There was a lot to celebrate at the Village Playhouse’s Undercover Gala in Bancroft last Friday.
Local MPP Ric Bresee attended the festivities and formally acknowledged the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s capital grant of $45,300 that has been awarded to Tweed and Company.
The grant is being used to purchase and install new LED lighting fixtures and replace theatrical draperies at the Village Playhouse.
According to Tweed and Company, this project will extend the life of the arts hub for years to come.
“With these improvements, the theatre can continue to bring large-scale productions to the community.” said marketing and development coordinator Katherine Cappellacci.
MooseFM caught up with MPP Bresee at the Gala where he shared how happy he was that the Ontario Government was supporting the organization through the Ontario Trillium Fund grant.
“It’s just so wonderful to see Tweed and Company thriving in several communities [and] right here in Bancroft, it’s wonderful to have this type of facility and see this kind of community engagement with the efforts of the organization. So we’re really happy to see it happening tonight. And to celebrate the Trillium grant.”
Bresee went on to also acknowledge the incredible amount of volunteer hours that go into the theatre group.
“Honestly, it’s seed money…. one of the things that I’m incredibly aware of is no matter how many dollars are involved in this [grant]… If you start thinking about the volunteer hours, the community engagement that this actually represents, that money is small peanuts. It really is.”
“If we can help provide that and make sure that this continues to thrive with such amazing volunteers that are making it happen… We’re really happy to do something.”
Thanks to the grant the theatre is getting a new travelling curtain at the back of the stage, six new side leg curtains, three new ceiling border curtains, as well as new safe and secure rigging for all curtains.
“As our audiences have seen, the former curtains were close to 30 years old. They were ripping and had lost their fire-protection rating,” said Co-Executive and Artistic Director, Tim Porter.
“We owe a massive thank you to Trillium, we wouldn’t be able to afford to begin these essential upgrades without their support.”
Tweed & Company Theatre is not for profit that produces professional musical theatre, concerts, and live entertainment at the Bancroft Village Playhouse, the Marble Arts Centre, and the Tweed Outdoor Stage. They also facilitate many community arts engagement opportunities, including year-round classes and camps for youth.
“Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community, or simply have fun, organizations like Tweed & Co deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure they remain at the heart of the community for decades to come.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government. They have a mandate to build ‘healthy and vibrant communities’ across the province.
Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and partnerships.
