Arts and Heritage Centre awarded $73,900 Trillium grant
By John Campbell, Trent Hils Independent
Jan 21, 2016 - Warkworth — The Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth has been awarded a grant of $73,900 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“We are elated, it’s fantastic,” said Delphine White, vice-chair of Ah!
The foundation said the money is intended “to strengthen [the centre’s] organizational capacity to create an engaged community arts centre” by giving Trent Hills residents “access to arts-based learning opportunities and compelling artistic, cultural and heritage experiences.”
White said the money will be used to hire a full-time administrator and to set up an office with the purchase of equipment.
“This grant will allow us to see our mandate through.”
Ah! was founded by a group of local artists, designers, educators and business people to deliver programming that reflects “the diversity of artistic practice today, with a nod to the past, an interpretation of the present, and speculation of the future.”
The volunteer group says its goal “is to integrate with all aspects of the local culture and economy of Trent Hills and Northumberland County, through various outreach initiatives such as education, exhibitions, lectures, publication, and performance.”
Ah! relied on money from the Warkworth Community Service Club, membership dues, shows and a fundraiser to operate last year.
“A lot of us contributed to the gallery and the shows on our own as well,” White added.
Membership currently stands at 73.
2015, the organization’s first year, “was really successful,” with 250 people attending the gala opening in May and another 560 visiting the gallery over the course of three shows held between mid-July and the start of November. The majority were from Northumberland County and the Greater Toronto Area.