Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation

Media Release

June 26, 2023
Contact: Dan Manley, President
info@hhartscentrefoundation.ca

The Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation (HHACF) is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to serving the performing artists and audiences of the Haliburton Highlands. The vision of the HHACF is to program a full range of performing arts and film, independently and with community partners, and to provide purpose-built, professional facilities for shared experiences of the arts and a range of community gatherings.

As a growing arts community, Haliburton has outgrown the current available performing arts venues in terms of capacity and use. A project feasibility study and a fundraising Community Assessment and Planning Study were conducted in 2022 to provide the groundwork, including community input, for the development of a purpose-built performing arts centre. The studies showed a need for a facility with increased seating, orchestral space, dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces, as well as a box office, lobby, better lighting and sound equipment and more.

Interviewees and survey participants included a diverse scope of stakeholders including (but not limited to) local, provincial and federal government, performers, patrons and local businesses.

The Community Assessment and Planning Study identified key areas of importance to our community and provided recommendations that the HHACF Board of Directors is moving forward with, including:

• Developing a communications plan to clarify the role of HHACF and the value and impact of this project to the residents within the catchment area.

• Exploring potential partnerships with projects that hope to address key issues in the region that were identified through the assessment (i.e., shortage of housing, food insecurity, healthcare, as well as opportunities to provide economic stimulus).

In the spring of 2023, the HHACF Board of Directors began exploring collaboration opportunities with multiple organizations and community leaders, as well as a variety of potential partners with a goal to identify creative options for the project and provide sustainability and community impact.

Dan Manley, President HHACF shares, “The HHACF’s vision for a performing arts centre will have a significant impact on Haliburton County by providing an enhanced facility to support our growing performing arts community and providing a boost to the local economy through increased tourism and job creation. We feel it is also important to address the fuller needs of our community, and so we are exploring collaboration opportunities to reimagine the possibilities of this project.”

With the summer season, the HHACF Board of Directors looks forward to advancing conversations with community members, leaders, potential partners and visitors. They welcome community input to find the best way forward for both the project and Haliburton County.

For more information on the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation, visit their website (https://hhartscentrefoundation.ca/) or email (info@hhartscentrefoundation.ca).

A PDF of this press release can be downloaded here.

On Thursday, October 27th, at the Bonnie View Inn, the HHACF hosted a capacity crowd for its 2021/22 AGM and the reveal of its Project Feasibility Study with a presentation by Janis A. Barlow & Associates.

The following are the materials for the AGM proceedings:

• Agenda

• Minutes from 2020/21

• President’s welcome message

• Committee reports:

  • Finance

    • Profit and Loss

    • Balance sheet

    • Corporate Sponsorships

    • Direct Donations

  • Fundraising

  • Communications

  • Feasibility

  • Site Visits Ad-hoc

The evening included the much-anticipated reveal of the results of the HHACF’s Project Feasibility Study, which was started in October 2021. The entire presentation by Rebecca Can was recorded and is available to view in four segments (all links open in a new window/tab):

• Introduction

• Part 1 - Community Profile

• Part 2 - Market: Supply, Demand, Audience, Facilities

• Part 3 - Building Program

The slide deck of the study presentation is available here.

The full study will be published in the following few days. Keep an eye on our website and social media feeds for notification:

• Facebook

• Instagram

The Dennis Group Engaged for Fundraising Feasibility Study

Press Release
Monday, September 26, 2022

With the Project Feasibility Study wrapping up and presentations to be held in October at the AGM, the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation (HHACF) is looking ahead to the next step in its mission to establish a purpose-built performing arts centre in the Haliburton Highlands.

To this end, after an RFP (request for proposal) process, the HHACF is pleased to announce that The Dennis Group (TDG), based in Peterborough, Ontario, has been engaged to perform a Fundraising Feasibility Study and Campaign Plan.

With their previous experience in the Haliburton Highlands with the Haliburton School of Art and Design, TDG was a natural choice for undertaking a Fundraising Feasibility Study. One of their most recent projects was for The Canadian Canoe Museum in which they planned and managed the Inspiring Canada by Canoe national fundraising campaign with a target of $45 million.

Dan Manley, president of the HHACF, is excited for this next phase of the Foundation’s mission to build a performing arts centre. “With the Project Feasibility Study delivering encouraging results, the Board is looking forward to working with TDG to present these findings to the philanthropic community in the Haliburton Highlands and beyond. Their previous connections to our region means they can hit the ground running and tailor a fundraising campaign perfect for the HHACF and its supporters.”

Chonée Dennis, president and CEO of The Dennis Group echoes this feeling: “On behalf of the consultants at The Dennis Group Inc., we are excited to support the plan to build a purpose-built arts centre in Haliburton. This project will enhance the community’s already rich arts footprint, bringing an expanded program of performing arts to the area. It is a privilege to partner with the Haliburton Highlands Arts Centre Foundation to realize this vision.”

Phase 1 of the study is scheduled to complete by the end of 2022. Assuming the findings are favourable, Phase 2, development of the campaign plan, will begin in January, 2023.

A PDF of this press release can be downloaded here.