NEWS & UPDATES
We are Hiring!
21st June, 2011
CommUnity Arts Space is facing a difficult task in finding a replacement to Britta
Martini-Miles who has been the driving force behind the organization for almost 5
years.
Britta has accepted a new challenge in the business world and our Board of Directors
wishes her all the best in that endeavour. Her dedication and drive will be missed, and
we take this opportunity to thank her on behalf of the Oakville arts community for her
relentless and successful lobbying toward the dedicated arts space that will be a creative
hub within Oakville's Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre; when doors open in
2012. This new facility is being built by the Town of Oakville to be a welcoming, vibrant
and dynamic public space intended to inspire and develop active living and cultural and
artistic interests.
CommUnity Arts Space and the Oakville Arts Council have been working closely for the
past year and are now committed to merge their operations and resources with the goal
to help the various local groups, representing the broader arts and culture community,
in building their capacity under a strong and united voice. Therefore, we will be hiring a
"Membership & Development Director" (click on link below to see posting). Britta will be
involved in the selection process with her colleague Megan Whittington, the Executive
Director of the Oakville Arts Council, to find the best possible candidate for this new
position. If you are interested in the exciting challenges ahead for the Oakville Arts
Community, have the passion, drive, knowledge and experience to help the local arts
groups, we encourage you to consider and apply for this position by the June 30th, 2011
deadline.
CUAS and OAC join forces
17th June, 2011
Two arts-based organizations that have, at times, been at odds with each other are
merging.
It was announced this week that two of Oakville’s leading arts umbrella organizations,
CommUnity Arts Space (CUAS) and the Oakville Arts Council (OAC), are uniting.
“It is gratifying and exciting to see the integration of our two dedicated and passionate
arts organizations who have individually worked so hard to benefit the artists, arts
groups and residents of Oakville,” said Victoria Behune, president of OAC, in a press
release. “Together, we can ensure we are able to help all of our members accomplish
their goals while also helping to make Oakville a culturally vibrant community.”
According to the release there were months of negotiations, after consultations were
done with local arts groups in May of 2010.
The full merger is expected to be accomplished in October 2012. However, the two
entities are already pooling resources and manpower, where appropriate. Each
organization will maintain separate board structures and identities for the duration of
their respective Ontario Trillium Foundation grants. Until then, the boards of both
organizations will be separate, but will include members of the other organization.
CUAS board members Bill Smith, Jean Gandubert, Alex Bystrin and Kevin September join
the OAC board and Danielle Simpson and Stacey Sinclair from the OAC will take
positions on the CUAS board.
Resources will be pooled where appropriate and communication from the organizations
will be integrated.
“The CUAS board looks forward to working closely with the OAC as we move towards
the eventual merger in October 2012,” said Bill Smith, CUAS president. “We wish to
thank both Britta Martini-Miles and Megan Whittington for their hard work in finalizing
the arrangements. Having a unified voice will benefit all arts groups in Oakville by
assisting them to grow and prosper.”
“Thanks to the tremendous support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, our members'
desire for a united arts sector and the dedication and diligence of both the OAC and
CUAS boards of directors, we have been able to align resources and continue the
valuable work of building artistic capacity and strengthening community engagement in
arts,” said Megan Whittington, executive director of the OAC.
The blended organizations will support the Town in the successful development of
Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre to meet space and artistic needs of local arts
and cultural groups, assist in capacity building and continue the programming and
membership services currently offered by the OAC. In addition, they will coordinate and
grow the annual For the Love of the Arts festival.
“The merger will help focus the talents and energies of both organizations on the things
that really matter: providing support and leadership to members,” said Britta MartiniMiles, Executive director for CUAS. “This is a great opportunity to better understand
what our community needs from their leadership organization and with the Town
preparing to open Queen Elizabeth Park, a multi-purpose community centre with 56,000
square feet in arts space for Oakville, the timing is perfect.” Article from the Oakville
Beaver, June 17th 2011
Arts Leadership strengthened through unity 1st May, 2011
We are pleased to announce that, after months of negotiations and revised proposals,
the Oakville Arts Council (OAC), in collaboration with CommUnity Arts Space (CUAS),
have expressed a joint intention to align OAC and CUAS resources related to our
respective Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants to support the Town of Oakville in
capacity building at Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre (QEP).
