Community Artists Niagara Art and Artists IN and FOR the Community of Niagara Falls

1. Community Artists Niagara Art and Artists IN and FOR the Community of Niagara Falls

2. Community Artists Niagara Provides Value to Niagara Falls • We currently provide -- A functioning, public, multi-purpose gallery, open most of the time – and contributing to Queen St • The “Explore” in Eat, Shop and Explore Queen St. • A space for artists: • professional and emerging artists meet and socialize – Canada’s next leading artists in this region are CAn members • lessons for recreational artists, and for artists to give lessons to contribute to their making a living • to work and perform • Art referral services – calls for artists, help artists work • Art events that enhanced City life and pride: Children’s Art contest, Green Art Show, Waterfall at City Hall (Canada Culture Days), Historic Costume and Dance, drop-in music performance space. • And we received no funding from the City of Niagara Falls!

3. Value Proposition to City of Niagara Falls • This is How We See CAn’s Future • CAn manage a multi-purpose gallery space for ALL artists and art teachers at all levels in Niagara Falls • could return fees and income to the City, • CAn operate a public multi-purpose gallery for local artists, gallery store to sell art • exhibits that change every month, • small gallery store with art items <$100, • adult and senior art lessons, life drawing, other media • working space for artists, • café in gallery, space for catered meetings • We’d like to help the City develop a Community Arts Center: • build an arts hub, build it on top of the new market building, or make space at McBain or re-purpose an existing building, link into arts programs and local post-secondary schools

4. Outcomes for Niagara Falls and Downtown Businesses • A Cultural Centre for the City of Niagara Falls • Build pride of citizens in Niagara Falls • Enhance the commercial viability of Queen Street’s strategy “Eat, Shop and Explore” • Reasons for citizens to come to downtown • The City’s growing retired community needs space for arts activities and continuing arts education programs • With space and focus, Niagara Falls could attract more retired and senior residents • Tap into Provincial and Federal arts funding • Re-activate the professional artists community

5. CAn’s First Problem - Space • 1. Acute Crisis – • A. We need a space for our Trillium funded artists in residence to work in sight of and with interaction of the public. September 2012 – March 2013. • B. We need a space for our events and current programs – public gallery, Canada Culture Days, artists meeting space, painting classes, etc. • C. We have no money for rent or utilities!

6. CAn’s Second Problem – Re-Imagine CAn and Modernize • CAn needs to earn money to pay its rent and utilities, and to attract funding organizations. • Our problem – how can we do that with no space, and in economically struggling Niagara Falls? • Our ideas – public multi-purpose gallery with exhibits that change every month, small gallery store with art items <$100, adult and senior art lessons, life drawing, working space for artists, café in gallery, space for catered meetings.

7. Priorities • Relocate from existing facilities by September 2012 • Stay in the Queen Street district? Or other business district • Find a way to perform obligations on our Trillium funded “Artists in Residence Program” to work in sight of and with interaction of the public. September 2012 – March 2013. • Create sources of stable funding to support base activities • Current sources are inadequate for commercial rents • Crystallize a new CAn strategy, linked with key stakeholders; the City of Niagara Falls, commercial developers, educational institutions, other competing arts organizations • Align board to include all key stake holders • Raise ambitions – realize the City’s 2007 Culture and Recreation Master Plan!!

8. Reasons to bet on CAn • CAn’sambitions go beyond serving needs of artists – we want to link with Niagara Falls and business community strategic objectives • Competitive arts organizations have narrower focus • Niagara District Arts – small number of primarily older artists, programs only for their members, won’t accept oil painters or allow oil painters to work in their space, gallery only open on Sunday, working space is not always open on one night a week, location is visually hidden. • Parkway Artists – small number of primarily older artists, although they are marketing oriented, paint together once every three weeks, no space of their own, programs only for their members • Petersons – programs for youth and children but apparently not adults, very out of the way location, small run-down building, not suitable for public gallery. • Niagara Falls Art Gallery – programming for children, a few adult classes (one teacher), public gallery but not for local artists, out-of-the way location, closed much of the time.

9. What is Needed? • A space devoted to art and arts activities where we – and other arts organizations - pay no rent, taxes or utilities • This is not an unreasonable request • CAn could manage such a space for ALL artists and art teachers at all levels in Niagara Falls, could return fees and profits to the City, could operate a gallery for local artists, with a gallery store to sell art • This would enhance the life and pride of citizens of Niagara Falls, attracting retired persons and economic development • The City needs to fulfil its Culture and Recreation Plan, it offers far fewer arts opportunities and avenues than other cities. We need political and management attention and commitment to build a community arts center • But in the meanwhile, find CAn a space because we are the most broadly active arts organization in Niagara Falls!