ELORA – The Elora Centre for the Arts recently completed neighbourhood engagement and sound studies for a new stage on its grounds, and with a stamp of approval from Centre Wellington council, it can now get going on the project.
The arts centre received $100,000 from the MacDonald Trust Fund for the stage and the organization is working in partnership with Lot 10 Productions Inc. on the project.
At the Aug. 22 council meeting, board member Kathryn Giffen presented results of the sound study, which was a requirement of getting the grant.
The design and location of the stage will do a lot to mitigate sound disruption for neighbours, Giffen said.
The stage is to be located on the lawn of the Elora Centre for the Arts facing Mill Street East and the Grand River. It will have a solid back wall, with side walls angled outward and a roof over the stage that’s lower at the back and higher at the front, all of which will help direct sound toward the river.
“We also have booking guidelines,” Giffen said.
These include stipulations that only acoustic acts can perform there and all performances end by 10pm so equipment can be loaded and any trucks off the property by 11pm.
Theatre performances can be miked, “but the sound doesn’t project out,” Giffen said.
Performers will also have to sign a noise sound agreement to meet the guidelines.
She added the arts centre reached out to 12 neighbours in the vicinity and spoke with 10 (couldn’t reach two), all of whom were supportive of the stage.
User groups like Riverfest Elora, the Elora Community Theatre, the Elora Festival Singers, and Adrian Jones School of Music, were also consulted regarding their needs and the plan incorporates their requirements for the size of stage, storage, lighting and electrical and electronic hook-ups.
The arts centre is also planning an addition to the main building and through the two projects, the parking lot will be reconfigured, adding 12 more spots for a total of 32 parking spaces.
The MacDonald grant must be spent before December 2022, “so we want to begin the work this October,” Giffen said.
She added the centre will reassess noise complaints and sound guidelines every six months to head off any problems for neighbouring properties.
Council saw no problems with the plan and approved the project.