Our goals include:
1. to align CUAS and OAC's organizational resources to support the Town in the
successful development of QEP to meet space and artistic needs of art and
cultural groups.
2. to pledge resources towards building capacity and success of QEP to support the
groups' interests whilst being supportive of the overall vitality of the facility.
This Memorandum of Understanding is the beginning of a united arts leadership, so that
our joined and complementary resources can better support the growth of the arts
sector in Oakville.
We are thrilled to bring you this announcement today, as it clearly demonstrates the
work of two groups coming together on your behalf to strengthen the arts sector in
Oakville.
For more than 30 years, the OAC has been your arts advocate, promoting the welfare of
arts in Oakville for all arts disciplines, ensuring that our community remains vibrant and
diverse. For the past seven years, CUAS has been working to further the support and
advocacy for a physical space for the community with specific provisions for arts and
music groups.
Today, we are stronger as a united voice supporting the not-for-profit arts groups’
interests at QEP. Through the generous funding of the OTF we are able to:
1.
Enhance organizational capacity through the development and implementation
of a new membership model designed to increase the number of participants,
creators and consumers of arts and culture in Oakville. (OAC OTF grant)
2.
Support partner groups in the development of a shared grassroots-based
cultural community hub in Oakville, a facility that is vibrant, diverse, creative and
accessible to a range of arts and cultural groups in the community. (CUAS OTF
grant)
So what are next steps?
1.
The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed on May 12th and posted on
the Oakville Arts Council website the next day.
2.
Throughout the Summer/Fall, we will be holding various stakeholder
consultations, researching best practices, and developing a new membership
strategy (based on your needs and feedback). The first stakeholder consultation
is with our not-for-profit arts groups and will be held on Sunday, June 5th from 2
– 4 p.m. here in the auditorium of the Oakville Public Library (120 Navy Street).
Refreshments will be served.
If you are a representative of an arts and cultural group, please click here to register!
We sincerely thank you for your continued support of the arts in Oakville. As always, we
encourage feedback and support.
On behalf of the Oakville Arts Council & CommUnity Arts Space.
http://www.oakvillearts.com/Default.aspx?pageId=911967&eventId=318489&EventView
Mode=EventDetails
CUAS receives another 2-year Trillium grant 27th November, 2010
The organization co-ordinating the wishes of local arts groups for the construction of a
new cultural and community centre says a grant it recently received is a benefit to all
the groups it represents.
Oakville-based CommUnity Arts Space (CUAS) held a reception ceremony for the twoyear, $130,000 grant it received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) at the
Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens Friday, Dec. 10. CUAS is supporting local cultural
groups by co-ordinating an effort for the construction of the soon-to-be-opened Queen
Elizabeth Park cultural and community centre.
In attendance at the reception were members of the various arts groups, with musical
entertainment by the local band High Rendition Jazz, comprised of high school students,
packed into a room.
“The reason we are here today is to acknowledge the grant that the Ontario Trillium
Foundation has offered to the community of Oakville. Lots of you have accompanied this
topic for many, many years,” said Britta Martini-Miles, CUAS executive director, to the
group.
She said the location for the reception was chosen for two reasons: one to show the
beauty available in Oakville, in this case a venue sitting in a garden on the shore of Lake
Ontario; and the other to show the need for a venue by packing a small room with the
many people interested in the arts.
Martini-Miles thanked Town Council for providing the $28 million space to the
community, and Trillium for funding the co-ordination of the various arts groups over
the years.
However she said there is still much work to be done if the new centre will become the
community hub that many hope it will become.
The Province collects the funding for the Trillium Foundation, but the grants are
administered by a separate body, comprised mostly of volunteers.
“This time I think you (Trillium) hit a home run because the need for this venue in our
community is tremendous,” said Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn.
He said the creation of such a space in the community is an important issue, even for
himself who is not a performer or an artist.
“I come from a very musical family myself and I’m completely talentless, but I make a
fantastic audience so I certainly have an appreciation for arts and music,” he said.
He said the QEP centre has been a dream for a long time and is nearing its realization.
“It’s my pleasure here today to announce the grant, but to congratulate the Trillium
Foundation for making what I think is an excellent decision. It’s going to mean a lot to
our community.”
The executive director of the Oakville Arts Council, Megan Whittington, thanked the
various groups involved in helping to establish the new centre.
