The Arts Council Haliburton Highlands (ACHH) is hoping to catch people in a giving mood this holiday season, raising money to keep the arts alive and accessible to all in the County.
Board chair Chris Lynd said the Arts Council launched its Christmas-time giving campaign Nov. 1. She noted the funds will support local artists, public art projects and community programs.
“This community has helped us build a rich artistic and cultural identity,” Lynd said. “We’re asking everyone to help us continue that legacy – celebrating our artists, our history, and the creative spirit that defines Haliburton County.”
Over the summer, the ACHH board developed a series of strategic priorities that Lynd said will guide the organization through the next decade. The initiatives focus on improving sustainability, collaboration and access to the arts.
“To sustain and grow, we need to continue to engage new volunteers and the local community while we build capacity to promote and support the arts in the Highlands,” Lynd said.
The new priorities include: fostering an inclusive and sustainable environment for artists; focusing on fundraising and resource management to ensure the organization’s history; establish ACHH as a widely-recognized and sought-after cultural sector partner; build collaborative and inclusive relationships with partners, arts organizations and artists; and improving accessibility to the community.
“Each of the council’s strategic priorities is shaped with care and purpose, so that, together with community collaboration, meaningful, long-term benefits can be achieved for local arts in our community,” the ACHH website reads.
Founded in 2006, the Arts Council is a volunteer-run non-profit that provides a voice for arts, heritage and culture across the Highlands.
Donations can be made online at haliburtonarts.on.ca/donate. Sponsorship and membership opportunities are also available by contacting Lynd at chrislynd51@gmail.com.
