EC3 Bulletin: Chelsea Day and Marcela Moreno join the EC3 Staff. Gabe Pollock says goodbye!

May 12, 2026

Photo Credit: Chelsea Day
Image Description: Standing in front of a brick wall, a young woman with long dark wavy hair and bangs looks toward the camera with a soft smile. They are wearing a light coloured fuzzy sweater and layered necklaces.

EC3 is honoured to welcome Chelsea Day as our Director of Granting. A costume designer and stylist living in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, she has been involved in the theatre community working with 4th Line Theatre, Electric City Players and The Peterborough Theatre Guild.

Chelsea holds a degree in English Literature from Trent University as well as a Diploma in Library Technology. Her sensitivity to artists’ needs, excellent communication skills, and strong ability to manage systems make her an excellent fit for this position.

Chelsea is a familiar face to many after having worked in customer service for downtown businesses and restaurants for over 20 years. She is passionate about the Peterborough arts and culture community and is looking forward to working to sustain and continue to grow this community through her work with EC3.

Photo Credit: Marcela Moreno
Image Description: A young woman with her dark curly hair pulled back smiles brightly at the camera. They are wearing hoop earrings and a light beige top, posing in front of a softly lit neutral background.

EC3 is honoured to welcome Marcela Moreno as our Operations and Administration Manager. A communications professional based in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, originally from El Salvador. She moved to Peterborough three years ago and quickly developed a strong connection to the city’s arts and culture community, finding a sense of belonging through its galleries, events, and creative spaces. Marcela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Trent University, specializing in Marketing and Consumer Culture.

Marcela brings experience across nonprofit, educational, and private-sector environments, supporting organizational operations, communications, and community engagement initiatives. Her knowledge of systems and data management are a true asset to our work at EC3.

Creativity has always been central to Marcela’s life. From a young age, she has been drawn to creative expression and now uses marketing and communications as an extension of that creativity to support the organizations where she works. Marcela is passionate about the role arts and culture play in building community and is excited to contribute to strengthening and supporting the local cultural sector through her work with EC3.

EC3 is grateful to our funders who made it possible to hire such qualified individuals, and we know you will enjoy working with them.

Photo Credit: Gabe Pollock
Image Description: A young man with dark hair, glasses, and a short beard gestures with one hand while speaking into a microphone. He is wearing a blue plaid shirt layered under a dark hoodie, standing in front of a softly lit neutral background.

Gabe Pollock has served EC3 and the arts community as our Director of Granting more than once. He always brought his outstanding knowledge of the local arts community to the position, along with exceptional organizational and administrative skills. Gabe contributed his considerable critical thinking capacity to policy and program development at EC3, demonstrated great sensitivity communicating with artists, supported juries impeccably and brought humour and diplomatic flare to all his work. His contributions to the GFIA, Artsweek, Poet Laureate, Bierk Art Bursary, Peterborough Arts Awards and COVID grant programs were remarkable.

Gabe left EC3 in January to pursue his passion for writing and journalism at Peterborough Currents. We miss him, are so very grateful for his steadfast, outstanding work and wish him the very best always. Cheers to Gabe!

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 is Hiring a Multimedia Archivist

April 29, 2026

JOB POSTING
MULTIMEDIA ARCHIVIST
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)

Posting date: April 28, 2026
Deadline for applications: June 5, 2026
Compensation: $21 per hour, 35 hours per week
Term: This is an 8-week position starting July 6 (flexible) –
Location: This is primarily a remote work from home position with occasional meetings at the EC3 offices.
Age qualification: The position is funded through Canada Summer Jobs for anyone aged 30 or under.

ABOUT EC3
A municipal arts council, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is a not-for-profit arts service organization supporting the development of individual artists and arts and culture organizations in Peterborough and Peterborough County. Our programs and services provide opportunities for artists to create, produce, and present work, and for audiences to experience and appreciate the arts.