“We have a really exciting journey ahead. It’s been an interesting journey so far and I’m
wishing us all the best in getting to where we need to be for this community,” she said.
Presenting the actual grant was Bill Allison, an Oakville resident and a volunteer with
OTF. He said this was one of some 1,500 grants being handed out this year in Ontario to
non-profit groups, which range in the types of work they do, including the arts.
“The arts add to the life and vitality of any community and Oakville is certainly no
exception. It has a thriving arts scene and a forward thinking one as well, developing
new ways of engaging arts, artists and art groups with creative collaborations,” he said.
“Each grant we make is done with the idea that in the end our grantees will have made
their community healthier and a more vibrant place as a result.”
The grant money will be used to pay for two part-time positions, help provide
professional educational support from outside of the community and more. QEP is
expected to open in the fall of 2011. The 144,000 sq. ft. facility is the renovated former
QEP High School and will feature both a community centre and space dedicated to arts
and culture. Article from the Oakville Beaver, December 17, 2010
QEP – [queue] Notes
14th April, 2010
What’s happening? Be in the loop.
Click here for Q - [queue] Notes Second Edition April 14, 2010
Click here for Q - [queue] Notes First Edition December 2009
pdf download
QE Park Planning Continues
18th January, 2010
Potential user groups, local residents, and the community were invited to attend an
Open House Public Information Meeting on February 4, 2010 where the latest space
renderings were displayed.
Operations Consultants, Ginder Consulting and Claire Tucker- Reid, contracted by the
Town of Oakville, will be contacting various community groups throughout February for
information on their current and future scheduling, programming, and rental rate
requirements.
Initially, focus group meetings are scheduled with the various arts and cultural
disciplines. This will be followed by a survey to ensure all of the groups' information is
captured. CUAS has already provided the consultants with comprehensive data
compiled over the past two years. The final report is expected in June.
QE Park Community Centre Breaks Ground
20th September, 2009
Oakville Beaver Article with quotes from our Executive Director, Britta Martini-Miles
Council approves Shared CommUnity Centre for 2011
20th April, 2009
After the Committee as a Whole with 7 of 12 councillors present, endorsed option 3 for
the re-purposing of the fomer Queen Elizabeth Park high school as a shared community
centre for arts, cultural and other recreational purposes, Council officially ratified the
preliminary design for Option 3 on Monday, April 20th, 2009. With Council's approval in
hand, more detailled design concepts will now be developed to ensure that the
community centre suits the requirements of Oakville's citizens and community groups.
For more detail click on following link:
From Opportunity a Possibility to Reality
16th April, 2009
On April 15, in front of a packed audience in Council Chambers, the Committee as a
Whole, with 7 of 12 councillors present, endorsed the plan to maintain the former Queen
Elizabeth high school in Bronte in its entirety of 140,000 sq. ft to develop a shared
community centre within the facility.
Community representatives of Oakville’s arts and cultural groups and many non-affiliated
members of the public cheered as councillors unanimously voted in favour of
renovations and upgrades to the former school building to comply with modern
efficiency and safety requirements but to otherwise keep internal renovations basic and
future rentals low. The aim is to give numerous Oakville community groups ready
access to multi-purpose rooms and some specialized spaces, such as a small theatre and
rehearsal rooms, three-dimensional art and studio spaces, and others, to allow the
groups to offer affordable programming to Oakvillians of all ages in one contained
space. The centre will also provide physical recreational spaces such as a pool, gyms, in
addition to a café and meeting place, offices, senior and youth lounge and storage for
the Town. Once the plan is formally ratified by Council on April 20th, staff will be given
directives to engage the architectural consultants, community groups, and public, to
plan the spaces in more detail. Parking, maintenance of outdoor spaces, outdoor
lighting and operational issues will also be studied and discussed.
It has been a long time coming since Community Arts Space (CUAS), formerly known as
Music and Art Shared Space (M.A.S.S.), first started appealing to the Town of Oakville in
2002 to address the needs for a physical meeting and work space of some 40 local
music, arts, and crafts organizations. The groups engage individually in a variety of
classes and programmes with low membership and programme fees to make their
discipline accessible to a wide array of Oakvillians, enriching the life of participating
individuals and Oakville in general. The groups lack a joint physical space to rehearse,
practice, teach, create and display, to coordinate their programming, events and
memberships, and are thus limited in their access and growth. This is where the former
QE Park School comes into play.
