Grants Give Arts Boost

I’m a volunteer Board Member and Grants Committee Chair of York Region Arts Council.  I’m King Township and Arts Society King’s representative.

Since last Fall’s Chairman’s Gala, sponsored by York Region Chair Bill Fisch that raised $250,000 for the arts in York, I’d been working to design, launch, administer and adjudicate the awarding of Chair Fisch’s $125,000 donation (1/2 of the gala proceeds) to this much needed programme for the arts in York.

I’m happy and proud that last Monday, October 18th we publicly announced all award recipients in all three grant categories (see reprint of Theresa Latchford’s article covering the event below).

I’M ESPECIALLY PROUD that King’s Humber River Shakespeare Company received a $4,000 marketing grant to help it grow and prosper. Congratulations HRSC!

GRANTS GIVE ARTS BOOST

By Teresa Latchford | Oct 20, 2010

York Region Arts Council grants are helping raise the profile of arts and culture in York Region.
The Humber River Shakespeare Co. was one of 30 2010 council grant recipients during a celebration in the great hall at York Region headquarters this week.
Entering its fourth season, the professional touring theatre company is dedicated to creating high-calibre, classical theatre productions.
One of its main goals is to ensure the productions are accessible, entertaining and remain popular while touring to communities along the Humber River and beyond. But the most challenging aspect is letting the community know the company exists, artistic director Sara Moyle said.
Marketing can be costly and the grant will go a long way to help the group reach out into the community, she added.
“We are just overwhelmed with the support for the arts shown at the celebration and through the grants,” she said.
Although the company is based in King, it travels around the region, allowing those who wouldn’t normally be exposed to Shakespeare a chance to enjoy the experience close to home. In future, the company hopes to increase its presence and programming in the region.
A total of $125,000 in grants were awarded during the evening to successful candidates in three categories: individual artist marketing, individual artist education and non-profit organization marketing. Those benefiting from the grants came from all aspects of the arts and represent all nine municipalities.
“York Region is bursting with arts and culture,” arts council executive director Nancy Bodi said. “It is your contribution that has made the arts vibrant in York Region.”
Funds that made the grant program possible were raised at the Chairman’s Gala dinner, where arts supporters were treated to the talent the region has to offer, York Region chairperson and CEO Bill Fisch said.
People were captivated by the performances and stayed the entire night, he said, noting the recession was just hitting and he was concerned, but the event raised $125,000 that night.
Not only are the arts good for the heart and soul, they help support municipalities and the region economically, York Region Media Group publisher Ian Proudfoot said.
“Everywhere you go, it is evident the arts are vibrant in the region,” he added. “We believe in the arts and we believe in dreams.”

2010 RECIPIENTS

Individual Artist Marketing Grant:

• Anwar (Anwarji) Khurshid of Markham, director of Sitar School of Toronto, $2,500.
• Brendon Foster-Algoo of Markham, award-winning film maker, $2,500.
• Cristina Paoletta of Vaughan, up and coming pop and rock star, $2,500.
• Jaime Leigh Glanopoulous of Aurora, aspiring writer, director, producer and photographer, $4,000.
• Joanna Dabrowski of Richmond Hill, set designer, owner of Academy of Arts at Lake Wilcox in Oak Ridges, $5,000.
• Katie Toksoy, native of Aurora, producer of Pandora’s Box at the Aurora Cultural Centre, $5,000.
• Kyoko Yokoma of Richmond Hill, director and producer of cross-cultural documentaries, $5,000.
• Marie-Lynn Hammond of Stouffville, songwriter, $3,500.
• Mike Cado of Richmond Hill, guitar and jazz musician, $5,000.
• Sean Cisterna of Richmond Hill, writer, producer and director, $5,000.

Individual Artist Education Grant:

• Allen Matrosov of Richmond Hill, Bachelor of Fine Arts York University, $2,500.
• Christopher Dallo of Vaughan, vocal performance in classical music York University, $2,500.
• Deanna Pauletto of Vaughan, studying operatic repertoire at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Italy, $2,500.
• Justin Poon of Richmond Hill, Brubeck Institute 2010 Summer Jazz Colony, $2,500.
• Karen Cyrus of Richmond Hill, Phd student at York University and is an ethnomusicologist, $2,500.
• Kyle Merrithew of Newmarket, voice student University of Ottawa, $2,500.
• Leslie Bertin of Newmarket, master candidate in the interdisciplinary studies program at York University, $2,500.
• May Chow of Richmond Hill, University of Western studying media, information and technoculture and music, $2,500.
• Megan Kingsbury of Newmarket, pursuing a degree in music at the University of Windsor, $2,500.
• P.J. Muirhead of Aurora, classical theatre MA program Kingston University, $2,500.

Nonprofit Organization Marketing Grant:

• Aurora Historical Society, $5,000.
• Georgina Centre & Art Gallery, $8,000.
• Humber River Shakespeare Co., $4,000.
• Latcham Gallery in Stouffville, $9,000.
• Markham Arts Council, $6,000.
• Opera York of Vaughan, $6,500.
• Resurgence Theatre Co. of Newmarket, $3,500.
• Sharon Temple, $9,000.
• The Curtain Club, $4,500.
• Unionville Theatre Co., $4,500.