, Duane Versluis, Deb Versluis, Kylee Linteau, Rosa Moulton, Owen Bird, and Brittany Wurch. The venue, the Pioneer Village Museum, is operated by the Broken-Beau Historical Society and recreates a rural Manitoba community from the early 1900s with historic buildings like a log house, one-room schoolhouse, and a railway station.
In addition to the featured artists, applications are still open for emerging artists who want to participate in the festival alongside the headliners. Those interested can find the application form on the Beauhead Arts Festival website. The festival offers a unique opportunity for up-and-coming creators to gain exposure and connect with the community in a historic setting.