QEP, a 140, 000 sq ft 1970s school close to Third Line, was purchased by the Town of
Oakville in 2004 and has since been used for aquatics and recreational programmes with
about 2/3 of the building under lock and key due to disrepair and uncertain future
purpose. Council received plans for the partial or full demolition of the building and
new construction of an approx. 60,000 sq. ft sport centre with a 3000 sq ft allocation to
arts and culture for approximately $33 million. Provided with detailed studies, surveys,
research and appeals, the Town came to recognize the significant space needs and civic
value of the local arts and cultural community, and engaged community groups and the
general public in discussions about a changed design for a complete yet low-cost
renovation. This “Option 3”, priced by architects at about $24 Million, retains the entire
140,000 sq ft. facility to allocate around 55,000 sq. ft to arts, cultural and other
community groups alongside the traditional function of a community centre with pool
and gyms.
This space will host youth and adult orchestras and choirs, painting workshops,
individual studio spaces, wood carving and sculpture, ceramics, and fabric arts studio;
potentially a glass blowing and metal work studio, jewellery studio, storage facilities for
risers and specialized equipment, and of course many multi-purpose rooms. There will
be public gallery space displaying local art, a social space and café for visitors, afterschool programmes, and senior activities, with tremendous potential for vocational
training and continuing education programmes.
The opportunity for Oakville:
Low cost - short time frame (doors open in 2011)
Apply Province’s stimulus money to the renovation cost
Gain a “2 for the price of 1” community centre plus storage for less than the
other options
 Incubator: encourage growth and interconnectivity (youth/seniors/multiple
disciplines)
 Potential Model for future school conversions
 Creative re-purposing of Public Spaces
 Wide appeal and community support due to diversity
 Vocational opportunities/trade implications
 Educational outreach HDSB/Sheridan College
CommUnity Arts Space and its many member groups celebrated last night but are aware
that this is the time when the real work begins. “It has been a long labour and now we
have to raise this child to maturity”, states Britta Martini-Miles, Executive Director of
CUAS. “A refurbished QEP is providing Oakville with an opportunity to create unique



partnerships and a space of learning, entertainment and community. It is not the
answer to all of Oakville’s needs such as a larger performance space or a professional
gallery space, but it is a start. Let’s get to work.”CommUnity Arts Space is grateful to
the Ontario Trillium Foundation for financial support of their vision, to Mayor Burton to
honour his election promise of making space for the arts, and to the staff and council for
recognizing an opportunity, creating a possibility so that a Creative Oakville becomes a
reality.
ARCHIVED ARTICLES
QE Park development options revealed
20th January, 2009
Report in the Oakville Beaver
Several members of Oakville's arts and culture community were in attendance on
January 13 as the Department of Recreation and Culture presented QE Park
development design options to the Community Services Committee. Approval was
received to bring these options to local residents and the broader community.
Public Information Meeting - Development of Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre
Thursday, February 5, 2009, 7 - 9 p.m.
Town Hall, South Atrium
1225 Trafalgar Road
CommUnity Arts Space held a follow up meeting on January 15 with stakeholders to
further discuss option 3, the preferred design, allocating 54,000 sq. ft. for arts and
culture use. An Advisory Committee was also launched to work with CUAS and Town
Staff regarding space allocation, specialized upgrades, operations, and programming.
Contact us if you would like to be involved in the Advisory Committee or be kept
informed on CUAS meetings.
Re-purposing of QE Park - Rally for Support
7th November, 2008
Oakville Beaver Report
Britta Martini-Miles thanks Mayor Burton for his support at CommUnity Arts Space
Reception
Gifts to the Mayor:
"A peanut" - A reminder of how little the Town has
spent on local arts and culture in the past 15 years
- this peanut is also an eraser: empowering Mayor
Burton to erase this unfortunate past and support
the arts better in the future.
Photo: Britta Martini-Miles thanks Mayor Burton for
his support of the QE Park project. Photo courtesy
of Michael Ivanin/Special to the Oakville Beaver
CUAS hosted a reception to secure support for the proposed re-purposing of QE Park
High School as Oakville's first creative community centre: a multi-purpose community
centre with special provisions for Oakville's many arts, musical, literary and cultural
groups.
