ELORA — The Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) is inviting the community to help lay the foundation for the future of the arts in Centre Wellington with its “Buy a Brick” campaign.
The campaign aims to raise the final $150,000 needed to complete the arts centre’s new 3,500-square-foot addition, which will feature a large multi-use space for programs, exhibitions, performances and gatherings, as well as a servery-style kitchen and other hospitality infrastructure.
Most importantly, the new addition will be fully accessible, including universal washrooms, allowing people with mobility challenges to participate fully in programs and events.
Currently, the arts centre has to turn away more than half of the requests to use its space due to accessibility limitations, officials report.
“This new addition is the key to creating a vibrant, inclusive space where everyone in our community can belong,” said ECFTA executive director Lianne Carter.
“With ‘Buy a Brick,’ people can literally put their name on the building and leave a lasting legacy as champions of the arts in this community.”
Supporters can “buy a brick” by making a one-time donation of $500 or by giving in monthly installments of less than $20/month from now through December 2027 (based on a monthly payment plan that starts before December 2025).
Each donor’s name will be proudly displayed on a plaque in the new addition, celebrating the individuals, families, businesses and organizations who helped make the expansion possible.
More than an art gallery, ECFTA is a true community hub, offering outreach programs, workshops, summer camps, performances, events and affordable studio space for local artists and community groups, officials say.
Last year, nearly 2,500 people benefitted from free or low-cost arts programs through the arts centre, including children and adults with disabilities, teens in recovery, low-income families and seniors in care.
Visit ecfta.ca or email devassist@ecfta.ca to buy a brick.