DEI: EC3 is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

OVERVIEW
After ten years of delivering successful programming and services, EC3 is creating a digital platform called EC3 Backdrop for our web site documenting our history and development, consolidating and rationalizing the video, audio, photographic and text documentation of our workshops, festivals, radio programs, special events and reports on granting and other programs. EC3 is anxious to capture and clearly identify all our essential landmarks and map a landscape that makes them accessible to researchers, professionals developing policy, artists and the general public.

JOB DUTIES
Reporting to the Executive Director, the multimedia archivist will join a team working together on EC3 Backdrop, the EC3 Fifteenth Anniversary Archiving and Cataloguing Project. Duties will include:

 Reviewing and cataloguing our photography archives – particularly Artsweek and Arts Awards
 Mapping the web site and creating a visual “connections tree”
 Cataloguing social media content from the past 5 years
 Cataloguing EC3’s You Tube channels content
 Locating and identifying content of other photos, video recordings and audio recordings in the EC3 archives
 Interviewing key stakeholders, including former board, staff and volunteers regarding event details as required
 Organize and review an EC3 Backdrop beta model
 Correct for accessibility etc.
 Plan the design and digital management of all archival material on an ongoing basis
 Plan and deliver launch of EC3 Backdrop as a practical and accessible ongoing archival system that works for a variety of potential users

QUALIFICATIONS
 Excellent organizational, written and oral communications skills.
 Demonstrated ability to set and meet goals, objectives and deadlines.
 Ability to work on a team and independently.
 Familiarity with computer programs including Office Suite, social media platforms, and web site construction and maintenance (Word Press).
 Knowledge of archiving tools and database management is an asset.
 Knowledge of the arts and the local arts sector is an asset.

HOW TO APPLY
Email a resume and letter that expresses why you would like to do this job and how your experience makes you a good candidate.

Send to canadasummerjobs@gmail.com with the subject heading Multimedia Archivist.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 5 AT 5PM.

EC3 Bulletin: Canadian Arts Coalition

March 26, 2026

EC3 advocates for the arts at all levels of government. Our work has included supporting the status of the artist through direct funding, basic income programs, stronger copyright laws, and increased investment in the government programs that support arts organizations and DEI initiatives in the arts. While we continue to advocate at the municipal and provincial levels at the City of Peterborough, the OAC and the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, we wanted to draw attention to the advocacy work of Canadian Coalition for the Arts, working at the federal level, by sharing their recent newsletter.

EC3 also had an opportunity to meet briefly with MP Emma Harrison to discuss the mission and mandate of the arts council, and the value and importance of funding programs at Canadian
Heritage. Our MP suggested that arts organizations advise her office when they do make an application to the federal government for funding. We look forward to future conversations.

Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament representing Peterborough, Ontario

Picture description: A woman with brunette hair in a tan coloured pea-coat is looking directly at the camera and smiling. She is standing in a snowy field with trees in the background.

Working to strengthen Canadian arts and culture through policies, investment, sustainable practices, and public appreciation.

NEWS IN THE ARTS

Canada Council for the Arts Strategic Planning

Thank you to everyone who attended the most recent all-members meeting on February 9. We discussed the upcoming Canada Council for the Arts strategic planning, inviting input on how the Canadian Arts Coalition could represent its members and communicate their thoughts and recommendations to the Council. The top two recommendations received were to

Submit on the questionnaire on behalf of members
Provide consensus points for members’ submission

We will be moving forward on these two action points in the coming weeks, ensuring our members’ voices are heard in these discussions. We are also looking into the possibility of submitting a brief that outlines all of the concerns and feedback from our members, so please submit your feedback to info@canadianartscoalition.ca.

MORE FOR THIS MONTH

ADVOCACY & POLICY

Provincial budgets are rolling out over the coming weeks, and they will set the tone for arts and culture funding, policy, and priorities across the country. Please take a moment to check when your province or territory will table its budget, and keep an eye on what is proposed for arts, culture, heritage, and related files, including any new investments, freezes, cuts, or shifts in program design. If you spot something with implications for the sector, share it with your networks and with the Coalition.