Representatives from partner organizations, key supporters, town staff, and council
were invited to Towne Square Gallery on November 6th, 2008 for the screening of a
short film on the project directed by local filmmaker Bob Fleck, which voices the need
for a physical space for arts and culture in Oakville. Guests were then able to network
and enjoy exquisite appetizers by The Painted Elephant, and discuss the potential QE
Park offers as a first re-purposed creative and social space for Oakville.
CUAS' Executive Director, Britta Martini-Miles, restated the urgent need for a shared
work space, within easy access to the community, without frills but with special
provisions for the local guilds and groups to allow them to further develop their artistic
skills and to offer affordable programmes to Oakvillians of all ages and backgrounds.
She urged council to engage the community in a practical approach of "need matching"
to ensure that the centre serves a range of community groups with compatible needs,
minimizes expenditure to keep rents low, and allows access by 2010.
CommUnity Arts Space, representing a multitude of local arts, literary, musical and
cultural groups, also committed to Council that they would be available to partner with
the Town in the process of re-purposing QE Park.
Mayor Burton, Kevin Flynn M.P.P, and Town Council were in attendance including; Keith
Bird, Mary Chapin, Allan Elgar, Alan Johnson, Roger Lapworth, Fred Oliver, and Ralph
Robinson.
CommUnity Arts Space wishes to thank the following for contributing to the success of
this event:
Bob Fleck Creative
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
Oakville Audio
Oakville Today
Regazzi Wines & Spirits Selection Inc.
Robert Patterson
Teresa Biagi-Gomez
The Painted Elephant
Towne Square Gallery
QE Park Potential
29th August, 2008
Wednesday, August 27th was a great day:






60 + representatives of local arts, music, and other CommUnity groups came to
QE Park school to share information on their space needs for teaching,
rehearsing, performing, meeting, interacting, displaying….
The Mayor welcomed the groups, stating that he just received an additional $7.4
Mill from the Province to address urgent capital needs within Oakville; the
community project at QE Park "could well be the target for these extra funds" he
continued…
Architects made detailed notes of space, storage, meeting and other needs such
as parking, access, ventilation etc. to provide the basis for a preliminary space
plan
A public consultation is planned for late September/early October
Decision-making within council, which the Mayor described as strongly supportive
of the idea to put QE Park to good use such as the CommUnity Work Space, is
expected within the month of November
Detailed design phase anticipated for 2009
Here is what you can do now:
o
o
o
Send your space requirements to us at CommUnity Arts Space (CUAS) so
that it can be added to the many already completed by other groups to
work out compatible and divergent space needs. Contact us for a
template to assist you.
Support Mayor Burton in his expressed vision for a Creative Oakville,
email or write to him (Mayor@oakville.ca), better yet WRITE a letter of
support for QE Park as a CommUNity Work space to the Mayor at
Corporation of the Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road,
Oakville, ON L6J 5A6. Each letter makes a HUGE difference.
Support this idea, raise awareness amongst other groups and general
public: write to the local papers, write to your ward councilors to get
wide-spread support for the Mayor's vision and a first home for A Creative
Oakville soon.
For Culture lives here - now it needs a Home...
Report in the Oakville Beaver
For the Love of the Arts Festival
1st May, 2008
Oakville Today original article
CommUnity Arts Space is gearing up for its 4th Annual For the Love of the Arts Festival
and is pulling out all the stops. Particularly exciting is the announcement that the
fledgling organization has attracted the patronage of Canadian tenor Michael Schade.
Schade, who was born in Geneva but now calls Oakville home, is in demand all over the
world, performing recitals, operas and concerts as well as
studio recordings.
His recording of Daphne (Decca) with Renée Fleming was
nominated for a Grammy in 2005 and his recording of St.
Matthew Passion (Teldec), conducted by Nikolaus
Harnoncourt won the 2002 GRAMMY for Best Choral
Performance.
In January 2007, he was named a Kammersänger by the
Austrian government, the first Canadian to be so honoured.
Originally bestowed by the royal courts, the title
"Kammersänger", or chamber singer, is awarded to
distinguished singers who have made a significant career in Austria.
