YAC - Your Art Council

Your Arts Council, Cornwall & the Counties is a not-for-profit community group dedicated to the proliferation of performance and visual arts in our community. Our overarching guiding principle is that Artists are successful. This means that we try to provide artists and the community with the tools and resources necessary for the achievement of that goal. It is our belief that our whole community will benefit from an enriched quality of life when there is a profusion of sustainable Art happening in it. Anyone can become a member of YAC, and membership is FREE – so come be part of the Art!

The Local Seeker
September 28, 2012

The SDG Community Futures Development Corporation (SDG CFDC hosted the 2012 Arts & Culture Summit at Aultsville in Cornwall, Ontario on Saturday, September 22 where the arts a culture sector voted on an interim board of directors to help region's arts sector to collaborate and grow .

Congratulations to all of the members . Charlotte King, a painter from Akwesasne; Amanda Marini Rohde, a teacher, dancer and host of a cable show on the arts; Ann Brady from North Dundas who is a screenwriter; Sandra Van der Veer, a Cornwall belly dancer and policy writer; Richard Salem lives in Long Sault and is a graphic designer; Betty Healy, an author and strategic coach with experience; Chuck Leclair an event promoter from Cornwall; Dan Archambault, an internationally renown promoter and consultant; Carolyn Davis Waldron, a published author from Cornwall; Jason Setnyk, a teacher; , Marie Morrell founder of the Parade of Nations and a local museum; Noella Cotnam, an artist and owner Sign It , Signs and Design in Williamstown; and Stephen Davies, from South Dundas who has worked in finance for 30 years.

The 2012 Arts & Culture Summit, which attracted close to 100 participants, was organized by Bruce Davis, Cultural Co-ordinator Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Community Futures Development Corporation. The Summit was in participation with the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SDG).The City of Cornwall, The Eastern Ontario Training Board, The Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport and the Government of Canada (FedDev Ontario) and its purpose was to explore best practices in establishing and maintaining an arts council for the region.

The guest speakers included, Esther Bryan, an established artist and Quilt of Belonging founder from South Glengarry; Karen Ennis, Program Manager from WorklnCulture; Loree Lawrence, Community and Multidisciplinary Arts Officer for the Ontario Arts Council; Carol Feeney, Director of Quinte Arts Council; and Clayton Windatt Co-Founder of Nippissing Arts Council. The guest speakers each spoke about the importance of the role of an arts council of their community and how that role is unique and individual to the community it serves. They also spoke about the importance of collaboration

The SDG CFDC based on its research and development on of how arts councils have been formed in other regions in Ontario decided that was important to create a grass roots movement and have the arts and culture sector on and interim Board of Directors. "This grass roots movement is community economic development 101," said SDG CFDC's Executive Director Francois Désormeaux . "We saw the art and culture sector in our region in need and we provided them with the tools required to grow and expand their sector. The Arts Council is that tool." The SDG graciously paid for the not for profit articles of incorporation for the Cornwall & the Arts and Culture Council and will continue to support their efforts to make sure get off on the right foot. "There are legal expenses and various processes to make sure Board is established and running smoothly we are there to ensure they do things correctly. Those first steps can be daunting, and overwhelming to young arts councils and we want them to focus on serving community," Francois Désormeaux said when asked how the CFDC will continue to support the Art Council in other ways, Désormeaux stated, "We will allow our Cultural Development Coordinator, Bruce Davis to work with them as long as they need it. He will ensure he correct steps are made and that they set off in the right direction to serve the needs of the entire region. When asked how he may set this Council in the right direction Mr. Davis stated, "I have been doing a lot of research on arts councils - what's successful what is failing so I will be providing that information to this council so they can begin building direction. I will also ensure the communications remains constant and flowing from the regional stakeholders as well as community partners so that the council knows best how to serve the community",

It was a great weekend fore the furthering of arts and culture in Cornwall and a very successful Arts Summit, said Todd Bennett, Chair of the Cite of Cornwall's Cultural Plan Committee. "Good luck to the new Council".

Mai-Liss Renaud of The Local Seeker who attended the Summit says, `What a great event organized by Bruce. You cold feel the energy as I spent the day with members of the arts community who share the same interests I do!"