Newmarket Celebrates the Arts ready to expand

YorkRegion.com
May 21, 2015
Chris Simon

Change is in the air at Newmarket Celebrates the Arts.

Organizers of the annual gala fundraiser want to expand it from a single event to a year-long, community-wide embracement of arts and culture, according to a presentation made by Ian Proudfoot, chairperson of Celebrate’s transition committee and publisher of The Era, during a Newmarket committee of the whole meeting earlier this month.

"It has been a wonderful event … but we've reached the point where it's time to move on to the original vision we had," he said, addressing councillors. "We discussed transitioning the brand from a one-night event, which it had been, to a year-long celebration. It's a key strategic priority of council."

Celebrates the Arts is entering its seventh year. It has raised $193,400 to date and granted out about $186,460 of that to 74 local artists and event organizers.

An expanded mandate includes the formation of a new volunteer-run board, supported by town staff, that will be tasked with advancing the "vision and mission" of the organization. Grants, marketing and fundraising and sponsorship committees will also be established.

"They've decided there might be a better way to do this," Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. "A lot of hard work has gone into this. It's taking Celebrates to the next level and I'm excited about what is possible."

Under the plan, some community events would be allowed to use the Celebrates banner on promotional material. It's a move that aims to draw greater attention to the local arts scene while increasing the credibility of participating events.

"It could be town or volunteer, third-party events," Proudfoot said. "If that event has been given permission by the board to use this logo… it would bring recognition, greater support and a much higher awareness of how much there is taking place with the arts in Newmarket. But it is a group that needs leadership and (council) activism to make it happen."

The plan was endorsed, in principle, by Newmarket council this month. Staff will now create an implementation plan for the expansion.