After months of research, wrangling, and soul-searching, we have come to the conclusion that we are going to submit terms to Woodstock Town Council to pay the $18 000 due to our lack of onsite parking.
Usually when I tell people this, they start with questions....
Them: What do you mean, no parking, the Courthouse is there, the Weslyan Church is there, why can't you use that?
Me: The by-law says we have to have our own dedicated parking. We had a deal with the Presbyterian church but it wasn't within 500 feet of 702, and they don't have enough parking under the by-law either.
Them: So, why is it $18 000?
Me: We are required to have 10 onsite parking spaces due to the square footage of our building. We have one at the house, so we have to pay $2000 per space that we don't have.
Them: What about the houses next door? They don't have enough parking.
Me: They were built before this bylaw took effect last August, and are exempt from these rules.
Them: So, what does the $18 000 do? Get you the parking spaces?
Me: No, it goes into a fund for the Town of Woodstock to create more parking in town.
Them: How are you going to pay for this?
Me: Fundraise our butts off. And try to pay over the course of many years.
06 November 2009
23 October 2009
Won't you be my neighbour?
Across the street from 702 is the Weslyan Church. The congregation is moving to the former co-op grocery store in Jacksonville, and next Monday night, Woodstock Town Council will begin voting on the rezoning. It takes three readings to approve the rezoning, which will allow a developer to tear down the front part of the church and replace it with vinyl aparments.
Neighbourhood residents are opposed - they are asking for support at the Council meeting next Monday at 7pm. Please come and show your support, even if you're from out of town. We need to speak up on these issues or there will be no historic buildings left. More to come on our parking issues in a few weeks.
Neighbourhood residents are opposed - they are asking for support at the Council meeting next Monday at 7pm. Please come and show your support, even if you're from out of town. We need to speak up on these issues or there will be no historic buildings left. More to come on our parking issues in a few weeks.
23 July 2009
Good things come to those who wait
Just wanted to let you all know that 702 will not be a gallery space in time for the Dooryard Festival. We've run into more red tape than we anticipated and need to put the brakes on in order to manage everything properly. Although we are a little disappointed about this, it does give us more time to have a super awesome gallery in time for Dooryard 2010, which promises to be excellente!
We will continue to update you in September after we recover from the festival. We're a bunch of busy bees at the moment and sincerely hope you will check out Woodstock's first ever mixed arts festival, downtown, August 12-16th. See you there!
We will continue to update you in September after we recover from the festival. We're a bunch of busy bees at the moment and sincerely hope you will check out Woodstock's first ever mixed arts festival, downtown, August 12-16th. See you there!
26 June 2009
Demolition (Hu)Man
The RiVA team has started tearing out everything bad about the sixties: wood panelling, wood veneer cabinets, ratty carpets, suspended ceilings. Unfortunately, we are also removing some original plaster and lathe walls in order to open up the front rooms for the gallery. We are on a tight timeline, since Dooryard Arts Festival will begin in the 702 gallery on Wednesday, August 12th. But humans work best under pressure and this group is no exception. Anyone who would like to help, leave a comment and we'll find a way to get you involved.
12 May 2009
Legalese
Two days ago--May 11th, 2009--four River Valley Arts Alliance board members took a trip to beautiful Knowlesville, New Brunswick. The sun was shining, it was warm, and our nerves were alive with excitement. We came with high spirits. We came with pens and chequebooks in hand. We came to sign our lease.
Effective May 17th at 12:00 noon, we are the tenants of 702 Main Street.
More to come.
Effective May 17th at 12:00 noon, we are the tenants of 702 Main Street.
More to come.
17 April 2009
With spring comes...
Why does The Winter seem so long while it's happening, but in retrospect it's like hardly any time has passed at all?
It's been nearly three months since our last update. At that time we were all doing a lot of talking, a lot of planning and a lot of dreaming. Now, at the cusp of spring, it seems it's finally time for action. With word from the house owners that property taxes are due, we've undertaken a fundraising campaign since it was decided in the fall that as part of our lease agreement we would cover that cost each year. The lease is still not signed. We're waiting on legal paperwork that will allow us to call the Arts Alliance an incorporated not-for-profit entity, and sign binding contracts as such. At the risk of inviting a "famous last words" scenario, this stuff is all just a formality, and should be taken care of within the next 30 days.
Now that the weather is warmer (in our experience it's usually 4 or 5 degrees colder inside the house than it is outside) we're all very eager to get started. What does that involve, you ask? Good question. A few months ago we essentially finalized our vision for the house interior. It includes a small retail area, a large, open gallery and performance space, mixed artist workspace--including a full darkroom, printing press and rental units, living space (both permanent and temporary), a communal catering kitchen, and designated space for future expansion (like for, say, a community radio station!).
