Station Arts Centre board looks for funding boost

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Tillsonburg District Craft Guild, which operates the Station Arts Centre, is seeking a municipal funding boost to expand its programming and keep up with inflation.

Sarah Senior, chair of the craft guild, appeared before council on Dec. 9 to outline the request and provide background information. The group’s memorandum of understanding with the town is up for renewal.

The craft guild's mission is to promote the arts in Tillsonburg. The station offers diverse and inclusive programs for all ages.

“We strive to create a creative environment that is inclusive, progressive friendly and informative,” Senior said. “We are a hub for arts, culture, community and heritage.”

Predictions are by year-end, there will have been 30,000 people through the doors of the Station Arts Centre. The Station, as it’s sometimes referred to, has two changing exhibit galleries, the baggage room to sell the wares of its members, workshops, pottery groups and youth programs. The Station Arts Centre is the hub of the town’s Canada Day celebrations. Partners with the craft guild throughout the year include the BIA, Multi-Service Centre, military history club and horticultural society.

Senior said the town is growing, and the demand for arts, crafts, and heritage with it.

Senior realized councillors may question why they should increase their investment in the arts, when there are more immediate concerns like health care. She said studies show an investment in the arts has a tangible benefit to the local community. Pointing to the town, economic development strategy, Senior provided a quote from it, stating, “the creative and cultural industries represent an untapped economic potential for the town, targeted investments are needed to ensure growth.” Senior maintains an investment in the Station Arts Centre will help build businesses in the creative and cultural sectors.

Breaking down the revenue picture further, Senior said the town’s grant represents 20 per cent of the guild’s revenue and 64 per cent is from workshop, fundraising , donations and grants from organizations. Revenue from classes, workshops, and memberships has increased, but donations have decreased.

“We are in times of economic uncertainty, and most notably, this is reflected in the number of donations received,” she said.

Since 2021 when the memorandum of understanding was last renewed, minimum wage increased 20 per cent, inflation is the highest in 30 years, there are significant costs of utilities, materials, and freight on top of the lingering effects of pandemic. The craft guild wants to increase the number of workshops and maintain affordable access to the arts. Plans are to do a feasibility study to look at growing offerings and space, extend classrooms, galleries, and create an accessible pottery area.

“We want to secure the future of the Station Arts Centre in the town and grow the community we have grown with,” Senior said.

The guild’s 2024-25 budget is $282,000, or a 16 per cent increase. The group is seeking a contribution of 25 per cent of its budget from the town. Senior asked for an increase to bring the town’s contribution to $70,500 or at least $56,400, and CPI increases annually.

“A modest increase will help bring significant cultural and economic increases to the town of Tillsonburg,” she said.

Taking questions from council, Coun. Kelly Spencer said, “Tillsonburg has always been known as a sports town but there is massive cultural and arts community and I think that’s indicative of all the sold-out programs.”

She asked about the impact if the town didn’t grant the increase. Senior said the result would be cutting back on prams and running a deficit.

The request for funding was received for information and referred to budget deliberations, but was not included after the December meeting. The budget won’t be finalized until the end of January.