Activities, Programs and Services of the Arts Council

The Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands provides a wide range of activities, programs and services.

These include:

Professional Development Workshops – focusing on professional development for artists and arts organizations. Workshops have included: PIPEDA for non-for-profit organizations, income tax for self-employed artists, on becoming an artist who works with schools, grant-writing for artists, legal issues and copyright, visual marketing, working with digital images, selling work on-line.
The annual Arty Party (a gathering of the creative community). This provides an opportunity to welcome new artists and people interested in the arts to the community and an opportunity for people involved in different sectors to meet one another.
The Annual Arts Honours Gala that celebrates the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups who make and have made the Haliburton Highlands such a strong arts community. The recipients of the honours arenominated by the members of the Arts Council, but anyone (member and non-member alike) is eligible to be nominated. The Arts Council honous individuals and/or groups in five different categories: Artist of Distinction, Emerging Artist, Youth Artist, Supporter and Founder.
Providing business resources for artists and arts businesses.
Publishing and distributing a monthly listings on happenings in the arts sent by e-mail to a mailing list of over 750.
Marketing of the arts through a yearly arts directory and guide map. 25,000 directories that include listings for over 280 artists, arts organizations and businesses, museums, supporting businesses and organizations in Haliburton County are published in the spring and distributed to 250 locations throughout the County and to Ontario tourism centres in Central Ontario.
The Arts Council Presents: Through this program the Arts Council artist hosts artists demonstrations in the summer at special events throughout the County to highlight and promote the arts to locals, tourists and seasonal residents.
Advocacy for the arts – work with other arts organizations to keep the arts central to planning within the County.
Consultation services for arts organizations.
Networking and information for artists and arts organizations.
Providing business and contact information for artists and arts organizations to people seeking information on the arts.
Collaboration with other organizations to promote the arts.
Artists in the Schools program – Working with all five elementary schools in Haliburton County to create and run a program of local artists working in the schools.
Ongoing development and maintenance of a database of artists, arts organizations and arts businesses in Haliburton County.
Research on the arts and the impact of the arts on the economy.

In addition over the past year the Council has also:

Maintained its membership at around 300 members
Hired a new coordinator, marketing associate and welcomed summer student employees
Raised nearly $5,000 for the Artists in the Schools program through a bowl-a-thon in Minden
Partnered with each municipality in Haliburton County to distribute copies of the 2010 Events Calendar in tax bills to each property owner
Launched a county-wide 'artist chat' series
Provided information to local artists and arts businesses about funding for skills development, youth internships, local initiatives and interest free loans for capital improvements available through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund.