The Elora Centre for the Arts has made its name as the “lively arts venue contributing much to the cultural context and social fabric of the community and a high point of community pride,” said Joanne Grodzinski, chair of ECFT, in a recent letter.
Unfortunately, due to lack of government support and competing arts organizations, the centre cannot financially manage the property and run the art centre.
Throughout the 12 years it has been in business, the centre has operated two galleries and a wide range of programs and classes in the arts, and accommodated a range of individual artists as well as other organizations operating to benefit the community in this space.
The centre came up with four options to keep the centre alive.
They decided to “restructure the role of the Elora Centre for the Arts in a manner that will enable them to develop the facility and property on its existing location in a creative, innovative and prosperous manner, and which will be even more beneficial to the community,” Grodzinski wrote.
The board felt the option they chose will be most beneficial to the community as they will be able to keep the centre, and will present the fewest downsides to the community.
“Over the coming year, and with the support and participation of the community, we intend to refine and realize this vision, and to make Centre Wellington an even richer, more exciting and more prosperous place to live,” stated Grodzinski, .
“We will focus on investment in and development of our community’s creative capacities in a manner which will realize considerable social and cultural returns, and which will, in turn, yield benefits to the property tax base of the community.”
Grodzinski informed the Advertiser that hopefully by early June they will have a documented vision of where they want to be.
“We hope the community will continue to support us as they have in the past, until the new vision becomes a reality,” Grodzinski said.
“Our mission is to support the Arts.”
