On October 23, 1929 a small group of women met at the Moose Jaw Public Library for the purpose of forming an art association. The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Laird. They decided to call the group the Moose Jaw Women’s Art Association. The first executive elected were Miss E. Vaughan, president; Miss Anna Hild, recording secretary; Miss Florence Johnstone, treasurer; Miss Ellis Johnstone, archivist.

The aims of the association were the encouragement of art, sculpture and handicrafts among women which could be enlarged to include music and drama; to hold exhibitions and provide scholarships; to acquire fine pieces of painting and sculpture; and to work towards the establishment of a fine arts museum.
After a short period the association became affiliated with the Women’s Art Association of Canada.

The Moose Jaw Women’s Art Association was divided into eight groups which met in the afternoons and evenings. Members could attend any or all of the groups depending on their interests. Varied handicraft work included crepe paper flowers, copper work, bead pictures, tin can creations, rugs, quilts, needlepoint, leatherwork, jewelry and hand painted china. Paintings were only one small part of the association. They held teas, bazaars, displays, meetings, sponsored exhibitions, hosted speakers and social events. Annually they held a banquet. In 1956 the Association entered a craft display in the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, and won a bronze medal. They acquired a collection of paintings that were hung in the Public Library for the enjoyment of all Moose Jaw citizens. Paintings also hung in their club rooms and some were donated to the Moose Jaw Art Museum.

Over the years, the Association had several meeting places, from a room in the YMCA, then the Binnings Store, to the Bank of Montreal chambers and then the Johnstone building. Presidents included Miss E. Vaughan, 1929; Mrs. W.A. Beynon, 1930, 1935; Mrs. F.G. Tolhurst, 1931-1932; Mrs. Hansberger, 1933-1934; Mrs. N.R. Craig, 1936-1937, 1947-1948; Mrs. A.W. Nairn, 1938; Mrs. R. Pugh, 1939; Mrs. J. Campbell, 1940; Miss E. Robinson, 1941-1942; Miss R. Way, 1943-1944; Mrs. Greta M. Vance, 1945-1946; Mrs. T.M. Sutherland, 1949; Mrs. Roy Wilson, 1950; Mrs. C. Pascoe, 1951; Mrs. J.J. McDonald, 1952-1953; Mrs. H.A. Brown, 1954-1955; Mrs. L.R. Carr, 1956; Mrs. W. McKay, 1957-1958; Mrs. E.E. McGuire, 1959-1960; Mrs. Alice B. West, 1961-1962; Mrs. Emily Lyon, 1963-1964; Miss Jean Wilkinson, 1965-1966; Mrs. Vida Brown, 1967-1968; Mrs. Laura Grieve, 1969. In 1929 the Association started with less than 20 members. In 1956 there were 150 members, in 1957 there were over 200 members, in 1968 there were 32 members.

At the April 1969 meeting it was discussed whether or not the Association should disband. It was carried in a motion that the club should carry on into the fall and see how they stood financially.

They disbanded shortly after this (in 1969). The remaining assets (4 paintings) were placed in the Moose Jaw Art Museum.