TAKE ACTION & GET INVOLVED

One of the policy pieces that the Coalition will be focusing on in the next few months, as determined by a member’s survey, is the social safety net for artists and arts workers. Research has been done on this topic in recent years, and we are starting to find and collate the existing work. This is where we would love your assistance!

Please send us any resources, statistics, articles or other information you have encountered around Employment Insurance reform, Universal Basic Income, and other social safety net subjects to info@canadianartscoalition.ca.

FROM THE COALITION

We’ll soon be moving our member communications to our new membership platform. This includes emails, notices about membership meetings, and other important updates.

To continue receiving these messages in March and beyond, you must be listed as a contact in the new platform. If you don’t currently have an account, it’s likely because you’re not one of the designated contacts for your organization.

If that’s the case, please either:

Ask your organization’s main contact to add you as a Delegate in their membership profile, or
Email membership@canadianartscoalition.com, and we’ll be happy to get you set up.

If you’re unsure whether you’re listed, just send us a quick email and we’ll check for you. We want to make sure you continue to receive all our updates!

Read the full bulletin here!

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Grants for Individual Artists!!

EC3’s GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS fueled 17 new projects by talented local artists, creating a diverse bounty of new writing, theatre, circus arts, visual arts, dance, music and more for Peterborough audiences.

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is proud to announce the 17 local artists who have been awarded a total of $35,250 through the 2025 Grants for Individual Artists program. This multidisciplinary program is funded jointly by the City of Peterborough and EC3, and is designed, delivered, and administered by EC3. This year, 50 artists applied for grants ranging from between $1,500 and $3,500.00. Grants are adjudicated and awarded by a five-person peer assessment jury.The Grants for Individual Artists (GFIA) program is divided into two components.

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists provides up to $1,500 to an artist for research, development, workshopping etc. of original new works and ongoing projects, as well as for professional training and mentorship opportunities to advance their practice. Funding provides a contribution to support artists’ work in writing, rehearsing, scripting, test filming, arranging scores, retraining, workshopping, etc.
Nine artists were awarded grants in Component One (total $12,750) in 2025.

Component Two: Project Creation, Production and Presentation Grants for Individual Professional Artists, provides up to $3,500 for the creation, production, and presentation to audiences of specific projects. Grants support costs such as artist fees, production materials, venue rentals, technical equipment, costumes, printing, etc.
Eight artists were awarded grants in Component Two (total $22,500) in 2025.

In total, the program’s open call received 45 eligible applications, and a five-member peer assessment jury awarded grants to 17 artists (total value of grants awarded: $35,250). Artists working in every discipline, genre and medium were eligible, including those who work in multi-disciplinary or community-based arts practice, and in traditional or contemporary forms. A complete list of grant recipients and their projects can be found below.

“We are particularly grateful to the City of Peterborough for their $25,000 support of this vital program in 2025, and to all of our funders for their ground-breaking contributions to the development of local talent and works of art. These investments in the efforts of our very talented and hardworking artists means more artists can realize their visions, contribute to our cultural, economic, community and social well-being, and make Peterborough a more vital and exciting place to live for all of us. New books, poetry, concerts, plays, exhibitions, albums, and performances of all kinds will touch our hearts, minds, and imaginations.”
–Su Ditta (Executive Director, EC3)

GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS 2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists

Tia Cavanagh – Indian Jones vs. The Vatican
Research and creation of an alter ego persona – “Indian Jones”, an Indigenized concept inspired by Indiana Jones, for a planned future performance piece about the theft of cultural artifacts.

Marta Chudolinska – Babcia: a papercut graphic novel
Artist fees to continue writing, drawing, and making papercut art for a graphic novel and to present a public artists talk about the artist’s process.