The first step will be presenting an expanded and detailed version of this plan to the owners of the house for their approval, which we aren't anticipating will be a problem since they are seriously cool people with a vision very much in line with ours. The next step, or rather a step taken simultaneously with the first (making for a very odd, but effective, walk) will be to locate and procure support. This support will need to come in three forms: monetary support, material support, and manual--as in labour--support. For this project to fly it will have to involve the entire community, and the community has to want it. I happen to think that the community not only wants it, but needs it. The creative-types in this area have been without a home for long enough, and we want to give them one. We not only want to give our artists a home, we want to give their supporters a place where they come to commune with local art, and to get involved with their community. We think it could change the dynamic of this place. Maybe it already has?
At the same time, we are moving ahead on our summer arts festival in a big way. We are aiming for something of a nature of which this area has never seen before -- a multimedia visual, culinary, literary, and performance event that will showcase two of our most under appreciated resources: our artists and our downtown. Among the venues for music and theatre performances, art shows and dance parties will, we hope, be a grand old Victorian on Main Street, having had new life breathed into her by our disparate committee of dreamers.
It's been nearly three months since our last update. At that time we were all doing a lot of talking, a lot of planning and a lot of dreaming. Now, at the cusp of spring, it seems it's finally time for action. With word from the house owners that property taxes are due, we've undertaken a fundraising campaign since it was decided in the fall that as part of our lease agreement we would cover that cost each year. The lease is still not signed. We're waiting on legal paperwork that will allow us to call the Arts Alliance an incorporated not-for-profit entity, and sign binding contracts as such. At the risk of inviting a "famous last words" scenario, this stuff is all just a formality, and should be taken care of within the next 30 days.
Now that the weather is warmer (in our experience it's usually 4 or 5 degrees colder inside the house than it is outside) we're all very eager to get started. What does that involve, you ask? Good question. A few months ago we essentially finalized our vision for the house interior. It includes a small retail area, a large, open gallery and performance space, mixed artist workspace--including a full darkroom, printing press and rental units, living space (both permanent and temporary), a communal catering kitchen, and designated space for future expansion (like for, say, a community radio station!).
The first step will be presenting an expanded and detailed version of this plan to the owners of the house for their approval, which we aren't anticipating will be a problem since they are seriously cool people with a vision very much in line with ours. The next step, or rather a step taken simultaneously with the first (making for a very odd, but effective, walk) will be to locate and procure support. This support will need to come in three forms: monetary support, material support, and manual--as in labour--support. For this project to fly it will have to involve the entire community, and the community has to want it. I happen to think that the community not only wants it, but needs it. The creative-types in this area have been without a home for long enough, and we want to give them one. We not only want to give our artists a home, we want to give their supporters a place where they come to commune with local art, and to get involved with their community. We think it could change the dynamic of this place. Maybe it already has?
At the same time, we are moving ahead on our summer arts festival in a big way. We are aiming for something of a nature of which this area has never seen before -- a multimedia visual, culinary, literary, and performance event that will showcase two of our most under appreciated resources: our artists and our downtown. Among the venues for music and theatre performances, art shows and dance parties will, we hope, be a grand old Victorian on Main Street, having had new life breathed into her by our disparate committee of dreamers.
30 January 2009
27 January 2009
Best of Intentions
It seems as though this blog has been neglected! It is because there is so MUCH going on that recounting it has been near impossible.
We have now been in the house numerous times, and plans are really taking shape. Leases are drafted; lawyers have been consulted; little is left to do. Except for the actual work, which is kind of a big deal. (Do I need to use quotation marks when I'm quoting myself?? I don't think so).
Though, as a sidebar, I was accused of plagiarizing myself in university. Can you even imagine??? I did copy/paste four paragraphs from a previous essay. But still!! It's impossible to plagiarize your own work. Seriously.
Anyway, to the task at hand. We seem to have come to a consensus on a house layout plan, which is great. I am going through the house on Thursday afternoon with the carpentry instructor, which should prove to be useful insofar as determining whether our plans are feasible. It truly is exciting stuff.
When spring springs (that phrase really only works in the past tense, otherwise, it's just ridiculous), we have our work cut out for us. BRING IT ON is what I say!!!
We have now been in the house numerous times, and plans are really taking shape. Leases are drafted; lawyers have been consulted; little is left to do. Except for the actual work, which is kind of a big deal. (Do I need to use quotation marks when I'm quoting myself?? I don't think so).
Though, as a sidebar, I was accused of plagiarizing myself in university. Can you even imagine??? I did copy/paste four paragraphs from a previous essay. But still!! It's impossible to plagiarize your own work. Seriously.
Anyway, to the task at hand. We seem to have come to a consensus on a house layout plan, which is great. I am going through the house on Thursday afternoon with the carpentry instructor, which should prove to be useful insofar as determining whether our plans are feasible. It truly is exciting stuff.
When spring springs (that phrase really only works in the past tense, otherwise, it's just ridiculous), we have our work cut out for us. BRING IT ON is what I say!!!
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