NEWS RELEASE
IACT
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Today, artists, creators, and makers have a new body that will seek to support, promote, and represent their interests in Timmins. The Independent Arts Council for Timmins (IACT) has announced their inaugural Board members to lead the soon-to-be incorporated non-profit model on behalf of the regional arts community.
Initially formulated under the Culture Master Plan and the Timmins Vision 2020 Strategic Plan, the need to establish an Arts Council, was identified as a key concern. A steering committee was formed in 2018, comprised of Nicola Alexander and Cameron Grant, members of the arts sphere, to assist in the research, development, and subsequent creation of the framework needed to secure IACT's success. Through a partnership with the NORDIK Institute and Arts Build Ontario, the steering committee emboldened the Council's direction and began with board member recruitment.
Per the organizational terms of reference, seven organizations were invited to join the Council, at present the following five have committed and will be constituted as follows:
- Porcupine Art Club;
- Porcupine Handweavers and Spinners Guild;
- Take Two Theatre;
- Timmins Concert Singers; and
- Timmins Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
The terms of reference indicate that additional organizations that fulfill the criteria outlined and are welcomed to apply to the Council. Additionally, Nicola Alexander and Cameron Grant, members of the Steering Committee, will remain in advisory positions to ensure a smooth transition of authority to the Council.
"We're extremely pleased to finally see the formulation of this long-awaited Council come to life," said Nicola Alexander. "It took three years of critical research, outreach, and engagement to ensure the framework needed to support this committee was accurately informed. We now believe that this group will be able to lead our arts community through recovery by strengthening the Timmins' arts landscape with a focus on the benefit of the community.”
To address these shared concerns; the roles and responsibilities of the Arts Council will seek to include the following; advocate in the interests of building a stronger arts community, establish and maintain a coordinated events calendar, establish a collaborative promotional platform and volunteer database, facilitate networking, funding and partnership opportunities, promote professional development through workshops and skill-building opportunities, and support better access to performance and creative spaces.
"In our research, we have found that communities that house an arts council have seen great success in coordinating grants and funding for local artists as well as advocating for appropriate and affordable makers and events spaces," added Cameron Grant. "Timmins deserves support for the artists that comprise the fabric of our community, and through this council, we hope to see that dream realized."
To date, the steering committee has launched two reports, informed in close consultation with members of the Timmins Arts community and, in the coming months, IACT will work to incorporate as an official non-profit council to better serve our regional artists and makers.
Should anyone like to be added to the IACT mailing list, they should send an email [email protected] and indicate how they identify as a stakeholder, for example, if they are a creator, consumer or facilitator.
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