Michael C Duguay – Here I Go Into The Wobbly Yonder
Support for a period of research and experimentation focused on the intersection of music and “processional” art in the contexts of composition, performance and documentation.

Laurie D Graham – What Elements
Completion of a draft of a poetic nonfiction manuscript exploring what “land and home” could mean for the settler subject.

Nicole Malbeuf – Drafting Art/Children’s Book: A Hen Called Freedom
Writing/editing, book design planning and researching self-publishing for art book/children’s book hybrid, based on an original circus arts performance.

Kasonde Mutale – Black Radical Existentialism: an exploration
Research, creation and artist fee for visual and written storytelling exploring Black radical existentialism through African traditional art, revitalizing Black identity, dignity and pride.

Kate Story – Strangeness on Earth (working title)
Paying sensitivity readers, youth readers, and an artist fee for work on a new young adult historical fantasy novel set in 1817 Newfoundland and Orkney.

Lynda Todd – Migration #3: Land, Air & Sea
Purchasing materials to complete a series of tactile portraits of polar bears, penguins, and whales accompanied by braille descriptions, inviting all to experience their journeys.

Gillian Turnham – Indelible Architecture: From The Rubble; Ruined Not
Researching visual records of destroyed Islamic heritage sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, to inform a series of traditional miniature paintings memorializing architecture lost in conflict.

Component Two: Project Production and Development Grants for Individual Artists

Brad Brackenridge – Pinocchio
Creation of an original, family-friendly adaptation of Pinocchio involving puppetry, dance, and mask for a short run of workshop performances at the Market Hall.

Brooklin Holbrough – “Art-Work” (Working title)
Artist fees towards a zine that aims to demystify art and illustration as a career path for emerging creatives.

Thamer Linklater – The Place I Called Home
Editorial costs ( including copy and content editing) and graphic design to submit manuscript for publishing, either traditionally or self-published.

Kayla Mahomed – Kay Silver Debut Album Recording
Recording an album of original material with diverse influences in the pop-rock tradition with local collaborators in the Peterborough region.

Ell Parker – Heartbreakers | Dream Makers Volume 3: Servin’ [C*ntry]
Artist fees and venue costs to mount a multidisciplinary, country themed drag concert at Sadleir House. Featuring local artists, drag queens, and projectionists, the event seeks to deconstruct the heteronormative ideologies of country music, and provide a fun and inclusive space for queer individuals.

Benj Rowland – new peasant marching band
Artist fees and production costs for a marching band offering lively, themed performances at community events to engage audiences and celebrate local culture.

Esther Vincent – Are We Sleeping, A one-act play
Artist fees, venue rental, and actor fees to present a staged reading of a one-act script about a family facing dementia.

Ziysah von Bieberstein – Before the Tymbals Sound
Editorial and artist fees to prepare manuscript for submission to traditional publishers.

Read the full bulletin here!

Chet Singh joins the EC3 Board of Directors

February 21st, 2026

EC3 is honoured to welcome artist, educator and cultural activist Chet Singh to the EC3 Board of Directors. An accomplished artist and educator, Chet brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our work as a municipal arts council in Peterborough. His deep community connections, capacity to work in institutional and grassroots environments, and passion for the arts and artists will provide an enormous asset to our organization and our work for the arts in Peterborough.

Chet Singh

Dub poet, educator and social activist Chet Singh emerged with the first wave of Caribbean dub poets in the early 1980’s. He fronted the punk, reggae band One Mind, comprised of Trent students. After returning to Nogojiwanong two decades later, he’s released 6 albums. A founding member of Canada’s Dub Poets Collective, he also served on the board of the Ontario Arts Council. His work advancing diversity, equity, decolonizing and critical education has been recognized with awards for teaching excellence and educational leadership.

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 Bulletin: Black History Month

February 18th, 2026

February is Black History Month and EC3 wants to recognize and celebrate the many great events happening in our community, and the people who make them happen.

