Audiences in the Gambrel Barn at this year’s Elora Festival were much more comfortable thanks to a $36,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott joined foundation representative Martin Bosch in congratulating the festival at the opening night of the 29th Elora Festival.
“The volunteers and staff of the Elora Festival deserve congratulations on their successful OTF application,” said Arnott. “This is exactly the kind of community project that OTF should be supporting. Without question, the Elora Festival is one of the finest annual music celebrations in Ontario.”
The grant was used to supplement a $55,000 purchase of 750 theatre-style stacking chairs that will be used in the Gambrel Barn. A salt and sand storage shed in the winter, the barn is transformed into an acoustically perfect performance venue in the summer.
“Anyone who has ever attended a concert at the barn knows that the rented chairs used for over 15 years were extremely uncomfortable,” said general manager Joanne Grodzinski. “We are thankful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support, its commitment to the arts, and to our many other generous donors who contributed to the festival’s Take a Seat campaign. Our patrons will now enjoy a truly comfortable concert experience.”
Launched as the Three Centuries Festival in 1979, the Elora Festival has evolved into an internationally acclaimed annual music event. The festival has grown to span four weeks with over 40 concerts and events in July and August.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the provincial government. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province with funds that are generated from lottery, casino, and slots profits. For more info, visit trilliumfoundation.org.
