Ontario Trillium Foundation grants a big boost for Scugog Council for the Arts

DAN CEARNS The Standard

SCUGOG: The Scugog Council for the Arts celebrated an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant they received, and provided an update to dignitaries on what they achieved with it, at a recognition event, on Thursday, June 29th.

In 2022, the local arts organization received $137,700 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund, to help the organization recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the things this grant funded was helping the organization hire four short-term workers.

“The people in these roles supported programs to rebuild engagement with volunteers and arts practitioners,” a press release explained.

In addition, the local arts councilused the funds “to: develop a comprehensive fundraising sales plan,” launch a new point of sale platform, organize a multi-arts symposium, purchase camera equipment and help with the production of digital training manuals and videos. The press release stated this work was done over a 12-month period.

“I really consider [the Ontario Trillium Foundation] the citizen’s treasury. A current government like ours and the Ontario Trillium’s fund which made this possible, are really temporary stewards of the public purse, the citizen’s treasury. So it belongs to the people and should be, through local advocacy, brought to those causes which make a difference in our communities. That’s why this funding was granted,” Durham MPP, Todd McCarthy said.

He also complimented the local arts council. “Scugog [Council for the Arts] has made a great contribution to the arts.”

Scugog Regional Councillor, Ian McDougall explained how he feels this money will help the arts council grow in the long term.

“This is seed money, and we all know seed money multiplies. So, you give a little bit of money, and the amount it can grow, in terms of how much art and artists it will help grow in the future, is unbelievable,” he stated.

Scugog Council for the Arts Board President, Marion Meyers said this funding is “going to continue to have a huge influence” on the organization and the local arts community.