Peterborough, ON – The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is pleased to announce that the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund has awarded $104,500 in COVID-19 Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants to 15 local arts organizations. This fund was made possible through a partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP), who joined forces with EC3 to raise funds and collaborate on the granting process.
The Peterborough Arts Alive Fund is one of several initiatives EC3 designed to provide critical support to professional arts organizations and individual artists during the pandemic. This fund provided grants of up to $10,000 each to local arts organizations working in any discipline and in any arts capacity (creation, production, exhibition, presentation, performance, education, etc.) to assist them in managing the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, respond creatively to the current situation, prepare to effectively reopen when they can, and ensure a sustainable and resilient future.
Grants awarded range between $2,500 and $10,000 and support projects in artistic creation and development, PPE and public health upgrades, management and staff training/coaching/expert consulting, technology and digital upgrades, marketing and communications development, and staffing. Applications were reviewed and evaluated by a five-member peer assessment jury who recommended the grant amounts.
The initial idea came from local arts supporter Deborah Berrill, leading a group of private donors who, along with EC3 and the CFGP, collaborated on the efforts that raised $104,500 for the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund. EC3 is also very grateful to the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance for fundraising support and particularly to the City of Peterborough for its generous contribution of $40,000 to the fund.
“COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the arts community. This is a sector that makes an enormous contribution to the quality of life in Peterborough, and plays a profound role in our social and economic well-being. Both organizations and individual artists suffered as facilities closed, exhibitions were cancelled, audiences drifted, box office revenues disappeared and artists’ fees and commissions evaporated. These grants allow the arts community to pivot, adapt, collaborate, plan and retool for the current situation and post-COVID-19 success.” Bill Kimball, President, EC3
“We live in an extraordinary community that combines an outstanding tradition of philanthropic giving, civic pride in and municipal financial support for, the local arts sector. It is this passion for the arts and respect for and commitment to the outstanding artists, arts organizations and volunteers that create the vibrant cultural life we are so fortunate to enjoy here. Our work on the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund was inspiring beyond measure and we are very grateful to everyone who made this program possible and for the tenacity and creativity of the entire Peterborough arts community.” Su Ditta, Executive Director, EC3
“Local artists and arts organizations provide Peterborough with an amazing cultural life, one that we appreciated even more during the pandemic as their work lifted our spirits, offered us meaning and brought us together. It’s so important that we continue to support them through this difficult period and into the future, so they can keep doing what they do best.” Deborah Berrill, Educator and Arts Supporter
Organizations receiving grants though the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund include:
- 4th Line Theatre
- Kawartha Youth Orchestra
- Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
- P.R. Community Student Association (Sadleir House)
- Artspace Peterborough
- Peterborough County Children’s Chorus
- Peterborough Symphony Orchestra
- Peterborough Theatre Guild
- ReFrame Film Festival
- Showplace Peterborough Performance Centre
- SPARK Photo Festival
- The Art School of Peterborough
- The Peterborough Singers
- The Theatre on King
- Trent Radio
For a full list of grant recipients and projects please see the ‘News & Information’ section of the EC3 website or follow this link.
The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is a not-for-profit service organization supporting the arts and culture community in Peterborough and the surrounding region. EC3 provides strategic leadership, research, resources and connections that build and strengthen the sector.
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For Further Information Contact:
Su Ditta
Executive Director, EC3
705 749 9101
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org