It was a packed house as artists, donors and volunteers joined in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Elora Centre for the Arts on Dec. 8.
“This has been ten years of growth for many people,” said Lena Nudds, volunteer coordinator. “I’m happy that tonight includes all the people that make this centre happen. If people knew how much energy has come into the building, it really is amazing. This is a very emotional event.”
The former Elora Public School building was converted into the Elora Centre for the Arts by dedicated volunteers and, over time, a handful of employees, who transformed 10,000 square feet of space into two art galleries, art studios, offices and performance space, as well as the Montessori School of Elora and the Fergus Elora Academy of Dance.
“It is such a remarkable contribution to the community,” said Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj, during her introduction to the audience.
Board chair Joanne Grodzinski agreed.
“I think the centre is vital to our community in two ways; the building is open to the community, offering a much needed resource,” she said, referring to programs, studio and rental space. “The Elora Centre for the Arts promotes the arts in the community, art appreciation and activities for everyone. Both are equally important.”
The evening included speeches and a warm congratulations by Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong, who was on hand to watch a short video of the history of the centre created by the centre’s first board chair, Marion Riddell.
A new donor wall, designed by Joanne and Ed Harder, was also unveiled in the front hall of the historic building.
“We figured we should recognize all the donors and volunteers for their dedication over the years,” said Grodzinski.
There was much to celebrate, including the hiring of new artistic director Tarin Iris Hughes. There was also the presentation of the inaugural Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators, awarded to Katherine Dennis, whose show As Perennial as the Grass will be exhibited in the Minarovich Gallery in the Fall 2013.
Unable to attend the event, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott prepared a speech he would have read in the Ontario Legislature had it not been prorogued.
“The [centre] exists to pursue artistic excellence and achievement, for its own sake, and to nurture and support other cultural endeavors,” Arnott said in his address. “What an amazing story they have to tell, and for all they’ve accomplished over the last ten years at the Elora Centre for the Arts, a celebration was well deserved.
“Everyone involved worked together to make the vision of an arts centre in Elora a living and vibrant reality. What some might have thought impossible has become a magnet for cultural expression of all kinds, with significant economic spin-offs. For all that, they deserve the acknowledgment and the thanks of a grateful province.”
Grodzinski has a positive outlook for the future of the centre.
“I’m very pleased to say that the board is finally talking about art and our vision of how we can promote it to the community,” said Grodzinski.
“We’re moving into a different stratosphere of art and the community,” she added, pointing to things like the current exhibit in the Minarovich Gallery, Painting – The Elora Connection, with an opening show in conjunction with the anniversary party. “This is a high calibre show.”
The exhibition, which is featured in the gallery until Jan. 20, includes the works of fine artists from Elora such as John Kissick, Stu Oxley, Neil Shawcross, Will Gorlitz, Ted Fullerton, Ron Shuebrook, Cheryl Ruddock and Martin Pearce.
“This is the end of the beginning, and the beginning of the next phase,” said Grodzinski.
The Elora Centre for the Arts is located at 75 Melville Street. The Minarovich Gallery and Harris Collective are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday noon to 4pm. Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.eloracentreforthearts.ca.