Each February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and celebrations that honour the legacy and contributions of Black people all across Canada, and in their particular local communities.

The 2026 theme for Black History Month is: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

This month is an important opportunity to learn about and acknowledge these people and their often hidden histories and stories.

We invite all Canadians to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to contribute to and help shape Canada.

Along with the celebrations, Black History Month is a call to recognize the things that have been lost, the stories that have been suppressed and the racism that has haunted many of these people and the communities that they live in. Much of the programming outlined below provides us with the unique opportunity to learn more, to experience more and to build our capacity as anti-racist allies. It’s a chance to read great books, learn new dances, listen to fabulous music, enjoy the artists and their work and learn more about our friends and neighbours.

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #55: Artsvote Canada

September 1st, 2021

A Candidates Meeting on Arts, Culture, and Heritage in Peterborough–Kawartha

Hello everyone,

It’s federal election season, and a key time for the arts, culture, and heritage sector. Many organizations are still under significant threat due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the next several years will be key to rebuilding our sector better and stronger than before.

That’s why EC3 is very glad to announce the return of Artsvote Canada, a candidates meeting in Peterborough–Kawartha specifically about issues relevant to the arts, culture, and heritage community, taking place next Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we aren’t able to invite you to join us in person for the meeting at Showplace’s Nexicom Lounge, but we encourage everyone to tune in to the simultaneous livestream, which will be on EC3’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Several members of the Artsvote Canada 2021 Coalition and a panel of experts will be on hand to ask the candidates questions. There will also be an opportunity for viewers at home to submit questions.

Thanks coalition partners, the candidates, and Showplace Performance Centre!

See full details HERE.

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

EC3 in the News: Peterborough Examiner

August 6th, 2021

“Photos: Artist Brad Brackenridge performs Vertep puppet-based multimedia performance in Peterborough” by Clifford Skarstedt, Peterborough Examiner.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #54: Arts Sector News Roundup – August 2021

August 6th, 2021

Government Assistance Updates, Local Arts Events, Legal Advice, Grant Deadlines, and More

Hello everyone,

We so hope that you’re finding time to enjoy the summertime weather and the relaxed public health regulations, and that you’ve been able to get out to some of arts events that are starting to happen around town.

In this Bulletin, we have a roundup of updates from the arts and culture sector: updates on government assistance programs (for organizations and for individuals), information about a local arts event, a list of upcoming grant deadlines, an organization offering legal advice for artists, and some suggestions for other newsletters to subscribe to if you want even more arts sector news.

Government Program Extensions

Last week, the Government of Canada announced extensions to a number of COVID-19 relief programs.

For employers: The eligibility period for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and Lockdown Support have been extended until October 23, 2021, and the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during upcoming periods has been increased.

For individuals: The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), have been extended, also until October 23, 2021. The maximum number of weeks available for CRB has been increased by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and the government has clarified the rules surrounding availability for those who have exhausted their employment insurance (EI) benefits.

Canada Recovery Hiring Program

For the employers out there: as the wage subsidy (CEWS) winds down, the federal government has also introduced a new program, the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP), that extends worker benefits until November 20.

CRHP is in many ways similar to CEWS – it’s a wage subsidy for organizations who experienced a revenue drop during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s calculated in 4-week periods, and it has a similar application process. The primary difference is that CEWS provides a higher maximum subsidy, but calculates the subsidy rate based on the organization’s revenue loss, while CRHP provides a flat amount. This handy chart is a good overview of how the two programs compare, and this page goes into more depth about it.

CRHP is available now, and employers can choose whether they want to apply to CRHP or CEWS (but not both). Use the online calculators to compare the subsidy amounts, and choose the one that’s better for your organization.

See here for more information on the program and to apply.

Precarious 3 Festival

In upcoming local arts events news, August sees the start of the Precarious3 Festival. This new iteration of the Precarious Festival consists of a series of nine residencies by local artists in a wide range of disciplines, taking place at The Theatre on King over the next several months.

