Fundraisers

All genres and styles of artistic pursuits are to be found right on our doorstep. Indeed, all of South Simcoe is experiencing a surge in interest in the Arts! The SSAC holds several fundraising initiatives throughout the year. 

Mirth, Magic and Music
An evening to honour the members of the original Advisory Committee on Culture was held on September 25 at the Gibson Centre. The committee consisted of Allan Anderson (deceased), Betty Anderson, Barb Bailie, Kathy Davis, John Dodington, Tom Elmer, Alice Forestell, Janine Grady (Wheatley-Harris), Carol Henderson, Marjorie McLean, Joan Megraw, Marian Milne, Deanna Neville-Verardi, Jean Perrin and Harold Ritchie.

The Orange Peel Morris Dancers entertained everyone with their energetic performance, BMHS students volunteered and Artists at the Gibson and the Nottawasaga Handweavers and Spinners Guild demonstrated their talents in Alice’s Attic. Our event had a French carnival theme with crepes and galettes served at the reception. During the reception, magician James Alan, wandered through the crowd entertaining with parlour tricks and Madame M helped our guests “see” their future. Thank you to Mo Bayliss for her special insight.

To end the evening entertainment at Mirth, Magic and Music, the husband and wife team, Joanna Megraw and Alan Blenkinsopp presented a scene from the musical “I Do! I Do!” with lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. Accompanying Joanna and Alan was Lorne Derraugh, a fellow actor along with Joanna and Alan at the South Simcoe Theatre.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our fundraiser on September 25, 2009.



TAILGATE MARKET
The Tailgate Market at the Gibson Centre in Alliston closed for the season on September 19th. Thanks go to our vendors and volunteers, and to the community for its support. See you next season. 

Tailgate Market
The Tailgate Market was begun as a fundraiser for the SSAC and as a community service, to offer an opportunity for homegrown, home-made and home-baked goods to be sold locally and for our arts community to sell their work. Garage sale ‘treasures’ were also accepted. Resale of new goods was not accepted. Vendors paid $10-$20 weekly to rent space to sell their wares. Another source of income for the SSAC was the opportunity offered by John Kleinikkink - to sell his produce for 40% of the proceeds.

The Tailgate Market ran from May 23 to September 19, 2009, with only one closure for rain and a two week hiatus when the Market moved from the Canadian Tire parking lot to the Gibson Centre parking lot, in Alliston. The Gibson Centre partnered with the SSAC from July 18, opening early to accommodate the public and to offer coffee and muffins.

Thanks go to the community for their support and especially to a core group of vendors who want very much to have an annual market in Alliston and who set up weekly. These include Robert Ireland (the ‘honey man’), Julie Stevens (vegetables & fruit) Kathryn Van Dorp (flowers), Carl Martin (hand-made wooden items) & John Kleinikkink (vegetables)

A special thank you goes to the many volunteers who made this project possible: Nancy Williams, Pat McLeod(Gibson Café), Paul & Catherine Cadieux, Rebecca Muyal, Melissa Medaglia, Judy Breckles, Janet Clayson, Jan Atkinson, Lynda Mitchell-Reynolds, Megan Newcombe, Lawrence Stephenson and John Kleinikkink.

Draw for Limited Edition Print
In support of Art On Main local artist, Susan Menzies, donated Spring Mist (Loon), a limited edition print. Framing was donated by Papermoon/Lloyd’s Gallery, Alliston. All proceeds from ticket sales supported the SSAC Festival of the Arts - Art on Main initiative. The winning ticket, drawn at the Showcase of South Simcoe, had been purchased by Monica MacDougall.



Desserts on the Deck Fundraiser
In June 2009, a fundraiser called Desserts On The Deck was held at the Gibson Centre. This event was the brainchild of Carol Lawrie and was ably co-chaired by Pat McNeil. A $10 ticket permitted the participants to chose from an assortment of homemade pies, squares,cookies and other treats along with coffee, tea or lemonade which were donated by “friends” of the Arts Council. Many stayed to eat at the Centre, enjoying the companionshipship of friends and the musical entertainment provided by Michelle Guy and Bruce Stevenson. The “take out option” was chosen by some who wanted to share dessert with their families at home.