The MacLaren Art Centre does a “tremendous” job for Simcoe County in introducing school children to the arts, says Essa Township Mayor David Guergis – and as the county formulates a grant policy, it should consider giving the gallery more.
“The MacLaren provides a tremendous service to county residents through the schools,” said Guergis, whose son came home from school excited and inspired. “It was a great time when the MacLaren came and introduced art and promoted it. It has a wonderful effect.”
For $10,000, the county gets incredible value, he said, and the impact of the arts on students as well as their communities shouldn’t be undervalued.
“The $10,000 we give them probably doesn’t come close to their costs. It’s money very well spent.”
The county has formulated a grants policy, which will go into effect later this year; the new policy would outline requirements regarding financial statements and budgets, as well as a rationale for how the money would be used.
Until now, county staff vetted the applications, and this year, grants have been frozen at 2007 levels.
Traditionally, the county supports a variety of organizations and community groups – ranging from women’s institutes, which each receive $100, to the many branches of the Royal Canadian Legion, which will altogether receive $32,000.
Mostly, the county funds rural and agricultural programs – starting with seven women’s institutes, a sheep breeders’ association ($100), North and South Simcoe Plowmen’s Associations ($200 each), two soil and crop associations ($650 each), eight agricultural societies ($750 each), the South Simcoe 4-H club ($1,000) and the Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture, with a grant of $18,416.
Agricultural grants total $28,916.
Under the “other” category – in which grants total $45,200 – are a series of organizations: Mutual Aid emergency service ($1,700), the Simcoe County Historical Society ($1,500), the Legion branches ($32,000) and the MacLaren Art Centre. Last year, the gallery received its first-ever Simcoe County grant, $10,000.
This year, the gallery – which runs outreach programs in schools throughout the region – requested $15,000.
The Huronia Symphony also asked the county for $10,000 this year, but was turned down. Also refused cash were the Minesing Unplugged Wetland Festival, which sought $1,500, and the RCAF, which asked for $1,008.
