Kenora, ON (July 28, 2022) – Earlier this year, the Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC) was awarded a $77,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). LOWAC is focused on rebuilding and recovering from impacts of COVID-19 and used the funds to hire two freelance program coordinators, deliver last weekend’s ARTSFEST 2022, and continuing efforts to build membership and volunteers.
“This investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to assist LOWAC continue its activities on the heels of a two-year pandemic is great news for many in our community,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River. “There are many who will benefit, and it helps to ensure that the arts remain alive and accessible for all.”
“We are thrilled that our application to the Resilient Communities Fund was successful,” said Leanne Fournier, Chair, LOWAC. “Making the arts accessible to everyone has always been a priority.”
The non-profits’ ability to do that, however, was challenged by the pandemic, which impacted its capacity to host public events, and attract new members and volunteers. When it looked like people could come together again, LOWAC was all over it.
“Our members have told us that bringing artists and the community together is what they want to see, so we were grateful ARTSFEST could happen this summer with help from OTF,” said Fournier.
The two-day event featured free admission and included an artists’ showcase, demonstrations and art sales, live performances and presentations, a Kids Zone, face painting, collaborative art projects and more. Feature performances were livestreamed on LOWAC’s Facebook page to reach an even larger audience. Presenting ARTSFEST on the grounds of the new Douglas Family Arts Centre drew attention to Kenora’s growing prominence as an arts destination.
In addition to covering the bulk of expenses for the two-day event, funding from OTF made it possible for LOWAC to pay honorariums to all presenters and performers, which was a priority.
“So many of our local artists have felt the financial impacts during COVID,” added Fournier. “If COVID-19 taught us anything, it’s that the arts play an essential role in helping people through difficult times.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Media Inquiries:
Leanne Fournier, Chair, Lake of the Woods Arts Community
807-407-9045 president@lowac.ca