It kicks off with the Artsweek SHIFT²-supported residency by theatre-dance artist Jenn Cole, taking place August 15 to 31. Head to The Theatre on King’s website for full festival details, and check out the poster below:

Click image for full size

Ontario Artists’ Legal Access & Support Network

Are you in need of legal advice as an artist? The Ontario Artists’ Legal Access & Support Network is a collaboration between CARFAC Ontario artists and ALAS (Artists’ Legal Advice Services) lawyers.

Here is how they describe themselves:

Our Support Network consists of:

Access to one-on-one meetings with volunteer lawyers coordinated by ALAS to discuss issues such as copyright, contracts, and entertainment law. Lawyers provide free initial summary legal advice and information (usually during a half hour appointment) to help artists begin to better understand specific legal issues and challenges.
Non-legal peer-support from a CARFAC Ontario practicing artist to help navigate access barriers throughout your engagement with the Access & Support Network. The peer-support also aims to encourage and help artists by pointing them towards various resources and services available to them.
Group workshops or drop-in sessions with volunteer lawyers, where artists can discuss a variety of general issues and receive basic legal information. Workshops and sessions aim to foster open discussion about common legal issues and challenges faced by many artists, generally within a group dynamic, without addressing any one artist’s specific legal concerns.
Online webinars on specified legal concerns affecting artists of all disciplines.

This collaboration has been formed to provide free legal advice and information, non-legal peer support, and resources for artists related to their practices, particularly including those artists who lack access to these kinds of support because of overlapping systemic barriers such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, and/or misogyny. We also acknowledge that these barriers can be compounded by mental health issues, disabilities, poverty, legal/immigration status, access to education, experience in the justice system, among other ongoing barriers. Our intention is to support artists through a holistic lens of support and care. Our programs will be developed on a needs-based basis, and we are available to connect with you individually so that we can understand the issues you’re facing, and how we may be able to provide support.

To find out more or inquire about specific issues affecting yourself or your group, collective or community, check out the Network’s website, or contact Camila at outreach@carfacontario.ca or (647) 697-0033.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:

Aug 31: Museums Assistance Program: Canada-France Agreement (Canadian Heritage)
Sep 02: Literary Creation Projects: Works for Publication (OAC)
Sep 08: Arts Abroad: Circulation and Touring / Residencies (Canada Council)
Sep 15: Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects (OAC)
Sep 15: Indigenous Arts Projects (OAC)
Sep 15: Music Creation Projects (OAC)
Sep 15: Canada Periodical Fund: Business Innovation (Canadian Heritage)

Please stay well and let us know how we can help.
TRACK THE IMPACT.

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 in the News: CTV Toronto

July 31st, 2021

“Puppeteer Performs for Solo Audiences” by Harrison Perkins, CTV Toronto.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 in the News: KawarthaNOW

July 30th, 2021

“How Deborah Berrill’s idea grew into a $100,000 fund supporting 15 Peterborough arts organizations” by Bruce Head, KawarthaNOW.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 in the News: Peterborough Examiner

July 29th, 2021

“15 Peterborough arts groups receive pandemic boost from Arts Alive Fund” by Vikram Nijhawan, Peterborough Examiner.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #53: Peterborough Arts Alive Fund Awards $104,500 in COVID-19 Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants to 15 Local Arts Organizations

July 28th, 2021

Hello everyone,

We hope you are all finding some time to unwind a bit this summer and take in some arts events as COVID-19 health and safety restrictions begin to ease.

EC3 and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough are 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.

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 provides 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.

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.

Thank You!

There are so many people to thank for this project: all of the amazing individual private donors who contributed to the fund, stepping up to support the arts during an incredibly challenging time; our incredible partners at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, who administered the fund and helped with fundraising; local arts supporter Deborah Berrill, who came up with the idea for the fund, made an initial contribution and supported additional fundraising; and the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance, for their enthusiastic fundraising support.

