Growing the Arts in South Simcoe
History
Founding members, Betty Anderson and Tom Elmer
EXCERPTS FROM THE 2009 MIRTH, MAGIC AND MUSIC OPENING SPEECH
This speech was delivered by Diana Harding-Tucker, current SSAC board member and local artist.
Over the past 19 years the arts community in New Tecumseth has been steered by an Arts Council. In 1991, spearheaded by the Advisory Committee on Culture, The New Tecumseth And Area Arts Council was formed with fifteen group members and sixty-five individual members. Their first meeting was held in the Tottenham Legion with guest speaker Walter Pittman, past President of Ryerson College, an Executive Director of O.A.C., a Director at O.I.S.E and Chair of Energy Probe. Mr. Pittman stressed that the arts were the heart and soul of our country and marvelled at the wealth of artists in New Tecumseth. He noted that the general population saw art as what was put on at the Royal Alex, or The A.G.O. in large cities. He emphasized communities must support each other because people are our greatest resource...their minds, spirit, creativity and imagination sustain our lives and our culture.
Over the past nineteen years the Arts Council has grown and in 2006 our name was changed to the South Simcoe Arts Council to better reflect our membership. “Arts for All” became our tag line, educating the public about the arts became our focus, and in 2008 SSAC became a Registered Charity.
Today we have over 160 members and provide art experiences in not only New Tecumseth but also Adjala/Tosorontio, Innisfil, Bradford West/Gwillimbury and Essa Townships. We have received funding from The Trillium Foundation, the Town of New Tecumseth, Ontario Arts Council, Casino Rama, The Nottawasaga Foundation, Honda of Canada Mfg., Adjala/ Tosorontio Township as well as many generous local businesses and individuals.
Through our Festival of the Arts we provide Music and Visual Arts appreciation and adjudication. Our Choral and Dance Workshops have given artists opportunity to study under world famous teachers. Our Outreach programmes in retirement and nursing homes, Youth Centers and at CLASS have helped those unable to travel, the benefit of artistic education and enjoyment. Our summer Arts Camps provide the youth of our communities opportunity to experience a variety of artistic genres. Last year our programs were enjoyed by over 6,000 people.
Our founders were like minded people who recognized the importance of the Arts to the health and happiness of community. Art is formed through creativity. How dull our lives would be if we had no reason to be innovative, creative or think in the “realm of possibility”.
Written by Janet Clayson
This speech was delivered by Diana Harding-Tucker, current SSAC board member and local artist.
Over the past 19 years the arts community in New Tecumseth has been steered by an Arts Council. In 1991, spearheaded by the Advisory Committee on Culture, The New Tecumseth And Area Arts Council was formed with fifteen group members and sixty-five individual members. Their first meeting was held in the Tottenham Legion with guest speaker Walter Pittman, past President of Ryerson College, an Executive Director of O.A.C., a Director at O.I.S.E and Chair of Energy Probe. Mr. Pittman stressed that the arts were the heart and soul of our country and marvelled at the wealth of artists in New Tecumseth. He noted that the general population saw art as what was put on at the Royal Alex, or The A.G.O. in large cities. He emphasized communities must support each other because people are our greatest resource...their minds, spirit, creativity and imagination sustain our lives and our culture.
Over the past nineteen years the Arts Council has grown and in 2006 our name was changed to the South Simcoe Arts Council to better reflect our membership. “Arts for All” became our tag line, educating the public about the arts became our focus, and in 2008 SSAC became a Registered Charity.
Today we have over 160 members and provide art experiences in not only New Tecumseth but also Adjala/Tosorontio, Innisfil, Bradford West/Gwillimbury and Essa Townships. We have received funding from The Trillium Foundation, the Town of New Tecumseth, Ontario Arts Council, Casino Rama, The Nottawasaga Foundation, Honda of Canada Mfg., Adjala/ Tosorontio Township as well as many generous local businesses and individuals.
Through our Festival of the Arts we provide Music and Visual Arts appreciation and adjudication. Our Choral and Dance Workshops have given artists opportunity to study under world famous teachers. Our Outreach programmes in retirement and nursing homes, Youth Centers and at CLASS have helped those unable to travel, the benefit of artistic education and enjoyment. Our summer Arts Camps provide the youth of our communities opportunity to experience a variety of artistic genres. Last year our programs were enjoyed by over 6,000 people.
Our founders were like minded people who recognized the importance of the Arts to the health and happiness of community. Art is formed through creativity. How dull our lives would be if we had no reason to be innovative, creative or think in the “realm of possibility”.
Written by Janet Clayson
