Feature Article January 30, 2002
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Trillium grantgoes to Blue
Skies in the Communityby
Jeff Green
The
Ontario Trillium Foundation has awarded a grant of $25,000 a year for
three years to Blue Skies in the Community, the outreach arm of the
Blue Skies Music Festival.
The grant will allow BSIC to continue and expand its efforts to celebrate and support the Arts through its instrument lending program, the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra, (based in Sharbot Lake), and by sponsoring song-writing and instrument-making workshops. BSIC also provides financial support for musical ensembles visiting schools in communities throughout the region.
Blue Skies in the Community was formally established about 15 years ago. Its goals then, as they are now, were to promote music making and appreciation throughout the area that surrounds the annual Blue Skies Music Festival, which is now 28 years old. Even before BSIC was formed, the Music Festival organizers saw the festival as more than a yearly three-day event. From very early on, we have been The Blue Skies Cultural Centre; thats the entity that puts on the Festival, recounts BSIC founder Carolyn Stewart.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation has awarded a grant of $25,000 a year for three years to Blue Skies in the Community, the outreach arm of the Blue Skies Music Festival.
The grant will allow BSIC to continue and expand its efforts to celebrate and support the Arts through its instrument lending program, the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra, (based in Sharbot Lake), and by sponsoring song-writing and instrument-making workshops. BSIC also provides financial support for musical ensembles visiting schools in communities throughout the region.
Blue Skies in the Community was formally established about 15 years ago. Its goals then, as they are now, were to promote music making and appreciation throughout the area that surrounds the annual Blue Skies Music Festival, which is now 28 years old. Even before BSIC was formed, the Music Festival organizers saw the festival as more than a yearly three-day event. From very early on, we have been The Blue Skies Cultural Centre; thats the entity that puts on the Festival, recounts BSIC founder Carolyn Stewart.
Each year at the Festival, 10% of the money collected through tape and CD sales of music by performers is turned over to BSIC. The money is then spent bringing back some of those performers to the community throughout the year for concerts and workshops. We didnt want to take money away from the musicians, says Carolyn Stewart, so we make sure most of it goes back to musicians. Of course, the community surrounding the festival benefits from this, by having performances that would otherwise be too expensive to bring in.
Over the years, Blue Skies in the Community has supported The Folk Upstairs concert series in Perth, the Live Wire series in Kingston, events at the McDonalds Corners Elphin Recreation Society (MERA), along with numerous one-time and ongoing events in Frontenac and Lanark.
This Trillium grant will not only support established programs, like the Fiddle Orchestra, but will allow further outreach. BSIC itself will be able to initiate more workshops for people of all ages, and a brochure will be produced to enhance access to support for artists, primarily musicians, both for performance and workshops.
Carolyn Stewart is hoping that after the three years of Trillium funding, Blue Skies in the Community will still be doing what it has always been doing - supporting cultural activities, particularly music, in the region. She would also love to see the groundwork laid for the Blue Skies Cultural Centre to build a permanent space, in order to make music making and enjoying available to all.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, annually receives $100 million of government funding, which is generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. The Foundation provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recreation, environment, and social service sectors.
Each year at the Festival, 10% of the money collected through tape and CD sales of music by performers is turned over to BSIC. The money is then spent bringing back some of those performers to the community throughout the year for concerts and workshops. We didnt want to take money away from the musicians, says Carolyn Stewart, so we make sure most of it goes back to musicians. Of course, the community surrounding the festival benefits from this, by having performances that would otherwise be too expensive to bring in.
Over the years, Blue Skies in the Community has supported The Folk Upstairs concert series in Perth, the Live Wire series in Kingston, events at the McDonalds Corners Elphin Recreation Society (MERA), along with numerous one-time and ongoing events in Frontenac and Lanark.
This Trillium grant will not only support established programs, like the Fiddle Orchestra, but will allow further outreach. BSIC itself will be able to initiate more workshops for people of all ages, and a brochure will be produced to enhance access to support for artists, primarily musicians, both for performance and workshops.
Carolyn Stewart is hoping that after the three years of Trillium funding, Blue Skies in the Community will still be doing what it has always been doing - supporting cultural activities, particularly music, in the region. She would also love to see the groundwork laid for the Blue Skies Cultural Centre to build a permanent space, in order to make music making and enjoying available to all.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, annually receives $100 million of government funding, which is generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. The Foundation provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recreation, environment, and social service sectors.