Special thanks and our heartfelt appreciation go out to the City of Peterborough for its very generous contribution of $40,000.

“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

Next up on the EC3 agenda: the Peterborough Poet Laureate Program.

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

EC3 in the News: PTBOCanada

July 28th, 2021

“Peterborough Arts Alive Fund Awards $104,500 to 15 Local Arts Organizations,” PTBOCanada.

Posted in Media Coverage

Media Release: Peterborough Arts Alive Fund Awards $104,500 in COVID-19 Strategic Recovery & Resilience Grants to 15 Local Arts Organizations

July 28th, 2021

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.

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.

“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
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Posted in Media Release, COVID-19, EC3 Announcement

Peterborough Arts Alive Fund: Strategic Recovery & Resilience Grants – Results

July 27th, 2021

The following are the results of the Petebrorough Arts Alive Fund: COVID-19 Strategic Recovery & Resilience Grants program.

Thank you to our partner on this project, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. Thank you as well to the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance for their fundraising support, to the City of Petebrorough for their contribution to the Fund, as well as to our generous private donors.

4th Line Theatre ($10,000)

‘Bloom: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fable’ cast recording
Barnyard Sessions: four live Songwriters Circle events

Kawartha Youth Orchestra ($6,000)

Health and safety barriers for woodwind instruments
Health and safety training for staff and volunteers
Management and coaching training for staff and board
Collaborative projects with other arts organizations, including professional instrumental teaching

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre ($10,000)

Video series showcasing local artists (and the facility)
Upgrading facility’s network infrastructure

P.R. Community and Student Association (Sadleir House) ($2,500)

Upgrades to live streaming equipment

Peterborough Artist Inc. – Artspace ($6,800)

Consultation on board training and development
Management training program for new co-directors

Peterborough County Children’s Chorus ($4,500)

Marketing and promotion: improving virtual presence by hiring videographer and photographer to create visuals
Rent for temporary larger rehearsal space

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra ($7,500)

Consultancy for restructuring as smaller professional orchestra
Implementation of consultant’s recommendations

Peterborough Theatre Guild ($4,500)

Purchasing PPE and cleaning supplies
Costs related to upcoming production: production costs, building materials, marketing campaign, hiring choreographer/acting coach and director/special effects advisor

ReFrame Film Festival ($10,000)

‘PTBO Portraits’: series of 3 short documentary profiles of local artists and activists by local filmmakers
Hiring Health and Safety Officer for 2022 festival
Anti-oppression training for staff and board

Showplace Peterborough Performance Centre ($10,000)

Preparation for re-launch, including: deep cleaning of facility, rehiring employees, adding signage and protective barriers, purchasing PPE and sanitizer

SPARK Photo Festival ($5,500)

Reinstating stipend for Festival Director
Digitizing catalogue and guide
Print materials and signage

The Art School of Peterborough ($6,900)

Creation of strategic plan
Website upgrades, including online Launch Gallery shop

The Peterborough Singers ($4,300)

Choral commission of new works to be performed at first show back
Equipment for recording, photographing shows

The Theatre on King ($10,000)

Development of two productions: ‘Kitten with a Crucifix’ and ‘Titty Cakes (Saint Agatha’s Breasts),’ including livestreaming costs and social media integration

Trent Radio ($6,000)

Implementing COVID safety/hygiene protocols at facility
Mentorship program working with and providing recording equipment for 6 local emerging musicians

Posted in COVID-19, EC3 Announcement

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EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #53: Peterborough Arts Alive Fund Awards $104,500 in COVID-19 Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants to 15 Local Arts Organizations

Thank You!

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Media Release: Peterborough Arts Alive Fund Awards $104,500 in COVID-19 Strategic Recovery & Resilience Grants to 15 Local Arts Organizations

Peterborough Arts Alive Fund: Strategic Recovery & Resilience Grants – Results