Britta Martini-Miles, Executive Director of CommUnity Arts Space, is very excited to have
the dynamic, world-renowned artist actively support the quest for a new arts and culture
centre. Jokingly citing her “great charm and perseverance” as the drivers to get Schade
on board, Martini-Miles credits Oakville Suzuki for the opportunity, as Schade has
appeared in concert here with Suzuki and during fund-raising events for the new
Oakville hospital.
The first For The Love of the Arts festival was held at Town Hall, in February 2005, with
participation from a core of Oakville artists, artisans and groups, attracting 800 visitors.
The festival has grown each successive year, to include more artists, more groups and
attracting even more visitors, making it one of Oakville’s ‘must do’ events of the year.
Annually supported by local businesses and corporations, this year’s sponsors include:
Oakville Today
In Oakville
Laser Networks
Budd’s Mini Oakville
Legend Creek
Moonshine Café
Kerr Street BIA
“We couldn’t do any of this without their generous and unfailing support,” says Martini-
Miles. “I can’t thank them enough for making community building and Building for
Community a reality in Oakville.”
CommUnity Arts Space has also received provincial support through grants from the
Ontario Trillium Foundation.
CommUnity Arts Space is currently accepting applications from performers and artisans
to participate in the June 14th event. “Booth spaces are going quickly so I urge people
to contact us quickly in order to reserve a location.” Contact
www.communityartsspace.ca to book your spot and to learn more about the festival and
CommUnity Arts Space. Currently, registered groups include Artworks, Balletomane,
BurlOak Theatre Group, Emma Smith, Halton Youth Symphony, Intrada Brass, Klaudia's
Music Studio, Masterworks, Mona Pykala, Oakville Galleries, Oakville Suzuki Flute
Orchestra, Oakville Suzuki Orchestra, Painted Elephant, Sarah Wilson, Stephanie Flynn
Designs, Sculptors & Woodcarvers Guild and World of Threads.
The For the Love of the Arts Festival takes place Saturday, June 14, from 11 am to 6pm
at White Oaks Secondary School, located at 1330 Montclair Drive in North Oakville.
Michael Schade new Patron of CommUnity Arts Space
3rd April, 2008
Michael Schade's voice has been hailed as ringing, exceptionally
elegant, silken, translucent, sensuously ethereal, glorious, and
dynamic. The Mozart tenor of choice on international stages in
Europe and North America, he is equally at home in New York,
Vienna, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, Salzburg, Dresden, Tokyo
and London. His passion for his artform embraces recitals,
operas, concerts and recordings.
In January 2007, Michael was named a Kammersänger by the
Austrian government, the first Canadian to be so honoured.
Originally bestowed by the royal courts, the title
"Kammersänger", or chamber singer, is awarded to distinguished
singers who have made a significant career in Austria.
We are honoured to have a singer of such significance and acclaim support us in our
endeavour and give young aspiring musicians something to aspire to...maybe "made in
Oakville"...
For more details see www.MSchade.com
MASS returns as CommUnity Arts Space
8th February, 2008
The Oakville Beaver
Music and Art Shared Space (MASS) is back - but with a new name and revised
mandate.
Now known as CommUnity Arts Space, the volunteer organization is still working
towards the goal under its former name of having an arts centre built in Oakville.
But that vision has expanded, according to executive director Britta Martini-Miles.
CommUnity Arts Space has emerged with a refined mandate and broader support base to further their support and advocacy for a physical space for the community with
specific provisions for arts and music groups.
"We are excited to re-launch as CommUnity Arts Space. The name change is a reflection
of what we have heard from the community," said Martini-Miles.
"We have talked to so many groups and people and what we have heard is the
overwhelming need and desire for a centre in Oakville that embraces all aspects of the
creative and cultural community." The group was formed in response to the challenge
faced by arts, music and craft groups in finding appropriate space to rehearse and
perform.
Through research and surveys the idea of a shared space emerged. The group is
working for the inclusion of designated rooms for individual lessons, rehearsal space for
large choirs and orchestras, built with sound proofing and according to acoustic needs of
music groups, special flooring for dance, and ideal lighting for the display of paintings
and photography, storage facilities and equipment rooms.
The interested groups reached consensus on a vision for a facility which would attract
and accommodate the creative and artistic communities of the Town.
