A larger board, a change in direction and more donations have helped Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) officials reevaluate their position – and decide not to close the centre’s doors this month.
Sheila Koop, the new co-chair for the centre’s board, said members were able to “pull together some new energy” and reexamine the books to help make the decision.
At its annual general meeting in April, six new members were added to the existing four-member board. ECFTA board chair Robbie Keith has stepped down as chair but remains on the board as Koop and Matt Ladner take over as co-chairs.
“The ship is turning around,” said Koop.
She explained a number of elements came together for the board to make the decision to stay open.
“There was a huge outpouring from the community at the annual general meeting; a lot of people renewed their memberships and made donations to help us through this difficult period,” she said.
ECFTA is now looking into longer-term loans to stay open for the next year.
The board is also planning arts education programing to return in August, although no details have been set in stone. Koop said officials are also looking at fall and winter programming.
She added that restructuring is not out of the picture.
“We know that in the long-term we need to restructure, because this building just costs too much for an arts organization to maintain,” she said.
ECFTA is looking into different operational models but nothing has been decided.
“It’s just a matter of making sure that we can pay all of our expenses each month now and buy ourselves more time to do that properly,” said Koop.
Officials received an opinion from a tax lawyer about a CRA warning letter and Koop said they now feel confident in their position.
The CRA had advised ECFTA officials the centre can no longer earn income from rentals, which brought the centre to a crisis point in November of last year.
The centre had to pare-down by cutting staff, shutting down programs and even giving notice to long-term tenants.
Staff has been re-hired with a grant from Employment Ontario and volunteers will provide extra coverage in the building.
The advice received from the lawyer suggested the ECFTA needed to strike a balance with it’s programing.
“(We) need to show the CRA that you are trying to comply. We feel confident now,” said Koop.
She went on to say selling the building, which was a major consideration earlier this year, is no longer on the table.
“We own the building and the restructuring will not involve selling the building,” she said.
“It’s on the back burner, the very back burner. I think we’re heading in a different direction now and I think the community and the membership have expressed their will that we try to maintain this as a community resource.”
The ECFTA held a fundraiser on June 4 called Let There Be Art.
Art in the Yard will be back this year on July 9 and 10 from 10am to 5pm.