The building would bring about a cross-pollination of varied disciplines and interests
which would catalyze the growth of the creative energies of the community. The Board
of Directors of CommUnity Arts Space and Martini-Miles, have successfully revised its
specialized mandate emphasizing the critical need for a physical arts space in Oakville.
This refined mandate has been endorsed by the Oakville Arts Council and is supported
by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
"The Ontario Trillium Foundation will continue to support the organization financially for
a further two years so that the group may build expertise on the existing communal
space needs, and advocate for the building of a new cultural community centre," said
Chris Stoate, CommUnity Arts Space Board Chair. "Such a facility could initially also be
used by other community groups: youth programs, senior citizens programs, literacy
groups, private and corporate rentals, linkage to schools (music/art/cultural diversity)
and afterschool programs, so as to help with its financial viability."
As the Town of Oakville has commissioned a cultural review by an external consultancy,
any Town funding for new facilities is on hold until results are in.
To fundraise for the future building, CommUnity Arts Space invites the local arts
community to contact the group to indicate their interest in participating in the group's
fourth annual Community Arts Festival in early June.
Having presented the first festival near Valentine's Day, this event has previously been
called "For The Love Of The Arts" and has been held at Oakville's Town Hall on Trafalgar
Road. However, the date and location of the festival will change this year.
Any local groups, individuals and arts-based businesses, eager to showcase their talent,
to promote cultural and artistic interaction, and to help fundraise for a space for the
arts, should contact Martini-Miles at britta_martinimiles@hotmail.com. Include in the
email a preferred date of the following options: June 7 or June 14.
For more information, contact Martini-Miles at 905-815-0551.
New Managing Director hopes to help make MASS
23rd March, 2007
Music and Art Shared Space (MASS) started as a dream.
And if you ask the local group's new managing director, that dream is on its way to becoming a
reality.
"It's now about implementing the dream, it's about shaping it," said MASS' newly-installed Britta
Martini-Miles.
"I'm very excited. I mean, how could you not be? It's a wonderful thing to be working on."
The mother of three joins MASS as its managing director after working with the Suzuki Music
Association since moving from South Africa a year ago.
MASS' goal is to create a centre for the arts for the many cultural and artistic groups struggling to
find performance, practice and display space in Oakville.
So far, the group has been given a Trillium grant to create its game plan - a business and
feasibility study. They're now looking for a place to create the facility, and have been talking with
Sheridan College about the possibility of MASS' dream facility being built there, Martini-Miles said.
"I think to put a centre at Sheridan would make a lot of sense - it's a win-win. It’s prime location
for us, the Town Hall is right there, so it would tie everything together very nicely, and Sheridan
would benefit from having it right there."
MASS is also working with the Town, which Martini-Miles says has been supportive.
"They have given us a strong endorsement that they want to support us for this."
MASS has also received support from the Oakville Arts Council and the Community Foundation of
Oakville as well as from other private individuals and companies.
Martini-Miles emphasizes the project MASS has in mind is by no means small in scale.
"It's not well-intended and well-meaning artsy folk that got together to build themselves a little
clubhouse," she said. "This is broad-based, we're building a facility for everyone."
A facility not only to show talent, Martini-Miles says, but also to cultivate it.
"This is how you create and maintain talent. It's important that you have a centre somewhere.
Co-existence of different cultural groups, craft groups, music groups - that's how you create a
community. That's how you create a hub."
Neighboring communities like Brampton and Mississauga, the managing director noted, already
have such a facility.
"We do have to have it. There is definitely a sense that Oakville is due."
Resource development, fundraising and looking at possible options are all in MASS' game plan
now.
Its board has been restructured to reflect all groups and interests necessary after Susan
Obermeyer, MASS' former executive director, stepped down to devote more time to her family.
MASS will also be renamed and will develop a new logo soon to reflect these changes.
"Up until recently it really was a volunteer-driven concern," said Martini-Miles. "That is not how
you build buildings. This project is enormous."
Don Pangman is the board's new resource development officer.
"He's building a really huge support network from both private and corporate sectors," said
Martini-Miles.
"It's not going to be the one building that's going to fix it all. That's impossible," she added. "But
Oakville has been starved in this area for a number of years and it's time to get to work on
addressing some of those needs."
MASS plans to launch its fundraising campaign in the fall, and hopes to have the building open by
the fall of 2009.